Petrobras negotiating rig with Chinese firm

Petrobras is in talks with Ocean Oasis Leasing (Tianjin) over chartering a jackup intervention rig, a source familiar with the matter told BNamericas.

The Chinese company was the fourth-ranked bidder in the tender, offering 858mn reais (US$170mn), behind lower offers made by X-Drill (644mn reais), Superbraço Serviços Marítimos (715mn reais) and Etesco (800mn reais).

However, the Brazilian state-run firm disqualified X-Drill, claiming that the company had not submitted all the necessary documents, and also excluded Superbraço for failing to comply with the terms of the public tender notice.

After negotiations had begun with Etesco, the company pulled out of the process.

The source added out there are few jackup rigs available to operate in Brazil, due to the greater activity in the international market, and said that the rig offered by Tianjin would not be ready.

The tender was launched by Petrobras at the end of 2022 and the bids were opened in March. 

The state-run oil company intends to contract the unit to operate in the northeast region, in water depths between 12m and 50m. 

The duration of the contract is 1,460 days, with the possibility of exercising an extension option – at the sole discretion of Petrobras – for up to 150 days, giving a total of 1,610 days, which is extendable for a period of the same length. 

When contacted by BNamericas, X-Drill said that it had appealed against being disqualified from the process, assuring that it had submitted all the required documentation and declaring that it was still interested in the contract. 

Superbraço has not appealed against its disqualification.

Petrobras said through its press office that the bidding process is in the negotiation and qualification stages and that, once these phases are completed, the result will be announced and a deadline will be set for appeals. 

BNamericas was unable to contact Tianjin.