Sunda Energy has moved to firm up its drilling plans offshore Timor-Leste, signing a letter of intent with Finder to work together on securing a rig for upcoming campaigns. The London-listed company, through its unit SundaGas Banda, is looking to align its Chuditch-2 appraisal well with Finder’s planned drilling at the Kuda Tasi and Jahal fields. Both projects sit offshore Timor-Leste and involve the state-backed partner Timor Gap. Under the agreement, the two sides will look to contract a suitable rig, align services and materials where possible, and coordinate planning and execution. The aim is to run a combined campaign that is more attractive to contractors and easier to deliver, the company said in a filing. Finder is further advanced in securing a unit and is targeting a semi-submersible rig for its programme in around 400 m water depth. That same type of rig could also be used for Chuditch-2, even though the well is in much shallower water at about 65 m. Using a semi-sub will require some tweaks to the Chuditch-2 well design, with engineering work set to begin shortly. The partners have also started early discussions on logistics and project management. The shift towards a shared campaign reflects the challenge Sunda has faced in locking in a rig for a short, standalone job. Chuditch-2 is expected to take around 35 to 40 days to drill, which has made it harder to secure a unit on competitive terms. By linking up with Finder, which is planning at least three wells, the combined programme could stretch to roughly 200 days. That longer run improves utilisation for contractors and is expected to bring cost and operational benefits for both sides. Drilling of Chuditch-2 is now being lined up for 2027, later than earlier plans, but with a clearer path to execution if the joint campaign moves ahead. In parallel, SundaGas has asked Timor-Leste’s regulator ANP to extend the current production sharing contract, which is due to expire in June 2026, to allow time for the revised schedule. Sunda Energy chief executive Andy Butler says the tie-up should help move the project forward. “This collaborative initiative would create many potential synergies and help both parties effectively achieve their respective operational goals,” he noted, adding that sharing a rig and services “would considerably enhance the achievability of the project.” The LOI runs until the end of October 2026 or until a formal rig-sharing deal is signed, leaving both companies room to firm up terms as they push towards a final drilling plan. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsTimor-Leste