Sonadrill bags contract for West Gemini drillship in Angolan waters

Sonadrill Holding, a 50:50 joint venture between Seadrill and an affiliate of Sonangol, has bagged a contract for the West Gemini drillship in Angola from an undisclosed customer.

The contract is for drilling 10 wells with options for up to an additional eight wells.

The firm part of the contract is worth around $161 million, with further potential for meaningful revenue from a performance bonus.

According to Seadrill, the contract work is expected to begin in Q4 2022 with a firm term of nearly 18 months, in direct continuation of the existing contract of the West Gemini drillship.

Sonadrill bags contract for West Gemini drillship in Angolan waters. Photo courtesy of Seadrill Limited.

Simon Johnson — Seadrill CEO said: “Our strategic partnership with Sonadrill is critical to the development of the Angolan oil and gas sector and to Seadrill’s position as the number one rig operator in Angola. We’re grateful for the Seadrill crew aboard the West Gemini who deserves the lion’s share of the credit for this contract.”

The West Gemini drillship is the third such vessel to be bareboat chartered into Sonadrill joint venture, along with a couple of Sonangol-owned units, namely the Sonangol Libongos and Sonangol Quenguela.

Seadrill will handle and operate the units on behalf of the joint venture.

The West Gemini ultra-deepwater drillship is said to have an operational history in African waters.