Valaris rig sets off for Mexico to tackle upcoming drilling gigs

Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has revealed that one of its rigs has completed its task in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GOM) with Murphy Oil, a Houston-based oil and gas company. As a result, the rig moved to Mexico to embark on drilling assignments, which were secured earlier this year.  

Back in January 2022, Valaris won two one-well contracts with Murphy Oil for the Valaris DPS-5 semi-submersible rig. With a minimum duration of 30 days, the first deal with Murphy was expected to start in the third quarter of 2022. The contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico entailed a one-well option with an estimated duration of 90 days.

On the other hand, the second contract, which was inked with Murphy for work offshore Mexico, is expected to start in direct continuation of the first contract and has an estimated duration of 60 days. The work for Murphy in the U.S. GOM was scheduled to end in October this year, while the rig is booked until December 2022 for the job in Mexico.

In an update earlier this week, Valaris confirmed that the Valaris DPS-5 rig had departed for Mexico to undertake its next drilling campaign, after completing its work for Murphy in the Desoto Canyon in the Gulf of Mexico.

Commenting on this, Robert Foor, DP Operator at Valaris, remarked: “The Valaris DPS-5 team raised the bar on performance during this project by keeping values such as safety and excellence at the forefront from start to finish. The team will carry this high standard for safety and excellence as they continue to work with Murphy on another well.”

Earlier this month, Murphy confirmed that it had spud the Dalmatian 1 – Desoto Canyon 90 – well, reaching total depth after quarter-end with positive results from initial evaluations. This well is expected to come online in 2023.

The U.S. player also highlighted that all permits were secured for the Tulum-1 exploration well located in Block 5 in the Salina Basin. Murphy plans to spud this Mexican well in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Once it completes the assignment with Murphy, the Valaris DPS-5 rig is scheduled to work for Eni offshore Mexico until August 2023, thanks to a recently secured three-well contract.

On its previous assignment with Eni, the rig found oil in Upper Miocene sequences on the Sayulita Exploration Prospect in Block 10 in the mid-deep water of the Cuenca Salina Sureste Basin, offshore Mexico. In addition, the rig discovered oil while working for Lukoil within the Yoti West structure at Block 12 off Mexico.

The 2012-built DPS-5 rig, previously known as ENSCO 8505 from the 8500 Series, can accommodate 150 people.