PV Drilling wins jackup deal from Zarubezhneft

Petrovietnam Drilling and Well Service Corporation (PV Drilling) has officially secured a significant contract with Russian state-owned energy firm Zarubezhneft to provide a jackup rig for upcoming offshore operations. The agreement focuses on the 2026 development drilling campaign at the Thien Nga – Hai Au field located in Vietnam. This deployment highlights the continued demand for high-specification mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) in Southeast Asian waters, reinforcing PV Drilling’s strategic role in regional oil and gas exploration projects.

The operation of jackup rigs in the Vietnamese offshore sector necessitates strict adherence to the IMO’s Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code). Compliance departments must ensure that the rig meets SOLAS Chapter IX requirements regarding the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, alongside MARPOL Annex I regulations for the prevention of pollution by oil. Rigorous classification society surveys, typically overseen by bodies like DNV or ABS, are mandatory to maintain structural integrity and operational safety standards throughout the drilling campaign.

This contract expansion creates immediate opportunities for experienced masters, chief engineers, and navigating officers specializing in offshore drilling operations. These professionals must ensure their STCW certification is current and that they are familiar with the specific dynamic positioning or jacking systems utilized on the rig. Personnel should prioritize reviewing the vessel’s specific safety management system and emergency response procedures to align with the technical requirements of the Thien Nga – Hai Au field development project.