The Stabroek Block offshore Guyana hosts four highly capable Noble drillships—Sam Croft, Bob Douglas, Tom Madden, and Don Taylor—all constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries. These vessels share the advanced Gusto P10000 design, providing high performance in ultra-deepwater environments.
Each drillship operates at a water depth of 12,000 feet and has a drilling depth capability of 40,000 feet. They are all classified under DNV standards, featuring dynamic positioning (DYNPOS-AUTR), ship-shaped drilling units, and are flagged in Liberia.
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Sam Croft and Tom Madden were built in 2014, with quarters capacity for 210 personnel, and fuel storage at 42,848 barrels. Their bulk storage reaches 14,690 cubic feet, with a sack storage of 10,000 sacks. Both drillships are equipped with a moonpool measuring 115 ft by 41 ft and can handle hook loads of 2,500 kips on the main hoist and 1,500 kips on the auxiliary hoist.
Bob Douglas and Don Taylor were built in 2013, with a slightly larger fuel capacity of 44,544 barrels and a significant bulk storage capacity. Bob Douglas leads with 28,812 cubic feet of bulk storage, nearly double its counterparts. Don Taylor follows with a bulk storage of 14,691 cubic feet.
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These drillships are key assets in Noble’s fleet, providing substantial storage for drill water, liquid mud, brine, and base oil.
Each vessel is a powerhouse, capable of efficiently supporting the high demands of drilling in the Stabroek Block. The asset is operated by ExxonMobil.
The company announced the Bluefin-1 discovery in March. This forms part of its 35-well campaign, which spans several years.
Exxon has thus far discovered more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels offshore Guyana. It holds a 45% stake in the Stabroek Block with Hess holding 30% and CNOOC 25%.
