Offshore drilling contractor Shelf Drilling has received a notice of suspension of operations of four jack-up rigs from a customer in the Middle East.
The company said it is in active discussions with the customer to determine which rigs will be suspended and the exact timing of the suspensions.
Shelf Drilling said that during the suspension period it will have the right to actively market the rigs to other customers and opportunities and to terminate the applicable contracts.
It is anticipated that the suspensions will impact the financial guidance given in Shelf Drilling’s 2023 fourth quarter reports and therefore, once precise details on the rigs and timing are known, the company will assess the impact and provide an update to the guidance as part of its first quarter 2024 reporting.
“We are disappointed with the decision to suspend four of our rigs, particularly in light of the outstanding operating performance of our rigs and teams over many years in the Middle East.
“This recent development will create near-term challenges, but we remain optimistic on the long-term outlook for the business. We have a leading position in multiple regions and see opportunities across our geographic footprint for our fleet of rigs,” said David Mullen, Chief Executive Officer of Shelf Drilling.