Harsh Environment Drilling Services News

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…

The  international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells Transocean announced that the ultra-deepwater drillship Petrobras 10000 was awarded a 790-day contract extension offshore Brazil with Petrobras.The contract is extended through October 2021 and includes a blend and extend modification to the previous contract dayrate, effective September 2018. The additional net contract backlog is approximately $185 million, including cost escalations.Additionally, Transocean will receive a 5% royalty per day, totaling approximately $16 million, estimated to be from October 2018 to October 2021 associated with the…

Transocean announced that an agreement has been reached with the incumbent customer to amend the drilling contract on the harsh environment semisubmersible Transocean Leader. The rig experienced equipment breakdown that could not be repaired timely, providing the customer with the right to cancel the contract. However, given the otherwise efficient performance of the rig, the customer elected to complete its program with the Leader and Transocean agreed to amend the drilling contract, signed today and effective January 13, 2018, whereby the dayrate and contract duration were modified. The rig is currently in the shipyard for these repairs and will not earn a dayrate during the first quarter of 2018.

Transocean announced  that the harsh environment semisubmersible Transocean Spitsbergen was awarded a 22-well contract with an estimated duration of 33 months; plus two one-well options in the Norwegian North Sea with Statoil Petroleum ASA. The estimated firm backlog associated with the contract is approximately $286 million, which excludes opportunities for performance incentives. The contract is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2019. “We are extremely pleased to have once again contracted the Transocean Spitsbergen with Statoil,” said Jeremy Thigpen, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This contract is a testament to the capability…

Transocean announced that the ultra-deepwater drillship Deepwater Invictus was awarded a two-year contract plus three one-year priced options with a subsidiary of BHP Billiton. The backlog associated with the firm contract is approximately $106 million. The contract is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2018. “We are extremely pleased to continue working with BHP,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Thigpen. “Since we welcomed the Invictus into our fleet in 2014, the combination of BHP, Transocean and the Invictus has delivered industry-leading performance; and, we look forward to extending our productive relationship through this multi-year contract,” Jeremy added.

Transocean announced its intent to retire the ultra-deepwater floaters GSF Jack Ryan, Sedco Energy, Sedco Express, Cajun Express, and Deepwater Pathfinder, and the deepwater floater Transocean Marianas. The rigs will be classified as held for sale and will be recycled in an environmentally responsible manner. All six rigs were previously cold stacked. The company will recognize an impairment charge of approximately $1.4 billion during the third quarter of 2017 associated with these actions. “We continue to enhance the quality of our fleet through the addition of new, high-specification assets, and the retirement of older, less competitive rigs,” said Jeremy Thigpen, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Transocean Ltd. has issued a monthly Fleet Update Summary which includes new contracts, significant changes to existing contracts, and changes in estimated planned out-of-service time of 15 or more days since May 15, 2014. The high-specification jackup, GSF Magellan, is held for sale. Estimated 2014 planned out-of-service time decreased by a net five days; estimated 2015 planned out-of-service time increased by a net 29 days. Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services…

Transocean's latest comprehensive Fleet Status Report provides the current status and contract information for the company's entire fleet of offshore drilling rigs. The total value of new contracts since the December 18, 2013 Fleet Update Summary is approximately $48 million. GSF Arctic III - Awarded a two-well contract in the U.K. sector of the North Sea at a dayrate of $410,000 ($48 million estimated backlog). The rig's prior dayrate was $339,000. Sedco Energy and Transocean Marianas, ultra-deepwater and deepwater floaters, respectively, are idle.

Mr. Sjobring will join the company upon completion of the notice period with his current employer and will be based in Geneva, Switzerland. In the interim, Mr. Allen Katz will continue to serve as the company's Interim Senior Vice President and General Counsel. His qualifications include over 15 years of law practice in international settings, and he received his education in both Europe and the United States. Mr. Sjobring has been serving as the Vice President Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary of Autoliv, Inc., an automotive safety supplier, since 2007.

Transocean Ltd. announces Second Quarter 2013 earnings release date and conference call information
. The company will report earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2013 on Wednesday, August 7, 2013, following the close of trading on the NYSE. Transocean will also  conduct a teleconference call at 10:00 a.m. EDT, 4:00 p.m. CEST, on Thursday, August 8, 2013 to discuss the results. Individuals who wish to participate in the teleconference should dial +1 913-312-1399 and refer to confirmation code 1039580 approximately five to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A telephonic replay of the conference call should be available after 1:00 p.m. EDT, 7:00 p.m.

The company's update includes new contracts, significant changes to contracts, & changes to estimated times out of service. Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services. The value of new contracts or extensions since the January 17, 2013 fleet status report is approximately $530 million. Estimated 2013 out of service time increased by a net 136 days, including 90 days associated with rig maintenance on the Cajun Express and 75 days due to shipyard acceleration into 2013 from 2014 on the GSF Galaxy I.

Transocean Ltd. announce the federal court in Rio de Janeiro has served a preliminary injunction requiring it to cease operations in Brazil within 30 calendar days. The company is vigorously pursuing the overturn or suspension of the preliminary injunction, including through an appeal to the Superior Court of Justice. Absent relief from the courts, Transocean will be required to comply with the preliminary injunction. Transocean currently has 10 rigs under contract for work in Brazil, with nine currently in country, and is evaluating rig contracts and collaborating with customers to determine appropriate actions with respect to operations. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, the company's operations in Brazil accounted for approximately 11 percent of consolidated operating revenues.

Transocean Ltd. issues fleet update summary, new & changed contracts, OofS times, etc. Total backlog associated with new contracts or extensions since the August 15, 2012 fleet update summary is approximately $1.7 billion. Estimated out of service time for 2012 increased by a net 36 days, primarily due to unexpected repairs on a Harsh Environment semisubmersible. The increase in 2013 estimated out of service time of a net 151 days includes 86 days (57 percent) related to the…

Transocean Ltd. to sell 38 shallow water drilling rigs to Shelf Drilling International Holdings, Ltd. for approximately US$1.05-billion. Shelf Drilling is a newly formed company sponsored equally by Castle Harlan, Inc., CHAMP Private Equity and Lime Rock Partners. "This agreement marks an important milestone in our asset strategy to increase our focus on high-specification floaters and jackups, improving our long-term competitiveness," said Steven L. Newman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transocean Ltd. The sales price includes approximately $855 million in cash, subject to working capital and other closing adjustments, and $195 million in seller financing. Seller financing will be in the form of preference shares issued by an affiliate of Shelf Drilling.