ARO Drilling Signs Extensions for Five Jackup Rigs with Saudi Aramco

ARO Drilling, a joint venture of New York-listed offshore driller Valaris, has signed extensions for five jackup rigs with Saudi giant Aramco. The extensions, all for five years, were signed for the Valaris 250, Valaris 116, Valaris 146, Valaris 140, and Valaris 141 or as ARO Drilling referred to them in its statement, the Bob Palmer 50, Rowan Mississippi, Rowan EXL IV 83, Ensco 140, and Ensco 141, respectively. All five listed rigs are leased to ARO Drilling by Valaris.

In its most recent fleet status report, Valaris said that it agreed short-term bareboat charter agreement extensions for the Valaris 116, Valaris 146, and Valaris 250 jackups until April 30. The fleet status report noted at the time that Valaris and ARO were negotiating with Saudi Aramco regarding longer-term contract extensions for those three rigs.

The three rigs will all be out of service at one point or another due to planned maintenance. Valaris 116 will be out for 180 days across the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, Valaris 146 will be out for 50 days across the second and third quarter of 2025, while the Valaris 250 will also be out for maintenance for some 180 days at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.