A joint venture controlled by TotalEnergies has acquired a sixth-generation ultra-deepwater drilling rig, which will operate in West Africa after completing shipyard upgrades.
Offshore drilling contractor Vantage Drilling International (VDI) announced that it has completed the sale of its ultra-deepwater drilling rig Tungsten Explorer to its joint venture TEVA Ship Charter LLC, which is 75% owned by TotalEnergies. Other details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Based on the previous announcement, VDI will continue to manage the Tungsten Explorer for a 10-year lease term until the second quarter of 2035, with a 5-year extension option.
The Tungsten Explorer, a DSME 12000 design, was built and delivered in 2013. The latest VDI fleet status report shows that after the transaction is completed, the vessel will go to the shipyard for upgrading and recertification, and will then be used for TotalEnergies’ operations in West Africa.
In addition to the Tungsten Explorer, VDI also sold its self-elevating drilling rigs Topaz Driller and Soehanah to Saudi shipowner ADES in the fourth quarter of 2024 for US$190 million. Both self-elevating drilling rigs are designed by Baker Marine Pacific 375, and VDI will provide management services to ADES under a three-year management service contract.