The ultra-deepwater drillship Norbe IX has departed its anchorage position off Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, ahead of the start of a three-year drilling contract valued at approximately US$417 million with Petrobras, according to an official statement released by Foresea. Operations are scheduled to begin in early 2026 in Brazil’s pre-salt province.
The unit had remained approximately 6 nautical miles off Angra dos Reis since early January 2026, undergoing a planned maintenance stop of around 60 days ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Scope of maintenance included:
– Drilling equipment
– Thrusters
– Diesel generators
– BOP system
– Fire and gas detection upgrades
– DNV class renewal
– Piping replacement and general hull painting
Such maintenance windows are typical ahead of new offshore drilling campaigns, ensuring full operational readiness prior to mobilization.
Contract highlights
– Operator: Petrobras
– Fields: Sépia Field and Itapu Field
– Basin: Santos Basin
– Term: ~ 3 years
– Contract value: ~ US$417 million, including mobilization fees
– Start of operations: early 2026
Built in 2011 at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Norbe IX is a DP3 dynamically positioned ultra-deepwater drillship designed for high-spec offshore drilling campaigns. The unit is capable of operating in water depths up to 3,048 m (10,000 ft) and drilling wells to approximately 12,195 m (40,000 ft). Accommodation capacity is around 180 personnel, with a 15,000-psi BOP system.
The vessel measures 238 m LOA with a 42 m beam, placing it among the high-spec drillships currently active in Brazil’s ultra-deepwater segment.
With this award, Foresea reported its fleet fully contracted through at least late-2026, reflecting sustained demand for ultra-deepwater drilling capacity supporting Brazil’s expanding pre-salt drilling programs