Dolphin Drilling has secured a positive outcome in the arbitration case with General Hydrocarbons Limited (GHL) concerning the termination of a drilling contract for Blackford Dolphin semi-submersible rig that was hired for operations offshore Nigeria.

The Dolphin drilling contract with GHL for the Blackford Dolphin semi-submersible drilling rig was canceled on April 2024 owing to unresolved issues with the agreed payments.

The Blackford Dolphin semi-submersible went to work for Lagos-based General Hydrocarbons in March last year. At the time, Dolphin said this carried a $260,000 dayrate.

The General Hydrocarbons contract was to run for 12 months. After completing this work, the Blackford Dolphin would move to work for Peak. This had a minimum term of 120 days and a maximum of 485 days. Dolphin Drilling cut off the Peak Petroleum deal after “extensive efforts” to receive outstanding funds failed.

Dolphin Drilling has in a recent media release confirmed the arbitration case against GHL has been resolved, with the company due to receive approximately $100 million.

The Blackford Dolphin semi-submersible drilling rig was constructed in 1974 and underwent significant upgrades in 2008. The rig has a maximum operating water depth of 6,000 feet (1829 meters) and a maximum drilling depth of 30,000 feet (9,144 meters).

Since the cancellation of the contract with GHL, the rig has been hired by Oil India, under $154 million agreement secured in March 2023. The rig arrived in India in November and started operations for Oil India.