Saipem, a company focused on engineering, drilling, and assembly of major projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors, has secured two offshore contracts worth nearly $550mn.

One of these contracts applies to the Middle East, where it ensures the continuity of the ongoing activity of the Perro Negro 7 jack-up drilling unit, by securing a ten-year extension to the existing contract.

According to Saipem, the Perro Negro 7 is a jack-up capable of operating in water depths of up to 375ft.

The remaining contract is in the Mediterranean Sea, where Saipem has won a contract for the utilisation of the semi-submersible unit Scarabeo 9 for an estimated period of around six months (plus a further, optional period).

The unit is a sixth-generation semi-submersible drilling rig capable of operating in ultra-deep water, at depths of up to 12,000ft.

A spokesperson for Saipem commented: “The 10-year extension is a record duration in this area, which in the past had only been granted to an international contractor on limited occasions, and further strengthens Saipem’s strategic positioning in the drilling segment. After having recently expanded its presence in the area from three rigs in 2021 to seven expected at the end of 2023 – thanks to the acquisition of various multi-year contracts – with this contract renewal, we see once again the recognition of Saipem’s commitment to executing projects efficiently, with attention to safety and the environment in the “shallow water” market worldwide.”