The saga surrounding General Hydrocarbons Limited (GHL) and its attempts to force Dolphin Drilling to complete the work under the terminated drilling contract for the Blackford Dolphin rig continues with the offshore driller stating that no restraining order was given for its rig or any of its subsidiaries.
Local media claimed that the Nigerian offshore oil and gas company secured a restraining order in the Federal High Court in Lagos. This, allegedly, would prevent Dolphin Drilling, its subsidiaries, agents, servants, privies, or anybody acting on their behalf from removing, demobilising, or decommissioning the Blackford Dolphin rig from the field it was working on before a hearing to determine its faith.
A story in Nigerian media also noted that the court restrained the two other companies from interfering with the rights of GHL under the contract for using the rig.
In an official response from Dolphin Drilling, the company does confirm that the termination of the deal was disputed by GHL and that it did make an application to the Nigerian courts for an interim injunction seeking to maintain the status quo, pending the appointment of an arbitrator.
“GHL is portrayed in the Nigerian media to have been granted a permanent restraining order for the rig, which is inaccurate. This has been brought to the court’s attention, whereupon the court has directed GHL’s counsel to take steps to prevent any such further pre-emptive or prejudicial communications from being instigated by GHL, with counsel also undertaking to do so,” the offshore driller explained.
Dolphin Drilling added that no new decision had been made by the Nigerian court regarding the restraining of the Blackford Dolphin.
“The situation is that the court [appointed] a mutually acceptable sole arbitrator and will hear arguments on May 20, 2024, on the discharge of the status quo orders earlier granted,” the company added.
The semisub rig owner terminated the contract with GHL for the rig at the end of April. The two companies reached an agreement in March for past-due payments from GHL to Dolphin Drilling and the remaining work under the drilling contract for the rig. The Norwegian company received further payment and the rig continued operations for GHL. The next payment in the plan was due by late April 2024. As the payment was not made, Dolphin Drilling issued a notice of termination to GHL.
As the rig had no other contractual obligations in the country, it was supposed to exit Nigeria and prepare for transit to India to begin work for Oil India Limited.
