Finder Energy has signed a contract with ENEOS Drilling for the Hakuryu-5 semisubmersible drilling rig to drill the Kuda Tasi and Jahal (KTJ) development wells offshore Timor-Leste. The agreement secures a semisubmersible unit for the offshore campaign, with drilling operations scheduled to begin from 1 December 2027.
The contract covers three firm wells, with options for two additional wells should the programme be extended. The three firm wells are expected to take about 150 days to complete, giving an indication of the scale and duration of the initial phase of the development drilling campaign.
The KTJ development wells will target the Kuda Tasi and Jahal fields, which lie offshore Timor-Leste. Deploying a semisubmersible rig for the work reflects the offshore setting of the fields, and the scheduling of the rig more than two years ahead of the planned spud date underscores the lead times involved in securing suitable drilling units for regional campaigns.
For Finder Energy, the contract marks a concrete step in moving the KTJ development toward execution, locking in a rig and a drilling contractor for the well programme. For ENEOS Drilling, it adds committed work for the Hakuryu-5 in the Timor-Leste area, with the option wells providing potential for additional scope.
For operators and contractors working in the region, the award signals continued activity on development drilling offshore Timor-Leste. The firm well count, the option structure and the roughly 150-day drilling window for the initial wells will shape planning for logistics, supply chains and rig availability in the lead-up to the December 2027 start.
Source: Drilling Contractor
