Velesto Energy has won a contract from PETRONAS Carigali covering the jackup rig NAGA 3, with the award placed with Velesto Drilling, the group's wholly owned drilling subsidiary. The scope comprises one firm well plus one optional well, giving the operator the choice to continue the campaign beyond the first well. Work under the contract started in November.
NAGA 3 is an independent-leg cantilever jackup, a self-elevating design in which each leg is handled separately and the drilling package sits on a cantilever that extends out over the hull. That configuration lets the rig position its rotary directly over a fixed platform or a standalone well centre, which is why cantilever jackups carry much of the development drilling done in shallow water. The unit carries a drilling depth rating of 30,000 ft.
The one-firm-well-plus-one-optional structure is a familiar way to frame jackup tenders. It locks in an initial well while leaving the follow-on decision open, so the operator does not have to commit to a full programme at the outset. For the drilling contractor, an exercised option would extend the rig's employment without a fresh award, while a declined option would release the unit earlier for other work.
With drilling under way since November, attention now turns to delivery on the firm well and, in due course, to whether the optional second well is taken up. For Velesto, the award keeps one of its jackups employed with the work booked to its drilling arm, supporting the unit's utilization. For PETRONAS Carigali, the contract secures a dedicated unit for the initial well while preserving flexibility over any follow-up.
Source: Drilling Contractor
