The drillship Santorini will begin a development campaign in 2027 that strengthens offshore activity in West Africa
The Italian company Saipem has been awarded a deepwater drilling contract valued at approximately $260 million with Eni Côte d’Ivoire Limited, intended for the development of offshore fields off the coast of Ivory Coast.
The agreement involves the deployment of the drillship Santorini, with its campaign set to begin in early 2027 under a long-term drilling program. In addition to the initial firm commitment, the contract includes options to extend the duration of operations and expand the use of the unit to other projects in neighboring West African countries.
According to Saipem, the contract reinforces the utilization of its high-specification drilling fleet and consolidates its presence in one of the fastest-growing offshore markets in recent years.
Development campaigns replace initial exploration
Unlike exploratory campaigns, which aim to discover new deposits, development drilling seeks to bring already confirmed reserves into production through the construction of producer and injector wells.
The program awarded to the Santorini corresponds precisely to this maturation stage of offshore projects in Ivory Coast, driven by discoveries made in recent years by Eni in the country’s marine basin.
The contract also includes potential regional extensions, a practice becoming increasingly common among operators to optimize the continuous utilization of state-of-the-art drilling rigs.
West Africa maintains offshore market dynamism
The award confirms the growing prominence of West Africa within the global deepwater drilling market.
In recent years, international operators have increased investments in countries such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola, and Namibia, favoring development campaigns with multi-year horizons that provide greater stability for both oil companies and specialized contractors.
For Saipem, the contract strengthens the future occupancy of one of the most advanced units in its fleet, which consists of 12 drilling rigs and 17 offshore construction vessels.
SOURCE and Photo: https://www.saipem.com/
