Ventura Offshore Extends SSV Catarina Rig Contract | Mariner News
Ventura Offshore Holding has secured a contract amendment for its semisubmersible drilling rig, SSV Catarina, to drill an additional well, significantly boosting its firm backlog and extending its operational schedule.
The amendment, signed with Searah West Ganal Limited and Searah Ganal Deepwater Limited (subsidiaries of Searah Limited, a joint venture between Eni and PETRONAS), covers the drilling of the JKNE Upside-1 Dir well. This agreement adds approximately $21.7 million to the company’s firm backlog and ensures the SSV Catarina remains utilized into December 2026. This new well is in addition to four optional wells previously exercised by the client.
This continued uptake of additional wells by the Searah entities underscores strong demand for premium deepwater drilling assets and suggests sustained exploration or appraisal success in the Ganal region. For Ventura Offshore, the amendment further solidifies revenue visibility and operational planning, signaling robust client confidence in the SSV Catarina’s capabilities and the broader market’s health for offshore drilling services.
The ongoing commitment to the asset by a major joint venture indicates a positive long-term outlook for their regional investments, with the rig’s employment now confirmed through the end of the year.
