On May 5, ADNOC Drilling announced that it has clinched a fresh $806 million contract to build 3 advanced AI-based offshore rigs. This deal will bring the total count to 6.
The deal, awarded by ADNOC Offshore, is part of its major plan to expand its fleet to more than 151 rigs by 2028.
ADNOC Drilling Bets Big on AI Rigs
Co-developed with China’s Honghua Group, the next-gen rigs will be equipped with artificial intelligence to monitor safety, predict maintenance needs, and optimize performance in real-time, according to the latest report.
With extended reach drilling capabilities, they can tackle complex wells from Abu Dhabi’s man-made islands, which are already home to the world’s longest well.
“These are not just rigs—they’re AI-enhanced, next-gen drilling platforms designed to redefine safety, uptime and operational efficiency. This award extends our earnings visibility into the next decade and reinforces our role as ADNOC’s key enabler for production growth,” said Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Seiari, CEO of ADNOC Drilling.
The contract will bring ADNOC Drilling closer to its long-term goals, which offer earnings visibility through 2038. It supports ADNOC’s plan to extract maximum value from offshore fields like Zakum.
As the rigs are built and deployed between 2027 and 2028, the company says the financial outlay remains in line with its earlier orders.
While ADNOC increases local capability, OPEC+ has rattled markets with a major output increase amid a global trade war. It has reduced oil prices to near 4-year lows.
Moreover, such energy innovations in oil-rich nations show a latest trend as traditional energy giants are embracing cutting-edge tech, including AI.
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