Dolphin Drilling emerges as winner in arbitration saga over rig termination deal

Norway-headquartered offshore drilling contractor Dolphin Drilling has disclosed a positive outcome of arbitration proceedings with Lagos-based General Hydrocarbons Limited (GHL), which has been made in the Norwegian player’s favor. This arbitration revolved around the termination of a drilling contract off the coast of Nigeria.

According to Dolphin Drilling, the positive outcome of the arbitration with General Hydrocarbons will enable it to get approximately $100 million. As a result of the final award, the firm intends to immediately commence collection efforts. The rigmarole saga, which Dolphin Drilling’s termination of the Blackford Dolphin rig’s contract with Lagos-based firm and the request for arbitration to pursue the recovery of sums remaining due by GHL set in motion, appears to be over.

After a judge decided to uphold an interim injunction order, which the Nigerian oil and gas firm obtained to maintain the status quo and stop the rig owner from demobilizing or removing the semi-submersible rig, the Norwegian player, which planned to seek the discharge of the interim injunction with the appointed arbitrator, managed to get the ex parte order of arrestment that was in force against its semi-submersible rig lifted a few months ago.

However, the offshore drilling player still had to tackle the Nigerian court proceedings to oppose claims Technova Africa International (Technova) made. While disclosing the submission of a bank guarantee of $20 million and the removal of the Blackford Dolphin rig from Nigerian waters, Dolphin Drilling underlined that the rig would continue the transit to India to begin its next drilling contract.

Following its arrival in India, the rig began its 14-month hydrocarbon exploration campaign with Oil India in November 2024. The 1974-built Blackford Dolphin is a semi-submersible drilling rig of an enhanced Aker H-3 design and can accommodate 120 people.