Stratistics MRC에 따르면 세계의 이동식 해양 시추 장비 시장은 2025년 61억 3,000만 달러를 차지하고 예측 기간 동안 CAGR 9.6%로 성장해 2032년에는 116억 4,000만 달러에 이를 것으로 예측됩니다.
이동식 해양 시추 장비(MODU)는 수중에 가라앉은 석유 및 가스 광상 생산과 탐사 드릴링에 모두 사용되는 특수 플랫폼 또는 선박의 일종입니다. MODU는 기동성이 뛰어나므로 에너지 기업은 새로운 해양 매장량을 효율적으로 탐광하고, 다른 해양 환경에 적응할 수 있습니다.
미국 에너지 정보국(EIA)에 따르면 세계 해양 석유 생산량은 2040년까지 일량 1,170만 배럴에 이를 것으로 예측되고 있습니다.
해양 탐사 및 생산(E&P) 활동 확대
육상의 석유 매장량이 고갈되어 기존의 유전에서 원유를 채굴하는 것이 어려워지고 있기 때문에 에너지 기업의 관심은 점점 해양 지역으로 향해 가고 있습니다. 투자를 통해 이동식 해양 시추 장비에 대한 수요가 증가하고 있으며, 심해 및 초심해 지역에서의 드릴링이 선진적인 해양 기술에 의해 가능해졌으며, 기업은 지금까지 도달 할 수 없었던 매장량에 접근할 수 있게 되었습니다.
높은 조업비와 자본비
석유 및 가스회사는 다액의 자본투자가 필요하기 때문에 이동식 해양시추 장비(MODU)의 배치는 고액의 사업으로 인식하고 있습니다. 비용은 인건비, 연료비, 물류비, 안전 컴플라이언스 등의 운용 비용에 의해 더욱 증대합니다. 또한, 기업은 고도의 자격을 가지는 노동자, 최첨단의 굴삭기기, 지원선에 자금을 투입해야 하기 때문에 특히 원유 가격이 침체하고 있는 경우에는 MODU를 이용한 해양 굴착의 경제적 매력이 저하합니다.
초심해 및 심해탐사의 성장
이동식 해양 시추 장비(MODU) 시장은 심해 및 초심해 탐사에 중점을 두고 있기 때문에 많은 기회가 있습니다. 탐사 프로젝트에 대규모 투자를 실시하고 있으며, 해저 굴착 기술, 부체식 생산 저장 적출 설비(FPSO) 시스템, 고압 굴삭 기술의 향상에 의해 심해에서의 채굴이 경제적으로 실현 가능해져 온 것도 MODU 수요를 높이고 있습니다.
신재생에너지와의 경쟁 격화
MODU 시장은 해상 풍력, 태양광, 수소 등의 재생 가능 에너지로의 세계적인 변화에 의해 심각한 위협에 노출되어 있습니다. BP, Shell, Total Energies등의 대형 석유 및 가스 회사는 해상 석유 탐사에의 의존도를 낮추기 위해, 재생 가능 에너지에의 다각화를 진행시키고 있습니다. 재생 가능 에너지는 에너지 저장이나 전기 기술의 개발에 의해 종래의 석유 및 가스와의 경쟁도 격화하고 있습니다.
광범위한 프로젝트 지연, 리그 계약 취소, 해양 탐사 활동의 급감으로 COVID-19의 대유행은 이동식 해양 시추 장비(MODU) 시장에 악영향을 미쳤습니다. 각사가 비용 삭감을 우선했기 때문에 심해 및 초심해 굴삭 리그에 대한 수요는 급격하게 떨어지고, 그 결과, 리그의 가동률은 저하해, 굴삭 계약자는 경영난에 빠졌습니다. 또한, 오프쇼어 플랫폼의 안전 위생 규제가 가져온 운용의 복잡함이, 굴착 작업을 지연시켰습니다.
예측 기간 중에는 잭업식 리그 부문이 최대가 될 전망
잭업 리그는 얕은 드릴링 작업에 널리 사용되며 경제적이고 효율적이므로 예측 기간 동안 최대 시장 점유율을 차지할 것으로 예측됩니다. 석유 및 가스 회사가 이러한 리그를 좋아하는 것은 드릴선이나 반잠수정보다 운용 코스트가 낮기 때문입니다. 또한, 얕은 바다 탐사 수요가 높아지고 있기 때문에 잭 업식 리그가 MODU 시장을 계속 지배하고 있습니다.
