Switzerland-based offshore drilling contractor Transocean has added half a billion to its contract backlog after landing multi-well campaigns for two of its ultra-deepwater drillships in the Gulf of America (the U.S. Gulf of Mexico).
Transocean has revealed contract awards for two of its ultra-deepwater drillships in the U.S. Gulf, representing approximately $550 million in firm contract backlog. Both rigs share the same DSME 12000 design and were constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.
The 2015-built Deepwater Proteus drillship was awarded a ten-well contract with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf. With a maximum drilling depth of 40,000 feet (12,192 meters), the 11-year-old rig can operate in water depths of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).
The estimated 700-day campaign is expected to contribute around $325 million in backlog and begin in the first quarter of 2027 in direct continuation of the rig’s current U.S. Gulf contract.
The 2016-built Deepwater Conqueror drillship was awarded a five-well assignment with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf. This 10-year-old rig shares identical high-spec capabilities as the Deepwater Proteus drillship.
The estimated 450 days of work is anticipated to contribute about $225 million in backlog, excluding mobilization fees, and start in the third quarter of 2027 in direct continuation of the rig’s program in Equatorial Guinea.
The latest contract wins come shortly after Transocean secured a combined $1.1 billion in offshore commitments with Shell and Equinor.