PV Drilling has completed the reactivation of PV DRILLING IX, a move that will expand its rig fleet and add capacity to a tightening drilling market in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The jack-up rig is scheduled to enter commercial service in April 2026.
The unit is a new-generation jack-up built to the JU2000E design. It can work in water depths of up to 129 m and drill wells to 9,144 m. The rig also includes automated pipe-handling systems, equipment that supports simultaneous drilling activity, and specifications suited to High Temperature and High Pressure wells. It can accommodate as many as 170 personnel.
The reactivated unit increases PV Drilling’s fleet to seven rigs, made up of six jack-ups and one deep-water TAD rig. The company said it is currently supporting more than 10 rigs across Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, it operates one owned rig and also charters four jack-ups from overseas, underlining the gap between available supply and market demand.
PV DRILLING IX was built in 2016 and previously worked in the North Sea. The reactivation program began in Denmark in September 2025, where key systems were inspected and tested under ABS requirements, including safety systems, lifting gear, engines and generators.
The rig departed Esbjerg on 30 October 2025, called at Rotterdam, and was then transported to Vietnam on a heavy-lift vessel. After a voyage of more than 12,800 nautical miles, it arrived in Vung Tau on 25 December 2025.
Following its arrival, the second phase of the work included UWILD scope, equipment overhaul, and upgrades to onboard systems and living areas. These works were completed to prepare the rig for service from April 2026.
Company management said the project supports greater control over technical capability, equipment readiness, manpower and service quality. Petrovietnam also described the launch of PV DRILLING IX as a strategic step as the regional drilling market shows stronger demand, firmer utilization and improved day rates.
Beyond fleet expansion, the project is expected to support jobs, raise skills among Vietnamese engineers and workers, and strengthen the domestic oil and gas service chain.
