Arena Energy Deploys $65M Refurbished Jack-Up Rig on Gulf Shelf
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The Woodlands, Texas – – September 12, 2026 -- Arena Energy, LLC has begun a multi-well drilling program on the Gulf of America Shelf using the WFD 450, the deepest-rated water depth jack-up rig operating in the region, following a $65 million acquisition and refurbishment by drilling partner White Fleet Drilling, LLC.
White Fleet Spent $65 Million Reviving a Rig Idle for Seven Years
The WFD 450 was originally built in 1999 and operated by Valaris before being cold-stacked in shallow Gulf waters for seven years. White Fleet Drilling acquired the rig and funded what it calls one of the most significant jack-up refurbishment investments in the Gulf of America in recent years, christening it on January 9, 2026, and deploying it to active drilling in late March.