Sunda Energy and Finder Energy signed a letter of intent to collaborate on securing a shared drilling rig for offshore gas projects in Timor-Leste, combining activities for the Chuditch-2 appraisal well and Finder’s Kuda Tasi (KTJ) and Jahal development wells into a single campaign. The partnership aims to improve project economics by extending rig utilization to approximately 200 days, compared to an estimated 35–40 days for Sunda’s standalone well, making the project more attractive to drilling contractors. A semi-submersible rig is being considered, capable of operating in water depths of around 400 meters for Finder’s wells and 65 meters for the shallower Chuditch-2 location. Drilling of the Chuditch-2 well is now expected to begin as early as 2027, subject to rig availability, with Sunda requesting an extension of its production sharing contract (PSC) from Timor-Leste’s upstream regulator, Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo. The collaboration is supported by state-owned partner TIMOR GAP, which holds stakes in both the TL-SO-19-16 PSC (covering the Chuditch gas field) and Finder’s KTJ development PSC.