Saipem bags drilling contract in Ivory Coast

Saipem has been awarded a new offshore drilling contract by Eni Ivory Coast, which is worth US$260mn

The contract particulars include deployment of the drillship Santorini offshore Ivory Coast for a long-term development drilling campaign, with operations scheduled to begin in early 2027. There will also be scope for an extended drilling programme, with the potential deployment of the rig in neighbouring countries as well as additional optional periods. This arrangement secures for Saipem long-term visibility and continuity of the unit’s future utilisation.

This new award confirms Saipem's competitive positioning in offshore drilling, as well as its ability to efficiently deploy its high-specification assets in support of clients' exploration, appraisal and development activities.

Saipem has also bagged a million euro contract offshore Ivory Coast for the third development phase of Eni's Baleine project.

Saipem will be overseeing the engineering, fabrication, transportation and installation work at water depths up to 1,300 meters, building approximately 50 km of rigid pipelines and associated subsea structures. The project aligns with the energy services provider's reputation in delivering complex energy infrastructures of strategic importance to global operators. 

Construction vessels FDS and Shen Da will be deployed for around three years to support operations of scale, involving the transportation and installation of flexible risers, flexible jumpers, subsea production systems and a 3-km-long flexible gas export flowline, as well as 22 km of subsea umbilical.

The strategically significant offshore project's engineering, procurement and construction works across multiple wells will be undertaken by SLB's OneSubsea joint venture. This will involve the installation of complete subsea production systems (SPS) for 13 wells. 

This contract will support the entire well life cycle, starting with the installation of subsea trees, umbilical, manifolds, multiphase flowmeters and control systems, through to commissioning and life-of-field services. This integrated approach will streamline execution and support the project’s fast-track development schedule.