ARA Petroleum Tanzania (APT), operator of the Ruvuma Production Sharing Agreement, has signed a drilling rig contract for the Ntorya-3 well, with spud expected in late December 2026. The rig, previously released by Maurel & Prom, is scheduled to arrive on site in mid-December 2026, after which rig-up, commissioning, and mobilisation of drilling services will precede first drilling operations. The contract also includes options for additional wells, though the number and scope of those options were not specified in available reporting.
The Ntorya field, located in the Ruvuma basin in southern Tanzania, has been a focal point of domestic gas development ambitions. APT's progression to a third well at Ntorya signals continued operator confidence in the resource base following earlier appraisal activity. The Ruvuma PSA sits in a region that has attracted sustained interest from regional and international energy players given Tanzania's broader gas endowment, though development timelines in the country have historically extended beyond initial projections.
The engagement of a rig previously associated with Maurel & Prom — a co-investor in the broader Ruvuma acreage — reflects the interconnected nature of asset activity in this basin. The transfer and re-deployment of the rig unit to APT for the NT-3 campaign points to active coordination between parties holding interests in the area. No contract value was disclosed in available reporting.
With drilling services mobilisation forming part of the pre-spud programme, multiple service categories will be activated in the months ahead. The contract's option provisions indicate APT may be positioning for a broader campaign contingent on results from the Ntorya-3 well. If NT-3 delivers commercially significant results, it could accelerate decisions on field development planning and associated infrastructure for the Ruvuma acreage, an area where gas monetisation pathways — including potential domestic supply and export options — remain under consideration by Tanzanian authorities and project stakeholders.