Saipem’s ultra-deepwater drillship Santorini, capable of drilling in 12,000 feet of water, is on the move from Côte d’Ivoire, where it has been operating for Eni, to Namibia. The rig is expected to arrive in Namibian waters by mid-October. The Santorini has been sublet by Eni to Galp Energia for a new exploration and appraisal campaign offshore Namibia.
Galp Energia plans to explore and appraise the Mopane Complex, following the success of their earlier campaign, which concluded in April 2024. The previous exploration efforts resulted in oil discoveries at the Mopane-1X and Mopane-2X wells. The upcoming campaign, set to begin in the last quarter of 2024, will involve drilling two new exploration wells and two appraisal wells, continuing Galp’s quest to uncover more oil resources in the region.
The Santorini has been operating for Eni since March 2022, covering regions like the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire. In April 2023, Saipem secured a two-year contract extension with Eni valued at $280 million, extending the rig’s operations from August 2023. The collaboration with Galp in Namibia further expands Santorini‘s involvement in high-potential offshore oil exploration.
