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Adnoc Drilling has announced winning a contract worth $733m from fellow Adnoc Group subsidiary, Adnoc Offshore, for three island drilling rigs to support operations at the Zakum oil field development, offshore Abu Dhabi.

The three new island rigs will operate on existing and newly constructed artificial islands at the offshore Zakum field for drilling and completion of wells, Adnoc Drilling said on 3 July.

The rigs will be designed and built by Hong Kong-based Honghua Group (HH), with whom Adnoc Drilling has a partnership.

“This partnership has been specifically formed to harness the transformative nature of [artificial intelligence] AI, digitisation, and advanced technology in the design and operation of these next-generation drilling rigs,” Adnoc Drilling said in its statement.

Adnoc Drilling and HH will look to also collaborate with Abu Dhabi-based AI firm AIQ in future.

Delivery of the rigs and commencement of operations is expected during 2026, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange-listed (ADX) Adnoc Drilling said.

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The total capital expenditure expected for the purchase of the new island rigs is approximately $210m, mostly concentrated in 2025, with the first full-year revenue from the new rigs expected to be 2027, Adnoc Drilling said.

The full-year 2024 guidance of $200-250m for the island rig segment, which currently operates 10 island rigs, is unchanged.

Adnoc Drilling’s fleet is now expected to total at least 148 by 2026, including these three new rigs as well as the previously announced three land rigs for the initial phase of the unconventional hydrocarbon development.

Since the fourth quarter of 2021, when the company’s initial public offering took place on ADX, Adnoc Drilling has invested more than $2.2bn in building one of the largest integrated drilling fleets in the world.