Valaris Secures Multi-Well Drilling Contract in West Africa

Bermuda-headquartered offshore drilling contractor Valaris has announced a significant win with a multi-well drilling assignment for one of its drillships in West Africa. The oil and gas operator behind the contract remains undisclosed.

The Valaris DS-15 drillship is set to embark on a five-well drilling campaign off the coast of West Africa starting in the third quarter of 2026. The contract spans an estimated duration of 250 days.

President and CEO of Valaris, Anton Dibowitz, expressed his excitement about securing this contract, stating, “We are thrilled to have secured another contract for one of our high-specification drillships. As part of this agreement, the rig will undergo upgrades, including an enhanced managed pressure drilling system.”

The total value of the contract amounts to approximately $135 million, covering upfront payments for rig upgrades and mobilization. However, additional services are not included in this figure.

Furthermore, the contract includes priced options for up to five additional wells, with an estimated total duration of 80 to 100 days. The Valaris DS-15, a GustoMSC P10,000 design rig built in 2014, boasts a maximum drilling depth of 40,000 feet and can operate in water depths of 12,000 feet, accommodating 210 personnel.

Dibowitz emphasized, “We believe this contract underscores the market’s preference for contractors capable of delivering complex drilling solutions with high-specification, seventh-generation drillships. Additionally, this contract strengthens our presence in West Africa, positioning us for future opportunities in the region.”

Valaris’ strategic positioning in West Africa is further highlighted by the deployment of another drillship to Block 10 off the coast of Cyprus for exploration drilling on behalf of ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy. This move follows ExxonMobil’s gas discovery in Egypt, utilizing the same drillship under a six-month-priced option.