Bluewhale Offshore
Bluewhale Offshore is a Singapore-based offshore drilling and marine services contractor, wholly owned by CIMC Group, operating ultra-deepwater semi-submersibles, harsh-environment jack-ups, and specialized service vessels under long-term contracts with NOCs and IOCs including CNOOC, Dragon Oil, and COSL.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bluewhale Offshore does
Bluewhale Offshore is a Singapore-based offshore drilling and marine services contractor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CIMC Group. The company operates and manages a fleet of ultra-deepwater semi-submersibles, mid-water semi-submersibles, harsh-environment jack-ups, and specialized service vessels, and was granted the rights in April 2025 to manage all 14 CIMC Group offshore assets — extending its scope from an operator of roughly five rigs into a broader offshore asset-management platform. Core assets include the seventh-generation Frigstad D90-design Bluewhale I and II (ultra-deepwater), the GM4D-series mid-water semisubmersibles, three JU2000E jack-ups operating in the Caspian, the ESV Guardian for plug-and-abandonment work, and the self-propelled crane vessel Prometheus.
The company's revenue model is anchored to long-duration drilling and service contracts with national and international oil companies, executed on assets specifically engineered for ultra-deepwater and harsh-environment conditions. Confirmed customer engagements include a CNOOC contract for Bluewhale I in the South China Sea, a multi-year Dragon Oil contract for the Caspian Driller in the Caspian Sea, and an ESV Guardian contract with COSL. Monetization is primarily day-rate based (industry benchmark $80K-$400K+ per day depending on rig class), supplemented by long-term operations-and-maintenance scope. The technical differentiator sits in the seventh-generation UDW semi-submersible design and harsh-environment jack-up specifications, segments where qualified supply is structurally limited.
Operationally, Bluewhale Offshore has been repositioning in 2025: a leadership transition (Ronald Xu's resignation in March, Jianhui Yu as interim CEO, multiple senior appointments in May) coincides with the broader CIMC asset mandate and active participation in industry forums (OTC 2025, GOTECH 2025). Reference project performance — including the LS17-2 deepwater project delivered 200 days ahead of schedule — is the principal commercial credential cited to new NOC/IOC customers. Data on AI/ML adoption, fleet utilization beyond named contracts, and segment-level revenue is not disclosed.
Bluewhale Offshore firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bluewhale Offshore
- Legal name
- Bluewhale Offshore Pte Ltd
- Website
- https://bluewhaleoffshore.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Bluewhale Offshore is a Singapore-based offshore drilling and marine services contractor, wholly owned by CIMC Group, operating ultra-deepwater semi-submersibles, harsh-environment jack-ups, and specialized service vessels under long-term contracts with NOCs and IOCs including CNOOC, Dragon Oil, and COSL.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bluewhale Offshore industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Offshore Drilling Services
- NAICS
- Oil and Gas Extraction (211), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)
- SIC
- Drilling Oil & Gas Wells (1381), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Offshore Marine & Aviation Support (PSVs, AHTS, Crew Boats, Helicopters) (EUALABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Subsea Services & Equipment (Subsea Trees, Umbilicals, Installation, IMR) (EUALABAI)
Keywords
Where Bluewhale Offshore is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices5 records
Markets served
Bluewhale Offshore business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Offshore Drilling Contracts: Day-rate and term contracts for deploying drilling rigs (ultra-deepwater, mid-water, jack-up) to oil and gas operators for exploration and production drilling operations. Contracts typically span months to years.
- Offshore Support Services: Accommodation, construction support, well intervention, and plugging and abandonment services. Includes ESV Guardian offshore services for COSL.
- Asset Management Services: Managing offshore assets for CIMC Group including marketing, collaboration with partners and contractors for 14 assets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Contract-based day-rate pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Bluewhale Offshore product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bluewhale Offshore is a drilling and offshore services contractor that operates a diversified fleet of offshore drilling rigs and service vessels for oil and gas operators. The company provides ultra-deepwater, mid-water, and shallow-water drilling services, plus plug and abandonment, field decommissioning, and offshore support services using semi-submersibles, jack-ups, and specialized vessels.
