Offshore drilling contractor Rowan Companies has leased one of its jack-up drilling rigs to its joint venture with Saudi Aramco, ARO Drilling. 

    Rowan said on Monday that the Bob Palmer, a Super Gorilla XL Class jack-up rig, has been leased to ARO Drilling, the company’s 50/50  joint venture with Saudi Aramco, which started operations in October 2017.

    The JV ARO Drilling was formed with an aim to own, operate, and manage offshore drilling rigs in Saudi Arabia.

    The driller also said that the rig has been leased to fulfill a three-year contract that ARO Drilling has been awarded by Saudi Aramco.

    The Bob Palmer was operating for Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia and will now do so through ARO Drilling.

    It is worth reminding that back in late April 2018 Rowan announced the lease of four idle jack-up rigs to ARO Drilling. Just like Bob Palmer, these four jack-ups were leased to fulfill four three-year contracts for Saudi Aramco.