Eni has initiated a tender process to secure a floating drilling unit for an ultra-deepwater campaign on its North Ganal production sharing contract offshore Indonesia. The operator requires a drillship capable of operating in water depths of at least 2000 to 2200 metres, equipped with a DP3 dynamic positioning system. The scope of work includes drilling, well testing, subsea completion, and Christmas tree installation, with ancillary services also forming part of the contract. The drillship must be capable of dual activity, ensure zero discharge, and utilize either a dual or single blowout preventer (BOP) when working on the riser section. The offshore campaign is scheduled to commence in the first or second quarter of 2026, with an estimated total contract duration of 12 months.

Seadrill's West Capella and Market Context

Seadrill's drillship, the West Capella, is currently warm-stacked in Malaysia and is being actively tendered for work in Southeast Asia. This rig has a prior working relationship with Eni, having drilled the successful Geng North-1 wildcat on the North Ganal block in 2023, a discovery that is central to Eni's Kutei Northern Hub (KNH) project. Despite this history, Eni has faced challenges in fulfilling its Indonesian drilling unit requirements this year, leading to at least one re-tender process as it concurrently advances its Gendalo-Gandang and KNH developments and an exploration campaign in its East Ganal work area.

Indonesian Regulatory Framework

The prequalification notice specifies a requirement for an Indonesian-flagged drilling unit, with a minimum local content (TKDN) of 18%. However, Indonesia's strict cabotage legislation, recently clarified and strengthened by Law 66/2024, includes key exemptions. The law continues to permit foreign-flagged vessels to operate in Indonesian waters for designated purposes, such as offshore energy operations, provided no Indonesian-flagged vessels are available and the activities do not involve the carriage of passengers or goods. This legal exception ensures that industries reliant on specialized vessels, including petroleum and energy, can maintain operational continuity.

Eni's Current Rig Operations

Eni currently has the semi-submersible rig SSV Catarina, owned by Ventura Offshore, on charter offshore East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The operator recently exercised the second of four one-well options for this rig, an approximate $10 million extension that will keep it working into the first quarter of 2026. If the two remaining options are exercised, the rig could remain under charter until August 2026. The sixth-generation SSV Catarina is capable of operating in water depths of up to 3048 metres. Ventura Offshore has stated its intention to pursue additional backlog beyond the Eni contract, both within and outside Southeast Asia.

Tender Submission Details

Prospective bidders for Eni's latest drillship tender must electronically submit their prequalification documentation by 4pm West Indonesian Time (9am GMT) on 28 November.