Saipem Secures $260 Million Offshore Drillship Deal for Eni in Côte d’Ivoire

Italian energy services firm Saipem has been awarded a $260 million contract by Eni Côte d’Ivoire Limited to deploy the seventh‑generation drillship Santorini for development drilling off Côte d’Ivoire beginning in early 2027. The contract, linked to Eni’s $4 billion Baleine Phase 3 offshore expansion, will see the ultra‑deepwater vessel operate in water depths up to 3,658 metres and drill wells as deep as 12,192 metres. The agreement also provides options for extended work in Côte d’Ivoire and neighboring countries.

In addition, Saipem won a second contract, part of an overall €800 million package with Eni, covering engineering, procurement and construction for a new de‑oxygenation unit at the Enilive bio‑refinery in Venice, Italy. Together the deals underscore Saipem’s role in both offshore oil‑and‑gas projects in West Africa and on‑shore sustainable‑energy infrastructure in Europe.