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Ocean Rig News

17 Jan 2024

Stena Drilling Takes Delivery of Stena Evolution Drillship

Stena Evolution (Credit: Stena Drilling)

Offshore drilling contractor Stena Drilling has taken delivery of its 7th generation Stena Evolution ultra-deepwater drillship from Samsung Heavy Industries.After a decade in the making, Stena Evolution drillship has finally been completed and is ready for its first job.The technologically advanced drillship is capable of operating at water depths of up to 12,000ft (around 3,500 meters) and drilling depths up to 40,000ft (over 12,000 meters).The drilling unit utilizes riser storage in hull to offer extensive deck space with a 24…

23 Oct 2023

Transocean Sees Multiple Offshore Rig Deals Awarded, One Terminated in Q2

Offshore drilling contractor Transocean on Wednesday released its quarterly offshore drilling rig fleet status report, which shows one contract terminated in Norway, and several new deals secured Norway, U.S. Gulf, Brazil, Angola, Brunei, and, possibly, Myanmar. The rig owner's total backlog is now around $7.3 billion.While some of the contracts were already announced as they were coming in during the quarter, Transocean shared some new information, too.It said Thursday that the Hungarian oil firm MOL had in July terminated the Transocean Barents semi-sub drilling contract for convenience. The drilling rig was supposed to stay with MOL between May and December 2021…

30 Jun 2021

Saipem Charters Ultra-deepwater Drillship from Samsung Heavy Industries

Italian oilfield services giant Saipem has chartered a newbuild drillship directly from South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard.Saipem expects the drillship - named Samsung Santorini - to be delivered in November 2021, when the Italian firm will take the 7th generation rig on a two-year charter. No dayrate details have been shared. Recent fixtures for 6th/7gen rigs saw dayrates in the $190.000-$210.000 per day range, according to Bassoe data.While Saipem did not explicitly say it…

05 Dec 2018

Transocean Closes Ocean Rig Acquisition

(File photo: Ocean Rig)

Switzerland-based offshore driller Transocean Ltd. announced Wednesday that it has completed the acquisition of Greek peer Ocean Rig UDW Inc.The $2.7 billion cash-and-stock deal adds nine high-specification ultra-deepwater drillships, two harsh environment semisubmersibles, and two high-specification ultra-deepwater drillships currently under construction to Transocean's existing fleet."We are excited to begin actively marketing these assets into the growing list of opportunities we continue to see emerging across our global customer base…

29 Nov 2018

Transocean Shareholders OK Ocean Rig Acquisition

Transocean, international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells, has announced that its shareholders approved the acquisition of Ocean Rig UDW, by approving the proposals presented at Transocean’s Extraordinary General Meeting. Switzerland-based offshore drilling contractor quoted its President and CEO Jeremy Thigpen in a press release, as saying: "We are extremely pleased that our shareholders have overwhelmingly approved our acquisition of Ocean Rig. Through this combination, Transocean further enhances our industry-leading fleet of high specification floaters, thus improving our competitive position."Thigpen…

01 Nov 2018

Cautious Consolidation for OSV Companies Brings Market Change

A Gulfmark offshore support vessel (CREDIT: Gulfmark)

Will a rising tide in the offshore oil markets float all the boats? In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, that remains to be seen.Offshore services, exploration and production are on a roll. In early October, yet another business combination of big drillers was announced. In a sign of optimism, Ensco announced its plan for an all-stock acquisition of Rowan Offshore, worth around $2.4 billion. The new company will be domiciled in the United Kingdom, but will have a large presence in Houston.

04 Sep 2018

Transocean to Buy Ocean Rig in $2.7 Bln Deal

Offshore oil driller Transocean Ltd said on Tuesday it would buy peer Ocean Rig UDW Inc in a $2.7 billion cash-and-stock deal, its second major acquisition this year as the company bets on a recovery in the offshore sector.The acquisition signals new optimism for offshore drillers, which were hit hard by the steep plunge in oil prices from 2014. Offshore projects, which are more costly than onshore work and take years to develop, became less attractive after oil prices fell to below $30 a barrel in 2016.Global crude prices have since recovered to above $70, renewing producer interest in offshore basins around the world, including Brazil and the U.S.

