Italian services group Saipem has secured a new offshore drilling contract worth approximately $260 million with Eni Côte d’Ivoire, sending its Santorini drillship back to Ivorian waters for a long-term development drilling campaign set to begin in early 2027.

The deal includes a firm commitment for an extended drilling programme, with the possibility of the rig later deploying to neighbouring countries and additional optional periods, extending its long-term utilisation. Santorini is a seventh-generation drillship capable of operating in water depths of up to 12,000 feet.

Saipem said the award confirms its competitive position in offshore drilling and its ability to deploy high-specification assets in support of clients’ exploration, appraisal and development work. The Santorini previously drilled Eni’s Calao South discovery offshore Côte d’Ivoire, reaching around 5,000 metres in a 2,200-metre water depth earlier this year.

The contract comes shortly after Saipem sold its stake in Saudi Arabian Saipem to ADES, exiting shallow-water drilling in Saudi Arabia as it continues shifting toward deepwater work, and after the company, through a joint venture with PT Tripatra Engineers and Constructors, won a separate contract to deliver an FPSO for Eni’s Kutei North Hub project in Indonesia.

Source: offshore-energy.biz, energy-pedia.com