Brazilian state-run energy firm Petrobras has entered into a two-year contract to charter a drilling rig from Ocyan, formerly known as Odebrecht, Reuters has reported.
The contract is the first deal between the two companies since a corruption scandal erupted five years ago. Odebrecht was one of the firms that was caught in Operation Cash Wash, Brazil’s corruption probe into Petrobras. Dozens of companies acknowledged paying bribes to politicians and officials in exchange for contracts with Petrobras.
Odebrecht was then banned from signing any new contracts with Petrobras until mid-2018, when Petrobras decided to conditionally allow some business dealings with Odebrecht following improvements in the conglomerate’s compliance programs.
According to Roberto Simões, chief executive of Ocyan, Petrobras awarded contracts for six drilling rigs in total through a recent tender with one contract awarded to Ocyan, three to Constellation Oil Services and two to Petroserv.
Ocyan, which changed names in January 2018, currently operates a fleet of eight offshore units made up of two FPSOs and six drilling units.