A jack-up drilling rig suffered a loss of stability during jacking operations at BW Energy's Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon on 24 October 2026 at 20:37 local time. The rig, Prospector 5, is owned and operated by Borr Drilling and was preparing for a planned drilling campaign at the licence when the incident occurred.
BW Energy confirmed the incident via a stock exchange release, signalling its materiality to investors and operational continuity at Dussafu. The release does not specify the extent of structural damage to Prospector 5, whether personnel were injured, or the current status of the rig and crew. Further details from BW Energy and Borr Drilling are expected as the situation is assessed.
The Dussafu Marine licence is BW Energy's primary operated asset, and the planned drilling campaign that Prospector 5 was mobilising to support represents a core element of the company's near-term production growth strategy in Gabon. Any prolonged removal or replacement of the rig will affect the timeline of that campaign and, by extension, BW Energy's production outlook. Jack-up jacking operations — the process of extending or retracting the rig's legs to position the hull at working height — are a known critical phase where mechanical and geotechnical risks are concentrated, though the article does not specify the precise cause of the stability loss.
For the broader Gabon offshore drilling market, the incident introduces near-term uncertainty. Rig availability in the West African jack-up market is tight, and sourcing a replacement unit at short notice — if Prospector 5 is confirmed out of service — could delay the campaign by weeks or months. Regulatory authorities in Gabon may also initiate an investigation, potentially imposing additional operational holds pending findings. BW Energy will likely be required to report to the Gabonese authorities and update the market as facts become clearer.