(PetroTimes) - The naming of PV DRILLING IX not only marks the completion of the reactivation process but also opens a new operational journey, adding to PV Drilling’s fleet of 7 rigs, including 6 jack-up rigs and 1 deep-water Tender Assist Drilling (TAD) rig.
On the morning of March 27, at PTSC Downstream Port (Rach Dua Ward, Hồ Chí Minh City), PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Service Corporation (PV Drilling, stock code: PVD), a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), solemnly held the Naming Ceremony for the multi-purpose jack-up rig PV DRILLING IX, marking the completion of reactivation and readiness to bring the rig into commercial operation from April 2026.
Attending the ceremony, on behalf of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) were Mr. Tran Quang Dung - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Petrovietnam; Vice Presidents: Duong Manh Son, Le Manh Cuong; Mr. Nguyen Manh Kha - Chairman of the Petrovietnam Trade Union; along with leaders of the Group's specialized divisions.
The event also saw the presence of many major customers and partners of PV Drilling such as: Vietsovpetro, PVEP, BIENDONG POC, Zarubezhneft EP Vietnam B.V., JVPC, PVI South, PTSC Supply Base, VRJ Petroleum Company, PETROSETCO, Westwood, ABS...
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong - President & CEO of PV Drilling emphasized that PV Drilling identifies proactively managing technical capacity, equipment, human resources, and service quality as the foundation to ensure autonomy in rig supply, meeting future market demands. Currently, PV Drilling is providing services for more than 10 rigs in Southeast Asia; specifically in Vietnam, it is operating 1 owned rig and chartering 4 more jack-up rigs from abroad, showing that the supply source still has a significant shortage. The PV DRILLING IX rig is expected to add important capacity, contributing to maintaining the stability of oil and gas exploration and production activities.
PV DRILLING IX is a new generation jack-up rig based on the JU2000E design, highly automated with superior technical specifications, capable of operating at depths of up to 129 m, suitable for replacing floaters in deep-water areas such as the Nam Con Son basin. The rig was built in 2016 and had operated effectively in the North Sea before being received and reactivated by PV Drilling. The journey to bring the rig to Vietnam covered more than 12,800 nautical miles from Europe to Vung Tau in late 2025, and it was quickly completed for upgrading.
The naming of PV DRILLING IX not only marks the completion of the reactivation process but also opens a new operational journey, adding to PV Drilling’s fleet of 7 rigs, including 6 jack-up rigs and 1 deep-water (TAD) rig. It is expected that from April 2026, the rig will officially provide services to domestic and international customers, contributing to enhancing PV Drilling's competitiveness in the regional drilling market.
The event also carries the meaning of celebrating the 51st anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2026) and looking towards the 25th anniversary of PV Drilling's establishment (November 26, 2001 - November 26, 2026).
PV DRILLING IX integrates many modern pieces of equipment from world-leading suppliers such as NOV/SLB. The rig is equipped with the most advanced drilling systems, including automation technology in pipe handling, concurrent drilling support equipment, and meeting the requirements of High Temperature - High Pressure (HPHT) wells.
The rig is capable of operating in many areas such as the North Sea, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. PV DRILLING IX can drill wells up to 30,000 feet deep (about 9,144 m) and has a maximum capacity of 170 personnel working directly on the rig.
During the first reactivation phase in Denmark from September 2025, the rig completed inspections, operations, and trials of important systems according to ABS registration standards, including safety systems, lifting equipment, engines, and generators.
On October 30, 2025, the rig left Esbjerg Port (Denmark), moved to Rotterdam (Netherlands) before being transported to Vietnam by specialized vessel. After a journey of more than 12,800 nautical miles, the rig safely docked at Vung Tau port on December 25, 2025. After returning home, PV DRILLING IX continued to complete the second reactivation phase with Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Drydocking (UWILD) items, equipment overhauls, system and accommodation upgrades, ensuring technical conditions to be ready to provide drilling services as early as April 2026.
The Petrovietnam Vice President assessed that the domestic and regional oil and gas drilling market is entering a positive recovery cycle, with increased rig demand, high utilization rates, and significantly improved rig rental prices. This is an opportunity, but it also poses increasingly high requirements for equipment capacity, technology, and human resources for providing drilling services.
Continuing to invest, develop, and officially put the PV DRILLING IX jack-up rig into operation is a strategic step, clearly demonstrating PV Drilling's long-term vision as well as its proactivity in capturing opportunities from the strong recovery of the oil and gas drilling market.
Not only stopping at economic efficiency, the project also creates more jobs, improves income and professional levels for the team of Vietnamese engineers and workers, thereby step-by-step building a workforce with international competitive capacity. This is also the foundation for increasing the localization rate and strengthening the domestic oil and gas technical service chain.
PetroTimes
On the morning of March 27, at PTSC Downstream Port (Rach Dua Ward, Hồ Chí Minh City), PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Service Corporation (PV Drilling, stock code: PVD), a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), solemnly held the Naming Ceremony for the multi-purpose jack-up rig PV DRILLING IX, marking the completion of reactivation and readiness to bring the rig into commercial operation from April 2026.
Naming ceremony of the PV DRILLING IX rig.
Attending the ceremony, on behalf of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) were Mr. Tran Quang Dung - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Petrovietnam; Vice Presidents: Duong Manh Son, Le Manh Cuong; Mr. Nguyen Manh Kha - Chairman of the Petrovietnam Trade Union; along with leaders of the Group's specialized divisions.
