Arena Energy LLC  has let a contract to White Fleet Drilling LLC for the WFD 450 jack-up drilling rig for a multi-well drilling program on Arena’s Gulf of Mexico shelf assets.

WFD 450 can drill in water depths up to 400 ft and to total depths of 30,000 ft, giving Arena the capability to access to reserves previously beyond the reach of the existing Gulf of Mexico rig fleet.

Originally built in 1999 and formerly operated by Valaris, the rig had been cold-stacked in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico for 7 years before its acquisition by White Fleet, which subsequently invested $65 million in repairs and upgrades.

The rig was christened on Jan. 9, 2026, and deployed to active drilling operations in late March. Since deployment, WFD 450 has been drilling for Arena in the Southern Eugene Island area offshore Lousiana, about 170 miles southwest of New Orleans.

While Arena said the rig is scheduled to continue drilling on its leasehold in the region, the company did not reveal details regarding specific locations scheduled for drilling within the leasehold.