Oct 22, 2019
The Dutch group OOS is the new owner of the semi-submersible ODN Delba III, which until August was part of Ocyan’s fleet in Brazil. The company acquired the equipment after settling the operation with a pool of banks financing the unit, led by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Made in conjunction with a Mexican investment bank, the acquisition of the rig could mark OOS’s first initiative in the drilling sector.
However, the group has not yet defined whether it will make adaptation works so that the semi-submersible will actually use it to drill. Opportunities under evaluation include chartering the rig for operation in Mexico.
Regardless of Delba III’s fate, OOS plans to acquire other drilling units in the market. However, entry into the segment may be hampered by the Dutch group’s lack of experience in the area.
Capable of drilling at a depth of 2,400 m, Delba III has been stationary for two months in Guanabara Bay (RJ) since its contract with Petrobras was terminated in 2012. Originally, the rig was contracted to Delba, but the Brazilian group had problems in the construction phase, and Ocyan eventually took over the work and the charter contract.
Delba III will leave Brazil by the end of the year. Ocyan will have five deepwater rigs in its portfolio, four drillships – Norbe VIII, Norbe XIX, ODN I and ODN II – and a semi-submersible, Norbe VI. All are chartered by Petrobras.
Source: Brasil Energia Magazine