The event also saw the presence of many major customers and partners of PV Drilling such as: Vietsovpetro, PVEP, BIENDONG POC, Zarubezhneft EP Vietnam B.V., JVPC, PVI South, PTSC Supply Base, VRJ Petroleum Company, PETROSETCO, Westwood, ABS...
PV Drilling President & CEO Nguyen Xuan Cuong emphasized that the Corporation identifies proactively managing technical capacity, equipment, human resources, and service quality as the foundation to ensure autonomy in rig supply.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong - President & CEO of PV Drilling emphasized that PV Drilling identifies proactively managing technical capacity, equipment, human resources, and service quality as the foundation to ensure autonomy in rig supply, meeting future market demands. Currently, PV Drilling is providing services for more than 10 rigs in Southeast Asia; specifically in Vietnam, it is operating 1 owned rig and chartering 4 more jack-up rigs from abroad, showing that the supply source still has a significant shortage. The PV DRILLING IX rig is expected to add important capacity, contributing to maintaining the stability of oil and gas exploration and production activities.
The PV DRILLING IX rig.
PV DRILLING IX is a new generation jack-up rig based on the JU2000E design, highly automated with superior technical specifications, capable of operating at depths of up to 129 m, suitable for replacing floaters in deep-water areas such as the Nam Con Son basin. The rig was built in 2016 and had operated effectively in the North Sea before being received and reactivated by PV Drilling. The journey to bring the rig to Vietnam covered more than 12,800 nautical miles from Europe to Vung Tau in late 2025, and it was quickly completed for upgrading.
The naming of PV DRILLING IX not only marks the completion of the reactivation process but also opens a new operational journey, adding to PV Drilling’s fleet of 7 rigs, including 6 jack-up rigs and 1 deep-water (TAD) rig. It is expected that from April 2026, the rig will officially provide services to domestic and international customers, contributing to enhancing PV Drilling's competitiveness in the regional drilling market.
The event also carries the meaning of celebrating the 51st anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2026) and looking towards the 25th anniversary of PV Drilling's establishment (November 26, 2001 - November 26, 2026).
The project inauguration ceremony to celebrate the 51st anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2026) and looking towards the 25th anniversary of PV Drilling's establishment (November 26, 2001 - November 26, 2026).
PV DRILLING IX integrates many modern pieces of equipment from world-leading suppliers such as NOV/SLB. The rig is equipped with the most advanced drilling systems, including automation technology in pipe handling, concurrent drilling support equipment, and meeting the requirements of High Temperature - High Pressure (HPHT) wells.
The rig is capable of operating in many areas such as the North Sea, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. PV DRILLING IX can drill wells up to 30,000 feet deep (about 9,144 m) and has a maximum capacity of 170 personnel working directly on the rig.
Delegates visiting the PV DRILLING IX rig.
The drilling derrick area of the PV DRILLING IX rig.
During the first reactivation phase in Denmark from September 2025, the rig completed inspections, operations, and trials of important systems according to ABS registration standards, including safety systems, lifting equipment, engines, and generators.
On October 30, 2025, the rig left Esbjerg Port (Denmark), moved to Rotterdam (Netherlands) before being transported to Vietnam by specialized vessel. After a journey of more than 12,800 nautical miles, the rig safely docked at Vung Tau port on December 25, 2025. After returning home, PV DRILLING IX continued to complete the second reactivation phase with Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Drydocking (UWILD) items, equipment overhauls, system and accommodation upgrades, ensuring technical conditions to be ready to provide drilling services as early as April 2026.
Petrovietnam and PV Drilling leaders visiting the PV DRILLING IX rig.
The operational launch of PV DRILLING IX is expected to contribute to strengthening PV Drilling's drilling and well technical service supply capacity, meeting the increasing demand of the domestic and regional energy market.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Le Manh Cuong - Vice President of Petrovietnam recognized and highly appreciated the efforts and determination of PV Drilling in preparing and putting the drilling rig into operation.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Le Manh Cuong - Vice President of Petrovietnam recognized and highly appreciated the efforts and determination of PV Drilling in preparing and putting the drilling rig into operation.
Petrovietnam Vice President Le Manh Cuong: Putting the PV DRILLING IX jack-up rig into operation is a strategic step, clearly demonstrating PV Drilling's long-term vision and proactivity.
The Petrovietnam Vice President assessed that the domestic and regional oil and gas drilling market is entering a positive recovery cycle, with increased rig demand, high utilization rates, and significantly improved rig rental prices. This is an opportunity, but it also poses increasingly high requirements for equipment capacity, technology, and human resources for providing drilling services.
Continuing to invest, develop, and officially put the PV DRILLING IX jack-up rig into operation is a strategic step, clearly demonstrating PV Drilling's long-term vision as well as its proactivity in capturing opportunities from the strong recovery of the oil and gas drilling market.
PV Drilling workers on the PV DRILLING IX rig.
Not only stopping at economic efficiency, the project also creates more jobs, improves income and professional levels for the team of Vietnamese engineers and workers, thereby step-by-step building a workforce with international competitive capacity. This is also the foundation for increasing the localization rate and strengthening the domestic oil and gas technical service chain.
PetroTimes
