THE OFFSHORE DRILLING

Offshore Rig Counts Unchanged

The number of mobile offshore drilling rigs under contract is unchanged from last week, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, 139 of 190 mobile offshore drilling rig are under contract this week. U.S. Gulf drilling fleet utilization is 73.2 percent. Among the working rigs is a new deepwater drillship, which has moved to its first drilling location. In the North Sea, Mediterranean Sea and other European waters, 77 of 107 mobile offshore drilling rigs are under contract. European offshore rig utilization stands at 72.0 percent. Worldwide, 472 of 631 existing mobile offshore drilling rigs are under contract. Worldwide offshore rig utilization is 74.8 percent. In addition to the 631 existing mobile offshore drilling rigs, another 37 are under construction, including 30 deepwater rigs.

Drilling Sector May Have Missed Chance For Consolidation

Despite the announcement of a large offshore drilling merger this summer, the fragmented industry may have missed its chance for further consolidation due to a recent swift cyclical upswing, according to analysts. Shlumberger Ltd.'s announcement in July that it would merge its offshore drilling unit, Sedco Forex, with Transocean Offshore Inc., to form the world's largest offshore driller, was expected to set off a wave of consolidation in the industry

Little Change Seen In Offshore Rig Counts

Offshore rig activity changed little from last week, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, 145 of 191 mobile offshore drilling rigs are under contract this week, a one-rig decline compared to last week. U.S. Gulf drilling fleet utilization is 75.9 percent. In European waters, 74 of 107 mobile offshore drilling rigs are under contract this week, a one-rig increase compared to last week

Rig Counts Fall Since Last Week

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore rig count lost some of the ground it had made up in the last few weeks, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. The U.S. Gulf offshore rig count fell by two rigs on a week-to-week basis. The decline ends a five-week rally of higher utilization rates in the region. This week, 133 of 188 mobile offshore drilling units in the U.S. Gulf are under contract. U.S. Gulf rig utilization is 70.7 percent.

GlobalSantaFe Worldwide SCORE Slightly Down

Worldwide oil and gas drilling contractor GlobalSantaFe Corporation reported that the company's worldwide SCORE, or Summary of Current Offshore Rig Economics, for October 2003 was down 0.2% from the previous month's SCORE. GlobalSantaFe's SCORE compares the profitability of current mobile offshore drilling rig dayrates to the profitability of dayrates at the 1980- 1981 peak of the offshore drilling cycle. In the 1980-1981 period, when

Offshore Rig Demand Rises In U.S., Falls In Europe

Rig demand increased in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and declined slightly in Europe, following a pattern that is likely to be repeated through the end of this year at least. According to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count, the U.S. Gulf rig count increased by three rigs since last week. Today, 136 of the region's 187 mobile offshore drilling units are under contract and U.S. Gulf mobile offshore rig utilization is 72.7 percent.

GlobalSantaFe June SCORE Up 1.8 Percent

GlobalSantaFe Corporation reported that the company's worldwide SCORE, or Summary of Current Offshore Rig Economics, for June 2006 was up 1.8 percent from the previous month's SCORE. GlobalSantaFe's SCORE compares the profitability of current mobile offshore drilling rig dayrates to the profitability of dayrates at the 1980- 1981 peak of the offshore drilling cycle. In the 1980-1981 period, when SCORE averaged 100 percent

Global Marine SCORE Up 7.2%

Global Marine reported that the company's worldwide SCORE, or Summary of Current Offshore Rig Economics, for April 2001 increased by 7.2 percent over the previous month's SCORE, marking the 20th consecutive month-to-month increase. Global Marine Chairman, President and CEO Bob Rose said, "April's SCORE reflects the continuing improvement in key international offshore drilling markets. As these markets begin to go head to head to attract equipment away from the Gulf of Mexico

Canada Announces Arctic Offshore Drilling Rules

The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board) released filing requirements today for future applications to drill in the Canadian Arctic Offshore. The Filing Requirements, a companion document to The Past is Always Present, Review of Offshore Drilling in the Canadian Arctic, Preparing for the Future, follows several months of extensive consultation carried out across the North during the NEB’s Arctic Review. During the Arctic Review

Crosco Provides Offshore Drilling Services in Tunisia

Crosco Integrated Drilling & Well Services Co., Ltd. announced the commencement of drilling services for Thyna Petroleum Services (TPS). Drilling services are being provided with Crosco's 1000 HP drilling rig Ideco-301 (Ideco H 44 ED) that has been set up on a barge (pontoon) to drill offshore. The first well of the drilling program (well Cercina 15) is currently being drilled on the offshore Cercina concession near the island of Kerhennah in Tunisia.