Eni is in the market for a drillship or semi-submersible drilling rig for work on its deep-water East Sepinggan block offshore Indonesia.

The Italian state-owned energy giant has invited rig owners and contractors to prequalify to supply a mobile offshore drilling unit. The successful contractor will be tasked with providing offshore drilling and support services.

The workscope will include drilling, subsea completion and deployment of a christmas tree in a minimum water depth of 1500 metres.

According to the prequalification notice, the drilling unit must have DP3 dynamic positioning capability and be Indonesia-flagged at the time of tender. This contract requires a minimum local content of 55%.

Any units offered for this contract must be able to ensure zero discharge when activities without risers are completed.

The operator estimates starting its latest drilling operation at East Sepinggan in the third quarter of this year.

The deadline for submission of prequalification documents is 30 March.

Upstream reported on 23 March that Eni is moving to exploit its Merakes East gas condensate discovery on the East Sepinggan production sharing contract offshore East Kalimantan.

Flow rates during testing on the 2018 Merakes East discovery were constrained by surface facilities, but the operator claims analysis shows that the well in production configuration can deliver 70 million cubic feet per day of gas, plus 1000 barrels per day of associated condensate.

Upstream has approached Eni for details of its upcoming work on East Sepinggan.

Eni operates the PSC with a 65% working interest. Its partners are Neptune Energy (20%) and Pertamina (15%).