The Saipem 12,000 drillship has arrived offshore Pemba in Mozambique in order to wrap up a curtailed development drilling campaign on Eni's Coral South gas project.

After eight months of interruption due to the impact and restrictions of the (Covid-19) pandemic, Italian major Eni is set to start drilling within days at the deep-water field in Area 4, said Mozambique's upstream regulator INP

Eni notified the authorities of the drillship's arrival offshore Pemba on 5 January, with operations set to start once formalities — including customs, material loading and boarding of the remaining crew — have been completed.

The Saipem 12,000 is currently located 45 kilometres due east of Pemba with platform supply vessel Vos Principal in attendance.

The PSV arrived in Pemba on 5 December, with armed guards boarding it two days later, according to VesselsValue.

Mozambique's government has placed Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province, on high alert for potential attacks from Islamic insurgents.

Also at anchor in Pemba port is the Pelican Unity maritime security vessel, operated by UK-based Ambrey and recently built by Penguin Shipyard in Singapore.

Coral South drilling activities started in September 2019 and were ongoing until April 2020 before stopping due to restrictions imposed on operations due to coronavirus.

Gas from the field will be fed from six wells to the Coral Sul floating liquefied natural gas vessel, which is set to come on line in 2022 and is being constructed in South Korea.

The vessel is expected to produce 3.4 million tonnes per annum of LNG.

Rigs And Vessels

Saipem drillship arrives in Mozambique for Coral drilling campaign