Product overview
Bluewhale Offshore is a drilling and offshore services contractor offering a diversified fleet of offshore drilling rigs and service vessels. The company operates five semi-submersible rigs (including two Ultra-Deepwater units: Bluewhale I and Bluewhale II) and six jack-up rigs (including three JU2000E Gulf Driller vessels) for various water depth operations. The fleet also includes specialized vessels for well intervention, plugging and abandonment (ESV Guardian), and offshore services/accommodation (Prometheus SSCV). Principal services include offshore drilling, P&A operations, field decommissioning, and offshore support services. Bluewhale Offshore manages 14 offshore assets in total as a subsidiary of CIMC Group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bluewhale I Ultra-Deepwater Semi-Submersible Rig 7th generation Ultra-Deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig capable of operating in 3,658 meters water depth with drilling depth capability up to 15,240 meters featuring dual towers; Frigstad D90 design under DNV Class. Offered to oil and gas operators for ultra-deepwater exploration and production drilling.
- Bluewhale II Ultra-Deepwater Semi-Submersible Rig 7th generation Ultra-Deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig based on Frigstad D90 design; deployed to oil and gas operators for ultra-deepwater drilling operations.
- GM4D Series Mid-Water Semi-Submersible Rigs Mid-water semi-submersible drilling rigs including GM4D North Dragon, GM4D Beacon Atlantic, and GM4D Beacon Pacific; offered to oil and gas operators for mid-range water depth drilling operations.
- JU2000E Series Jack-Up Rigs Jack-up rigs including Gulf Driller VII, Gulf Driller VI, and Gulf Driller VIII designed for shallow water and harsh environment drilling operations; contracted to oil and gas operators including Dragon Oil in the Caspian Sea.
- ESV Guardian Elevating Service Vessel Elevating service vessel for well intervention and plugging and abandonment operations; deployed for offshore support service contracts including for COSL.
- Prometheus Self-Propelled Crane Vessel (SSCV) Self-propelled crane vessel (SSCV) for offshore services, accommodation, and construction support; offered to operators for marine construction and accommodation projects.
- Ultra-Deepwater Drilling Services Ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling operations in water depths exceeding 1,500 meters; delivered as a contracted drilling service to oil and gas operators.
- Mid-Water Drilling Services Semi-submersible drilling operations in mid-range water depths; delivered as contracted drilling services to oil and gas operators.
- Shallow Water / Harsh Environment Drilling Services Jack-up rig operations in shallow waters including harsh environment conditions; delivered as contracted drilling services to oil and gas operators.
- Plug & Abandonment Services Well plugging and abandonment operations using specialized vessels including the ESV Guardian; offered to oil and gas operators for end-of-life well decommissioning.
- Offshore Support Services Accommodation and construction support services using offshore service units and the Prometheus SSCV; offered to oil and gas operators and offshore project developers.
- Field Decommissioning Services Offshore field decommissioning services for end-of-life oil and gas facilities; delivered as a contracted service to oil and gas operators.
Quantifiable outcome
- LS17-2 project completed 200 days ahead of schedule for CNOOC
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Bluewhale Offshore
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bluewhale Offshore technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Bluewhale Offshore partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CIMC GroupcoreCIMC Group is the parent company of Bluewhale Offshore. Bluewhale Offshore has secured rights to market, manage, and collaborate with partners for 14 offshore assets from CIMC Group, including semisubmersible drilling rigs, jack-up rigs, and accommodation units.
- Dragon OilcoreDragon Oil (UAE-based operator) extended the Caspian Driller jack-up rig contract for an additional three years in the Caspian Sea. This contract extension solidifies the ongoing partnership and recognizes Bluewhale's rig capabilities and operational excellence. The partnership supports Dragon Oil's production goals in the Caspian region.
- CNOOCcoreCNOOC contracted Bluewhale I semi-submersible rig for South of China Sea operations commencing Q4 2022 for approximately two and a half years. Previously completed LS17-2 deepwater gas project 200 days ahead of schedule. LS17-2 is China's first wholly-owned deepwater gas project.
- Dragon OilcoreDragon Oil CEO Ali Rashid Al Jarwan engaged with Bluewhale President at GOTECH annual conference in Dubai. Bluewhale's track record with Dragon Oil facilitates continued growth in the Caspian basin. Dragon Oil is both a customer (Caspian Driller contract) and industry partner.
- COSLminorESV Guardian provides offshore services for COSL (China Oilfield Services Limited) since 2015. This represents an operational service relationship in the offshore support vessel segment.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bluewhale Offshore competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL): COSL is China's largest integrated offshore oilfield services provider offering drilling rigs, well services, marine support, and geophysical services. It is both a customer of Bluewhale (ESV Guardian services) and a broader incumbent competitor in Asia-Pacific offshore services with national backing comparable to Bluewhale's CIMC Group affiliation.
