Petrobras opens bidding for offshore drilling rigs

The Petrobras Board of Directors has given the go-ahead for the bidding process to award contracts for up to 21 offshore drilling rigs to be built in Brazil, and to meet the company's exploratory and production development needs.

Two contracts will be awarded for each rig: a leasing contract with the successful bidder, and a rig operation service contract with a company experienced in operating offshore drilling rigs.

Companies invited can submit a proposal for one or more batches of one or more rigs, up to a total of twenty-one units. Certification of domestic content (products and services sourced in Brazil) will be a requirement, with minimum figures specified by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP).

The bidding process is part of a strategy for contracting up to 28 new drilling rigs to be built in Brazil for exploration in ultra-deep waters, including the pre-salt fields. The contract awarded for the first batch of seven rigs was announced by Petrobras in February this year.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/08062011/petrobras_opens_bidding_for_offshore_drilling_rigs/