U.S.-based offshore drilling leader Noble Corporation has announced a new drilling assignment in western Africa for its drillship, Noble Venturer, off the coast of Ghana.
The contract, awarded by Amni International Petroleum Development Company, covers the drilling of one exploration well with an estimated duration of 55 days at a day rate of $450,000. Operations are expected to begin once the rig completes its current assignment, projected for late 2026 or early 2027.
Built in 2014 by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in Korea, the Noble Venturer is a highly capable mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) that can operate in water depths of up to 12,000 feet, with a maximum drilling depth of 40,000 feet and accommodation for 230 personnel.
Blake Denton, Noble’s SVP of Marketing and Contracts, stated: “We are excited to extend our long-term presence in Ghana. We thank Amni for their trust in Noble on this important exploration campaign.”
The Amni assignment follows the drillship’s engagement with Tullow Ghana, a subsidiary of Tullow Oil, originally set to begin in May 2025 for around 120 days. This Tullow contract was temporarily suspended at zero rates for planned special period (SPS) maintenance, including thruster replacement, and is now expected to resume in January 2026 for about 240 days, unless the operator extends the engagement.
This new contract reinforces Noble’s ongoing commitment to delivering advanced offshore drilling services in key West African markets.