Direct peers
- Noble Corporation: Noble is a major offshore drilling contractor operating a fleet of drillships and semi-submersibles focused on ultra-deepwater and harsh-environment work for IOCs and NOCs. It directly compares to Bluewhale's UDW operations and shares talent crossover (Asset Integrity Manager Woodburn previously worked at Noble).
- Borr Drilling: Borr Drilling is a pure-play jack-up specialist with one of the youngest premium jack-up fleets globally, serving shallow and harsh-environment markets in regions overlapping with Bluewhale's Caspian Sea (Dragon Oil) and Middle East jack-up operations.
- Seadrill: Seadrill owns and operates a fleet of offshore drilling units including ultra-deepwater drillships, semi-submersibles, and jack-ups serving the global E&P industry. It directly competes with Bluewhale's fleet for offshore drilling contracts with NOCs and IOCs across major basins.
- Transocean: Transocean is the world's largest offshore drilling contractor, operating ultra-deepwater drillships, harsh-environment semi-submersibles, and shallow-water jack-ups. It directly compares to Bluewhale's fleet of 7th-gen UDW semi-submersibles (Bluewhale I/II) and jack-up rigs serving NOCs and IOCs globally on multi-year day-rate contracts.
- Diamond Offshore Drilling: Diamond Offshore operates a fleet of ultra-deepwater drillships and semi-submersibles primarily serving deepwater basins in the Gulf of Mexico, South America, and Asia-Pacific. It directly compares to Bluewhale's UDW semi-submersible operations and shares similar deepwater customer base across NOCs and IOCs.
- Valaris Limited: Valaris is a leading global offshore drilling contractor with a diversified fleet of drillships, semi-submersibles, and jack-up rigs serving major oil and gas operators. It is directly comparable to Bluewhale's diversified rig portfolio spanning UDW, mid-water, and harsh-environment shallow-water operations across multiple basins.
- ADES Group: ADES Group is an offshore drilling and well-services contractor with a fleet of jack-up rigs and modular rigs serving the MENA region (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria). It is comparable to Bluewhale's region-adjacent jack-up and accommodation/harsh-environment operations, and shares customer overlap with NOC operators.
- Shelf Drilling: Shelf Drilling is a leading international shallow-water offshore drilling contractor with a fleet of jack-up rigs, particularly focused on the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and India. It is comparable to Bluewhale's shallow-water / harsh-environment jack-up segment and similar basin exposure.
- Vantage Drilling International: Vantage Drilling operates a fleet of ultra-deepwater drillships and managed solutions for offshore drilling customers. It directly compares to Bluewhale's UDW drilling operations and asset-management orientation with third-party rig owners.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bluewhale Offshore social profiles
Digital presenceBluewhale Offshore compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Bluewhale Offshore financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bluewhale Offshore leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Bluewhale Offshore subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Bluewhale Offshore funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bluewhale Offshore M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bluewhale Offshore
What does Bluewhale Offshore do?
Bluewhale Offshore is a drilling and offshore services contractor that operates a diversified fleet of offshore drilling rigs and service vessels for oil and gas operators. The company provides ultra-deepwater, mid-water, and shallow-water drilling services, plus plug and abandonment, field decommissioning, and offshore support services using semi-submersibles, jack-ups, and specialized vessels.
Is Bluewhale Offshore a public or private company?
Bluewhale Offshore is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Bluewhale Offshore founded?
Bluewhale Offshore was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Bluewhale Offshore based?
Bluewhale Offshore is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does Bluewhale Offshore make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Offshore Drilling Contracts are the primary driver. The others are offshore Support Services and asset Management Services.
Who are Bluewhale Offshore's main competitors?
China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Noble Corporation, Borr Drilling, Seadrill, Transocean, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Valaris Limited, ADES Group, Shelf Drilling and Vantage Drilling International.
Does Bluewhale Offshore have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bluewhale Offshore.
What industry is Bluewhale Offshore in?
Bluewhale Offshore's product category is Offshore Drilling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALABAJ, Offshore Marine & Aviation Support (PSVs, AHTS, Crew Boats, Helicopters), with a secondary code of EUALABAI, Subsea Services & Equipment (Subsea Trees, Umbilicals, Installation, IMR). Its NAICS code is 211 and its SIC code is 1381.