Valaris semi-sub rig kicks off its gig with Eni

Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has revealed that one of its semi-submersible rigs embarked on a drilling assignment with Italy’s Eni offshore Mexico last month.   

Eni awarded a three-well contract in Mexico to the Valaris-owned Valaris DPS-5 semi-submersible rig in 2022. The Italian oil major’s spokesperson confirmed in September 2022 for Offshore Energy that the Valaris rig would drill the first well at the end of the fourth quarter, depending on the rig availability. This contract has an estimated duration of 240 days.

In an update on Monday, 13 February 2023, Valaris confirmed that the Valaris DPS-5 rig had started operations for Eni in Mexico. The rig is in charge of drilling the Yatzil prospect located on Block 7. Prior to starting its assignment with Eni, the rig completed a drilling campaign for Murphy.

Previously, Eni drilled an exploration well on Block 7, named Ehecatl-1 located 65 kilometres offshore in a water depth of 426 metres, which reached a total depth of 4,451 metres. The firm did not find hydrocarbons and the well was permanently plugged and abandoned in May 2020.

Robert Foor, Master, remarked: “On 10 January, the Valaris DPS-5 commenced drilling operations and officially kicked off a campaign for Eni. The Valaris DPS-5 successfully drilled several wells for Eni in 2021 and has returned this year to continue to deliver on safety and performance for our customer.”

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.