23 Jul 2018

Samsung Heavy Industries Post Quarterly Loss

Seoul-listed South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) sunk into the red in the second quarter, on increased costs and one-off losses.SHI said in a regulatory filing that it posted a net loss of 142.7 billion won ($126 million) in the second quarter, compared with a net profit of 22.7 billion won a year earlier.The world's third-biggest shipbuilder by sales  blamed increased fixed costs and losses stemming from a delay in the delivery of a drill ship to Ocean Rig.Operating losses reached 100.5 billion won in the second quarter, shifting from a net profit of 20.6 billion won a year earlier. Sales fell 41.4 percent to 1.34 trillion won over the cited period.According to a report in Yonhap…

23 Jul 2018

Ocean Rig Announces New Contracts

The international contractor of offshore deepwater drilling services Ocean Rig UDW  has entered into a new drilling contract with Chariot Oil & Gas Limited for a one-well drilling program, for drilling offshore Namibia.The contract is expected to commence in direct continuation of the previously announced program with Tullow Namibia Limited in the third quarter of 2018 and will be performed by the Ocean Rig Poseidon.Ocean Rig has entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a European Major Oil Company for a firm two-wells program plus two optional wells, for drilling offshore West Africa.The contract is expected to commence in direct continuation of the program with Chariot Oil & Gas Limited in the fourth quarter of 2018 and will be performed by the Ocean Rig Poseidon…

01 Jul 2018

Ocean Rig Postpones SHI Drillship Delivery Till 2020

International offshore drilling contractor Ocean Rig UDW Inc. and South Korean yard Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have agreed to postpone the delivery of the newbuild drillship Ocean Rig Crete to September 2020. "Our subsidiary, that is party to the shipbuilding contract for the construction of its 8th generation enhanced integrated design newbuilding drillship, the Ocean Rig Crete, reached an agreement with SHI to postpone the delivery of the Ocean Rig Crete to September 2020," said a press release from the company. Under the agreement reached with SHI the expected delivery date will be September 30, 2020 but may be brought forward at the option of the Company.

02 May 2018

ABS Issues First MPD-rReady Notation

ABS announced it has awarded the world’s first Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) – Ready Notation to Ocean Rig for the ABS-classed Corcovado and Mykonos deep water drillships.The ABS MPD-Ready notation demonstrates drilling units have the necessary provisions in place to integrate equipment needed for MPD operations.“Offshore operations in deeper water continue to lead back to a need for reliable and cost-effective technologies” said ABS Executive Vice President – Global Offshore, Kenneth Richardson. “The ABS MPD-Ready notation provides an increased level of confidence that the system meets certain industry standards related to integration of MPD equipment to aid in drilling difficult wells.

17 Apr 2018

US Court Approves Seadrill's Bankruptcy Exit Plan

(Photo: Seadrill)

A U.S. judge said on Tuesday he would approve Seadrill Ltd's plan to exit its Chapter 11 bankruptcy, in which the global offshore oil and gas drilling company would shed billions of dollars of debt and raise $1 billion in new investment. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones in Houston overruled two minor objections to the reorganization plan during a 90-minute hearing. The plan extends maturities on more than $5 billion of bank loans and converts about $2.3 billion in bond debt into equity in a reorganized Seadrill.

09 Mar 2018

Harvey Gulf Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Louisiana-based Harvey Gulf International Marine LLC, which has more than 50 vessels in its fleet and supplies offshore oil rigs among other services, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Houston. Harvey Gulf did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company said in court papers it had more than $1 billion in debt and has an agreement with lenders to reduce what the company owes. In return lenders would receive the equity in the company when it exits bankruptcy. Other creditors such as suppliers will be paid in full. A sharp drop in oil prices in 2014 cut demand for rigs, and over the past year many offshore drilling and service companies such as Seadrill Ltd and Ocean Rig UDW Inc have filed for bankruptcy.

26 Feb 2018

Ocean Rig Signs New Drilling Contract with Tullow Namibia

Ocean Rig UDW, an international contractor of offshore deepwater drilling services, today announced that it has signed a new drilling contract with Tullow Namibia, for a one-well drilling program plus options for drilling offshore West Africa. The contract is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2018 and to be performed by the Ocean Rig Poseidon. Pankaj Khanna, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said: "We are pleased to announce additional work for the Ocean Rig Poseidon. Ocean Rig is an international offshore drilling contractor providing oilfield services for offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production drilling, and specializing in the ultra-deepwater and harsh-environment segment of the offshore drilling industry.

01 Jan 2018

Pankaj Khanna Appointed As CEO of Ocean Rig

Pankaj Khanna has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Rig UDW, a global provider of offshore deepwater drilling services,  effective January 1, 2018. Khanna is 47 years old with 29 years of varied experience in the maritime & offshore industry. He last served as Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Marine Inc, a drybulk company that he founded in 2013. Prior to his position at Pioneer Marine Inc Khanna served as Chief Marketing Officer at Ocean Rig UDW Inc. from January 1, 2012 to October 2, 2012. Mr. Khanna served as the Chief Operating Officer of DryShips, Inc. from March 2009 to October 2, 2012. Prior to joining DryShips, he served in C-Suite roles at Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd and Alba Maritime Services S.A.

