By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 11 -- Petroleos Mexicanos SA (Pemex) and Petrobras are finalizing agreements with subsidiaries of Noble Corp., Sugar Land, Tex., for the use of drilling rigs off Mexico and Brazil.
Pemex will employ four 300 ft independent-leg, cantilevered, jack up drilling rigs in the Bay of Campeche.
The Noble Gene Rosser commenced a 917-day contract on Sept. 29, and the Noble Sam Noble is expected to begin a 1,082-day contract by the end of October. Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili delayed previously anticipated commencement dates for these contracts.
Pemex also submitted letters of intent, expected to be finalized shortly, to Noble for contracting the use of the Noble Johnnie Hoffman for 981 days and the Noble John Sandifer for 960 days. Both contracts were to have been initiated by Oct. 30, but the date for the Noble John Sandifer will be delayed as a result of damages incurred by the storms. Pemex and Noble are discussing the possible effects of such a delay.
With the commencement of these contracts, Noble will have five 300 ft, independent-leg, cantilever jack ups operating for Pemex in the Bay of Campeche.
Petrobras delay
The Noble Leo Segerius, a dynamically positioned drillship, which is under a 3-year contract to Petroleo Brasiliero SA (Petrobras) in Brazil, will not recommence operations under its contract until Oct. 25, rather than Oct. 1, as previously projected, said Noble.
The delay was precipitated by strikes of Brazilian customs personnel that impaired the importation of key components. The unit, which will be outfitted with Noble's aluminum alloy riser, has been undergoing refurbishment-upgrade and is now undergoing commissioning and acceptance testing for Petrobras.