초심해 부문은 예측 기간 동안 가장 높은 CAGR이 예상됩니다.
예측 기간 중 수심 7,500피트 이상에서의 탐사 증가, 기술의 진보, 탄화수소 수요 증가에 견인되어 초심해 부문의 성장률이 가장 높아질 것으로 예측됩니다. 대규모 석유 유전이 발견되었기 때문에 석유 및 가스 회사는 초심해 매장량에 눈을 돌리고 있습니다. 또한, 초심해에서의 조업은 고압 굴삭법이나 다이나믹 포지셔닝 시스템 등의 선진 굴삭 기술에 의해 실현 가능성이 높아지고 있어, MODU 시장의 주요 성장 분야가 되고 있습니다.
예측 기간 중 중동 및 아프리카이 최대 시장 점유율을 차지할 것으로 예상됩니다만, 이것은 해양 석유 및 가스 매장량이 많고, 탐광 및 생산(E&P) 수준이 높으며, 지속적인 해양 굴착 투자에 의한 것입니다. Saudi Aramco와 ADNOC와 같은 국영 석유 회사(NOC)는 해외 프로젝트를 확대하고 있습니다. 낮은 생산 비용, 장기 드릴링 유닛 계약 및 유리한 정부 정책 모두가 이 지역에 이익을 가져다줍니다.
예측 기간 동안 아시아태평양은 에너지 수요 증가, 해양 탐사 활동 증가, 심해 및 초심해 프로젝트 투자 증가로 견인되어 가장 높은 CAGR을 나타낼 것으로 예측됩니다. 정부 프로그램, 유리한 규제, 해양 드릴링 기술의 개발은 모두 시장의 급성장에 기여하고 있습니다.
According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Market is accounted for $6.13 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $11.64 billion by 2032 growing at a CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period. A Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) is a type of specialized platform or vessel used for both production and exploration drilling of submerged oil and gas deposits. These units, which come with sophisticated drilling systems, are divided into various types, such as drill ships, semi-submersibles, and jack-up rigs, each of which is appropriate for a particular water depth and set of operating conditions. Because MODUs are mobile, energy companies can effectively explore new offshore reserves and adjust to different marine environments. Moreover, to guarantee operational stability and environmental protection, their design integrates blowout preventers, safety systems, and dynamic positioning technology.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), global offshore oil production is projected to reach 11.7 million barrels per day by 2040. This growth is driven by the exploration and development of deep-water and ultra-deepwater reserves that require specialized equipment and expertise, such as Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), to access and extract.
Growing activities for offshore exploration and production (E&P)
Energy firms are increasingly turning their attention to offshore areas as onshore oil reserves are being depleted and it becomes more challenging to extract crude from established fields. The demand for Mobile Offshore Drilling Units is rising as a result of major oil-producing countries like Brazil, the United States, and Norway making significant investments in offshore exploration and production activities. Additionally, drilling in deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas has been made possible by advanced offshore technologies, giving businesses access to previously unreachable reserves.
High operating and capital expenses
Oil and gas companies find the deployment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) to be an expensive undertaking due to the substantial capital investment required. The cost of building and maintaining various MODUs, including drill ships, jack-up rigs, and semi-submersibles, is very high and frequently exceeds hundreds of millions of dollars per unit. The overall cost is further increased by operational costs such as labor, fuel, logistics, and safety compliance. Furthermore, businesses must spend money on highly qualified workers, cutting-edge drilling equipment, and support vessels, which reduces the economic appeal of MODU-based offshore drilling, particularly when oil prices are low.
Growth of ultra-deepwater and deepwater exploration
The Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) market has a lot of opportunities due to the growing emphasis on deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration. Major oil and gas companies are making large investments in exploration projects in areas where substantial deepwater reserves have been found, including the South China Sea, West Africa, Brazil's pre-salt fields, and the Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, the demand for MODUs is also increased by developments in deep-sea extraction becoming more economically feasible due to improvements in subsea drilling technologies, floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) systems, and high-pressure drilling techniques.
Increasing competition from renewable energy
The MODU market is seriously threatened by the global shift to renewable energy sources like offshore wind, solar, and hydrogen. In order to build offshore wind farms, floating solar power plants, and green hydrogen projects, numerous governments and energy companies are rerouting their investments away from fossil fuels. To lessen their dependency on offshore oil exploration, major oil and gas companies such as BP, Shell, and Total Energies are diversifying into renewable energy. Renewable are also becoming more competitive with conventional oil and gas due to developments in energy storage and electrification technologies.
