Shelf Drilling’s Jack-Up to Restart Ops for Aramco as Suspension Ends

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Shelf Drilling has received a notice from Saudi oil and gas giant Aramco to resume operations for the Harvey H. Ward jack-up rig in the Middle East.

The rig’s operations were previously suspended by Aramco, effective September 2024, as part of a wider suspension spree executed by the company which affected a number of jack-up drilling rigs in the area.



Following the recent notice, the Harvey H. Ward is expected to restart its contract before the end of January 2026.

The contract end date has now been set to October 2029.

Harvey H. Ward jack-up drilling rig is of Friede & Goldman L-780 Model II design. The rig was built in 1981 an upgraded in 2011. It is capable of operating at maximum water depth of 300 ft.

Categories: Middle East Drilling Industry News Activity Oil and Gas Natural Gas Drilling Hardware FLNG Workover FPSO Deepwater Software Hardware Safety & Security

Related Stories

Borr Drilling Reports Revenue Drop but Improved Outlook

Jumbo Offshore Wraps Up Errea Wittu FPSO Mooring Pre-Lay in Guyana

Aquaterra Energy Gets Multi-Year Well Intervention Job off Spain

Current News

Ndungu Full-Field Starts Up Offshore Angola

Norway's 2025 Oil Output Climbs to Highest Level Since 2009

AKOFS Offshore Inks New Vessel Deal with Petrobras

UK Trade Body Challenges Government View on North Sea Gas Decline

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News