Shelf Drilling Secures New Contracts in Middle East and North Sea

Dubai-based Shelf Drilling has secured new contracts for two of its rigs, extending its presence in both the Middle East and the North Sea.

Extension in Egypt

In Egypt, the Oslo-listed jackup rig pure-play has landed a one-year extension for the Rig 141, which is operating in the Gulf of Suez.

The extension, worth about $23m and in direct continuation of its current contract, pushes the rig’s availability date to February 2027.

In March 2024, the company clinched a two-year extension for the rig with Gemsa Petroleum Company (Gempetco). At the time, Shelf said that as part of the deal, one year of the extension will be farmed out to Petrogulf Misr.

New Contract in the UK Sector

Meanwhile, in the UK sector, a subsidiary of Shelf Drilling has picked up a new contract for the 2014-built unit Shelf Drilling Fortress. The rig will drill one firm well with an estimated duration of three months. The contract is worth around $12m, with operations set to begin in late August or early September 2025. The rig most recently wrapped up work in the UK in May.