Four drillers in race for Shell’s Malikai contract

FOUR players are in the running for a contract to carry out development drilling on Shell’s deep-water Malikai field off Sabah, Malaysia.

Market sources said Singapore-based Energy Drilling, PV Drilling of Vietnam, New York and Oslo-listed Seadrill and Malaysia’s SapuraKencana Drilling are battling it out for an 18-month contract, which is due to begin in January next year.

The Anglo-Dutch supermajor — which wants a semi-submersible tender assist rig — is understood to be evaluating commercial bids and is ready to award the contract in September, said sources.

Seadrill