Noble Corp. has inked $1.3 billion in new contracts for nine rigs, including a 3-year contract for the harsh environment semisubmersible Noble GreatWhite.
In announcing the new awards on 26 January, Noble President and CEO Robert W. Eifler said the redeployment of four currently idle deepwater rigs should drive a meaningful improvement in its fleet utilization, with 92% of the 24 marketed floaters now under contract, compared with 75% in the prior fleet status report.
Aker BP awarded Noble GreatWhite a new 3-year contract valued at about $473 million for operations offshore Norway, expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027. This is Noble GreatWhite's first campaign in Norway, and Noble said it represents a significant step in expanding its presence on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. To prepare for this campaign, Noble anticipates approximately $160 million of capital expenditures associated with reactivation and contract preparation activities.
ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Ltd. has awarded Noble Gerry de Souza a 2-year drilling contract, with up to 3 years of optional extensions, with operations targeted for mid-2026, subject to regulatory approvals and conditions. This contract is expected to add $292 million to Noble’s backlog. Noble plans to upgrade the Gerry de Souza for managed pressure drilling (MPD) ahead of the contract.
ExxonMobil has awarded two additional rig years of backlog under the commercial enabling agreement in Guyana, which has been assigned evenly across four drillships. The Noble Sam Croft, Noble Don Taylor, Noble Tom Madden, and Noble Bob Douglas rigs have been extended through February 2029.
Beacon Offshore Energy has awarded Noble BlackRhino a contract for one workover well in the US Gulf, with operations beginning in March 2026 for an estimated duration of 50 days. The contract includes an option for an additional well with an estimated duration of 100 days.
An undisclosed operator in South America has awarded the Noble Endeavor an 11-well contract, expected to begin in late 2026, at a day rate of $300,000, plus mobilization and demobilization fees and the potential for additional revenue from a performance incentive provision.
BP has awarded Noble Developer a three-well contract with an estimated duration of 240 days in Trinidad, scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027 at a day rate of $375,000. The contract includes options for up to three additional wells with an estimated combined duration of 240 days. The previously announced 3-year contract with TotalEnergies in Suriname that was formerly assigned to the Noble Developer has been transferred to the Noble Discoverer.
Late last year, Noble announced it was selling five jackups to Borr Drilling and one to Ocean Oilfield Drilling.
Under the agreement with Borr, comprising $210 million in cash and $150 million in seller notes, Noble is selling the Noble Tom Prosser, Noble Mick O'Brien, Noble Regina Allen, Noble Resilient, and Noble Resolute.
Noble is selling the Noble Resolve to Ocean Oilfield Drilling for $64 million in cash, with closing expected in the second quarter of 2026, upon conclusion of the Noble Resolve's current contract.
Last April, Noble announced it had a deal to sell a pair of cold-stacked drillships—Pacific Meltem and Pacific Scirocco–to an unnamed buyer for an unspecified price.
