Valaris secures batch of new contracts for rig fleet

Offshore drilling contractor Valaris, formerly known as EnscoRowan, has been awarded new contracts and extensions with BP, Murphy Oil, Premier Oil, SapuraOMV, and Saudi Aramco. 

In its fleet status report published on Friday, Valaris said that the 2014-built drillship Valaris DS-15 (Renaissance) had been awarded a one-well contract with Murphy in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico with an estimated duration of 65 days.

The contract is expected to start in January 2020. The rig’s previous contract with Petronas offshore Mexico expires this month.

According to information on Bassoe Offshore, the dayrate for the Valaris DS-15 with Murphy Oil will be $185,000.

Furthermore, the 2014-built drillship Valaris DS-12 has been awarded a four-well contract with BP offshore Angola. The contract also includes four one-well options. It has estimated duration of 200 days and it is expected to start in April 2020. Bassoe estimates that the dayrate for this contract will be $200,000.

The rig’s previous contract with BP in Senegal expires in November 2019.

Jack-up deals 

In the jack-up sector, the contract for the 2000-built jack-up Valaris JU-248 (Gorilla VI) with Premier Oil in the North Sea has been extended by two wells. The contract has an estimated duration of 140 days from May 2020 to September 2020. Bassoe estimates the dayrate for this contract will be $100,000.

This previously disclosed contract was transferred to Valaris JU-248 from Valaris JU-121.

The contract for the 2019-built jack-up Valaris JU-123 with Premier Oil in the North Sea has been extended by one well, with an estimated duration of 30 days. The extension is from December 2019 to January 2020. Bassoe’s dayrate estimate is $105,000.

The 2006-built jack-up Valaris JU-107 has been awarded a one-well contract with SapuraOMV offshore Australia, which is expected to start in May 2020. The contract has an estimated duration of 45 days. Bassoe estimates that the rig’s dayrate will be $100,000.

The contract for the 1982-built jack-up rig Valaris JU-88 with Saudi Aramco offshore Saudi Arabia has been extended by 138 days. The extension will run from mid-November 2019 until early April 2020. Valaris said that dayrate will be approximately $65,000.

Rigs for sale

Upon completing its previous contract in September, the 1999-built semi-submersible rig Valaris 5006 was moved to Malaysia where it is cold stacked and held for sale. The rig’s previous contract was with Inpex offshore Australia.

Upon completing its previous contract in September, the 1976-built jack-up Valaris JU-68 was cold stacked and held for sale. The rig’s last contract was with Castex in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The 1983-built jack-up Valaris JU-42 (California) was sold and retired from the offshore drilling fleet.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

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