BHP Books Aquadrill's Vela Drillship for Gulf of Mexico Drilling

Australia-based BHP has booked Aquadrill's Vela drillship for a drilling operation in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The rig, managed by Seadrill, is currently in the Gulf of Mexico, on a contract with Equinor until May. After the expiration of the contract, the management of the rig will be taken over by Diamond Offshore. 

Diamond Offshore also manages Aquadrill's (ex-Seadrill Partners') Auriga drillship and Capricorn semi-submersible drilling rig.

The contract with BHP, which recently agreed to merge its petroleum business with Woodside, for the 2013-built Vela drillship is expected to start in September 2022 and last until December 2022, at an undisclosed day rate.

The Vela, previously known as the West Vela, is a sixth-generation drillship with operational history in the U.S Gulf of Mexico. It was built by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea.


Current News

Ørsted Inaugurates Largest Offshore Wind Farms in Asia-Pacific

Ørsted Inaugurates Largest Off

BW Ideol Presents Standard Floating Wind Foundation for Mass Production

BW Ideol Presents Standard Flo

KOIL Energy Lands Multi-Million-Dollar Subsea Deal

KOIL Energy Lands Multi-Millio

PBS Extends Maintenance Contract with TotalEnergies for North Sea Assets

PBS Extends Maintenance Contra

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News

Offshore Engineer Magazine