16 Nov 2017

Offshore Oil Service Firms Dominate Energy Bankruptcies

(File photo: Ocean Rig)

Offshore oil drilling and service companies, hurt by the energy industry's shift to lower-cost shale and away from deepwater projects, are dominating the year's energy bankruptcies in North America, according to law firm Haynes and Boone. There were fewer oilfield service companies seeking protection this year than last but those that did have had larger debts. Through October, 44 oilfield services companies filed for bankruptcy in the United States and Canada owing creditors $24.8 billion, compared with 72 companies and $13.48 billion for all of 2016.

18 Oct 2017

Ocean Rig Withdraws Winding Up Petition

Ocean Rig UDW Inc., an international contractor of offshore deepwater drilling services, has announced that pursuant to an order of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands Simon Appell of AlixPartners Services UK LLP and Eleanor Fisher of Kalo (Cayman) (formerly AlixPartners) have been discharged as joint provisional liquidators of the Company and its subsidiaries. The subsidiariesare Drill Rigs Holdings Inc. (DRH), Drillships Financing Holding Inc. (DFH), and Drillships Ocean Ventures Inc., (DOV) and together with UDW, DRH and DFH, the Scheme Companies. Accordingly, the petitions to wind up the Scheme Companies have been withdrawn. As previously announced by the Company, the schemes of arrangement proposed by the Scheme Companies became fully effective on September 22, 2017.

18 Jul 2017

Lundin Extends Contract for Ocean Rig

Ocean Rig UDW, contractor of offshore deepwater drilling services, has announced that Lundin Norway AS, has declared their third option to extend the existing contract of the Leiv Eiriksson. In addition, Ocean Rig has granted Lundin 2 additional options to drill further wells in the future. As a result of these developments, the rig now has firm employment until at least the end of September of 2017 and should Lundin exercise its additional seven one-well options, currently un-declared, the rig could be employed until the first quarter of 2019. The total expected revenue backlog, including all the optional wells, is expected to be $85 million.

28 Mar 2017

Ocean RIG Files for Bankruptcy Protection in US

Photo: Ocean RIG

Rig contractor Ocean RIG UDW Inc filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court amid a deep and prolonged downturn in the industry. Shares of the company plunged 36.4 percent to 46 cents in early trading on Tuesday. The Cyprus-based company, which had $3.25 billion in debt as of Dec. 31, filed for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of New York on Monday. Under U.S. bankruptcy laws, Chapter 15 grants a foreign company protection from creditors looking to seize its assets in the country.

12 Nov 2016

Clayton To Join Clarkson Board

Clarkson PLC announced that Marie-Louise Clayton will join the Board as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2017. She will take over as Chair of the Audit Committee following the Annual General Meeting in May 2017 when James Morley, who has been a Non-Executive Director for nine years, will retire from the Board. Marie-Louise Clayton brings a wealth of financial and strategic experience from a broad range of businesses from technology and manufacturing to sugar processing, power and energy. She is currently Chair of the Audit Committee of Zotefoams plc and a Non-Executive Director of Geoffrey Osborne Ltd. Marie-Louise has held various executive positions including Finance Director of Venture Production plc…

12 Aug 2016

Ocean Rig UDW Beats on Revenue

Ocean Rig UDW Inc, the offshore drilling contractor, posted revenue of $452.6 million in the second-quarter, beating Wall Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $385.7 million. The company has reported second-quarter profit of $155.6 million. The company said it had profit of $1.83 per share. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 71 cents per share. "Despite the continued positive operational performance of the Company (fleet utilization for the second quarter of 96.3%) the market conditions remain extremely negative. Oil companies continue to reduce their offshore budgets and as more floaters come off contract in the next six months…

16 Jun 2016

ISS Launches new Partner Solution Initiative

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the world's leading maritime and logistics service provider, is introducing a new Partner Solutions initiative to develop and deliver added value for customers across the globe. ISS Partner Solutions will focus on the company acting as a sub-contractor to new and existing agency partners looking to instantly increase their reach and range of services for customers. Built on a solid service delivery foundation and transparent engagement model, ISS Partner Solutions will deliver cost savings to partners and customers through access to ISS’ global office network, technologies and standards. Headed up by ISS Vice President, Peter B.

14 Jun 2016

Three Senior Appointments at Wikborg Rein, London

International law firm Wikborg Rein has further strengthened its leading presence in the shipping and offshore and onshore construction sectors with the appointment of three key senior hires to its London offices. Nick Shepherd has joined as a partner from Ince & Co, where he was most recently the head of that firm’s office in Piraeus, Greece. Nick has a market-leading reputation as an 'owner's lawyer' for the Greek shipping market, where he is the first-choice lawyer for a number of the largest shipping groups, including TMS / Dryships / Ocean Rig (Mr George Economou); the Navios Group (MAngeliki Frangou); Alpha Bulkers / Pantheon Tankers (Mrs Anna Angelicoussi); and Marmaras Navigation / Delta Tankers (Mr Diamantis Diamantides).

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