Due to widespread project delays, rig contract cancellations, and a sharp decline in offshore exploration activity, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the market for mobile offshore drilling units, or MODUs. Due to supply chain constraints, workforce shortages, and operational disruptions brought on by the pandemic-induced worldwide lockdowns and travel restrictions, drilling companies found it challenging to continue operating normally. As companies prioritized cost-cutting measures, the demand for deepwater and ultra-deepwater drilling rigs fell precipitously, resulting in lower rig utilization rates and financial difficulties for drilling contractors. Furthermore, operational complexities brought about by offshore platforms' safety and health regulations slowed down drilling operations even more.
The jack-up rigs segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period
The jack-up rigs segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period because it is widely used in shallow-water drilling operations and is economical and efficient. In areas like the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, and Middle East, jack-up rigs are highly favored for offshore exploration and production because they are self-elevating platforms with retractable legs that offer stability in water depths of up to 500 feet. Oil and gas companies prefer these rigs because they are less expensive to operate than drill ships and semi-submersibles. Moreover, jack-up rigs continue to dominate the MODU market due to the growing demand for shallow-water exploration.
The ultra-deep water segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period
Over the forecast period, the ultra-deep water segment is predicted to witness the highest growth rate, driven by growing exploration in water depths greater than 7,500 feet, technological advancements, and the growing demand for hydrocarbons. Due to the depletion of shallow-water resources and the discovery of large offshore fields in places like the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil's pre-salt basins, and West Africa, oil and gas companies are turning their attention to ultra-deepwater reserves. Additionally, ultra-deepwater operations are made more feasible by advanced drilling technologies, such as high-pressure drilling methods and dynamic positioning systems, which make them a major growth area in the MODU market.
During the forecast period, the Middle East & Africa region is expected to hold the largest market share, driven by its substantial offshore oil and gas reserves, high levels of exploration and production (E&P), and ongoing offshore drilling investments. Leading contributors include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, and Angola. To meet the world's energy needs, national oil companies (NOCs) like Saudi Aramco and ADNOC are growing their offshore projects. Low production costs, long-term drilling unit contracts, and advantageous government policies all benefit the area. Furthermore, the region's dominance in the MODU market is further reinforced by recent discoveries in deepwater and ultra-deepwater fields.
Over the forecast period, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR, driven by a rise in energy demand, an increase in offshore exploration activity, and a rise in deepwater and ultra-deepwater project investments. To improve energy security and lessen reliance on oil imports, nations like China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia are increasing offshore drilling operations. Government programs, advantageous regulations, and developments in offshore drilling technology are all contributing to the market's rapid expansion. Moreover, the region's quick growth is also aided by the discovery of new reserves in the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea as well as growing partnerships between private companies and national oil companies (NOCs).
Key players in the market
Some of the key players in Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Market include Transocean Ltd., Sembcorp Marine Ltd, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, Damen Shipyards Group, Odfjell Drilling Ltd., China International Marine Containers Group Ltd, Seatrium Ltd., Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc., Nestle Marine Drilling Ltd., Seadrill Ltd., Keppel Corporation Limited, Valaris Ltd., Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Limited, Borr Drilling Ltd. and SHI International Corporation.
In March 2025, TerraPower and HD Hyundai announced a strategic collaboration to further scale the global manufacturing supply chain for Natrium reactor components. The agreement combines HD Hyundai's manufacturing expertise with TerraPower's cutting-edge reactor technology, and will build new supply chain capacity to enable large-scale production and global deployment of Natrium plants that feature a sodium-cooled fast reactor plus an integrated energy storage system.
In September 2024, Transocean Ltd. announced a 365-day contract for the Deepwater Atlas with bp in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The contract also provides for a 365-day option. The program is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2028 and contribute approximately $232 million in backlog, excluding a mobilization fee. There are no additional services provided under the contract.
In July 2024, Seatrium Limited is pleased to announce that it has secured a Favoured Customer Contract agreement from Teekay Shipping, marking its first long-term strategic partnership agreement with a leading ship management company for the repairs and upgrades of a fleet of vessels under its Australia Defence Maritime Support Services Program (DMSSP).