Petrovietnam Drilling & Well Service Corporation (PV Drilling) has officially taken ownership of the Noble Highlander jackup rig, following a handover ceremony held on 4 September 2025 in Vietnam. The transfer was marked between PV Drilling and Noble Highlander UK Ltd, cementing the $65 million acquisition.
At the same time, in Denmark, the rig was also handed over to PV Drilling’s technical team. The 400-ft harsh-environment Noble Highlander, built in 2016 and based on the F&G JU-2000E design, has been cold stacked in Denmark since early 2022, after completing work in the UK.
The rig has now been renamed PV Drilling IX, increasing the company’s jackup fleet to six units.
PV Drilling plans to reactivate the rig in Denmark within one month, followed by mobilization to PTSC Downstream Port, Ho Chi Minh City, a journey expected to take 50–60 days. Once reactivation and mobilization are complete, PV Drilling IX is scheduled to commence operations for its first client by late March or early April 2026.
This acquisition strengthens PV Drilling’s position in the regional offshore drilling market, adding a modern high-specification jackup to its expanding fleet.
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