In the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana, the Stena Carron is currently the only drillship from Stena Drilling Ltd. operating in the acreage. The company previously had the Stena DrillMax working in the block, but its work program concluded in 2025. The Stena Carron secured an extension and is contracted through December 2026.
Other rigs continue to operate in the block under Noble Corporation. Stena’s active presence, however, now rests on the Stena Carron. The vessel has operated in water depths of up to 2,938 meters and has supported exploration, appraisal, and development drilling since first arriving offshore Guyana in 2016.
Built at Samsung Heavy Industries, the drillship entered service in August 2008. It sails under the United Kingdom flag. Designed for harsh environments, it uses a dynamic positioning system to maintain station while drilling in deep and ultra-deep waters offshore Guyana.
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The vessel measures 228 meters in length and 42 meters in width. It can accommodate 180 personnel. Its helideck is rated for EH-101 and S-92 helicopters, supporting offshore crew rotations and supply runs.
The Stena Carron is designed to operate in water depths of up to 3,000 meters. It can drill to depths of 10,700 meters. The vessel features a dual hoisting and drilling tower. Its main hookload capacity is 1,000 short tons, with an auxiliary capacity of 600 short tons. It is equipped with a fully integrated managed pressure drilling system. Its blowout preventer equipment includes two six-ram and two annular stacks rated to 15,000 pounds per square inch. Six Wartsila diesel engines power the drillship, and six azimuthing thrusters hold it on location over the well.
During its time in the Stabroek Block, the Stena Carron has drilled several wells that were confirmed discoveries.
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In 2018, it drilled Hammerhead-1, which encountered approximately 197 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone. That same year, it drilled Longtail-1, which also encountered hydrocarbons. Both discoveries will now underpin developments in the Stabroek Block.
In 2022, the vessel drilled Seabob-1. The well encountered about 131 feet of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone. It also drilled Sailfin-1 in 2022, which encountered approximately 312 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone. Yarrow-1, drilled alongside Sailfin-1, encountered roughly 75 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone.
Over its years in the Stabroek Block, the Stena Carron completed 86 well operations, drilling a total of 241,358 meters.
