A 2014-built drillship, owned by the Bermuda-incorporated offshore drilling contractor Valaris, has come to Brazilian waters ahead of its assignment with Equinor Energy do Brasil, a subsidiary of Norway’s energy giant Equinor. Another unit from the rig owner’s fleet is currently getting upgrades in Spain for its next assignment in West Africa.
While confirming the arrival of the Valaris DS-17 drillship in Rio de Janeiro, the company described the image of the rig being framed by landmarks like Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer as “a powerful moment where offshore engineering meets one of the world’s most stunning backdrops.”
The rig was booked for work on the Raia project in 2024. The development entails two natural gas fields, Raia Manta and Raia Pintada, in the BM-C-33 concession off the coast of Brazil. Equinor, as the operator, holds a 35% stake in the project while Repsol Sinopec Brasil and Petrobras hold 35% and 30% interest, respectively.
The deal followed the Norwegian player’s submission of the declarations of commerciality and plans of development for two natural gas fields in the BM-C-33 concession in September 2023. The 2014-built Valaris DS-17 drillship is expected to be out of service for 25 days to undergo customer required upgrades in 1Q 2026.
Based on initial estimated duration of 852 days, the deal comprises a 180-day standby period followed by a 672-day drilling program. The rig has worked for Equinor offshore Brazil since September 2023. With the GustoMSC P10000 design, the rig, constructed at Hyundai Heavy Industries, can accommodate 210 people.