ExxonMobil lets rig contracts for Nigeria, Guyana work

ExxonMobil affiliates have let contracts to Noble for work in Nigeria and Guyana.

Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Ltd. awarded a 2-year drilling contract to Noble Gerry de Souza drillship for work offshore Nigeria. The contract includes up to 3 years of optional extensions.

This project is expected to add an estimated $292 million to Noble’s backlog resuming operations through PIDWAL, its Nigerian joint venture with Derotech.

Noble plans to upgrade the Gerry de Souza for Managed Pressure Drilling ahead of the program, for which operations are expected to begin mid-2026, subject to regulatory approvals and conditions.

For work in Guyana, ExxonMobil awarded two additional rig years of backlog under the commercial enabling agreement, which has been assigned evenly across four drillships—Noble Sam Croft, Noble Don Taylor, Noble Tom Madden, and Noble Bob Douglas—extending each rig through February 2029.