Transocean Ltd. Announces $518 Million Ultra-Deepwater Drillship Contract

Rhea-AI Summary

Transocean Ltd. has been awarded a 1,080-day contract for a high-specification seventh-generation, ultra-deepwater drillship in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Mexico. The contract is expected to contribute approximately $518 million in backlog and will commence between the fourth quarter of 2025 and second quarter of 2026. The dayrate is subject to a semi-annual cost adjustment mechanism. CEO Jeremy Thigpen sees this award as a positive sign of the tightness in the market and the flexibility it provides for optimizing the utilization of their drillship fleet.

STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, July 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) (“Transocean”) today announced that an independent operator awarded a 1,080-day contract for a high-specification seventh-generation, ultra-deepwater drillship in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Mexico. One of three drillships will be selected by Transocean from among Deepwater Invictus, Deepwater Thalassa, and Deepwater Proteus no later than one year prior to the earliest date in the commencement window.

The contract will contribute approximately $518 million in backlog, excluding revenue for mobilization and demobilization, and is expected to commence between the fourth quarter of 2025 and second quarter of 2026. The contractual dayrate is subject to a semi-annual cost adjustment mechanism with a baseline established as of July 1, 2023. There are no additional services provided under the contract.

“This award is especially encouraging on numerous fronts,” said Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Thigpen. “The fact that our customers are securing rigs well in advance of their programs and committing to long-term contracts clearly demonstrates the tightness of the market. Additionally, our ability to designate the specific rig closer to the commencement of the program provides us with increased flexibility to optimize the utilization of our high-specification fleet of ultra-deepwater drillships.”

About Transocean

Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. Transocean specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services and operates the highest specification floating offshore drilling fleet in the world.

Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates a fleet of 37 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting of 28 ultra-deepwater floaters and nine harsh environment floaters. In addition, Transocean holds a noncontrolling ownership interest in a company that is constructing one ultra-deepwater drillship.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements described herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements could contain words such as "possible," "intend," "will," "if," "expect," or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, estimated duration of customer contracts, contract dayrate amounts, future contract commencement dates and locations, planned shipyard projects and other out-of-service time, sales of drilling units, timing of the company’s newbuild deliveries, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the fluctuation of current and future prices of oil and gas, the global and regional supply and demand for oil and gas, the intention to scrap certain drilling rigs, the success of our business following prior acquisitions, the effects of the spread of and mitigation efforts by governments, businesses and individuals related to contagious illnesses, such as COVID-19, and other factors, including those and other risks discussed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in the company's other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at: www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize (or the other consequences of such a development worsen), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which we become aware of, after the date hereof, except as otherwise may be required by law. All non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations to the most comparative GAAP measure are displayed in quantitative schedules on the company’s website at: www.deepwater.com.

This press release, or referenced documents, do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and do not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of Transocean and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Transocean.

Analyst Contact:
Alison Johnson
+1 713-232-7214

Media Contact:
Pam Easton
+1 713-232-7647 

FAQ

What is the contract awarded to Transocean for?

Transocean has been awarded a 1,080-day contract for a high-specification seventh-generation, ultra-deepwater drillship in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Mexico.

What is the expected contribution of the contract to Transocean's backlog?

The contract is expected to contribute approximately $518 million in backlog, excluding revenue for mobilization and demobilization.

When is the contract expected to commence?

The contract is expected to commence between the fourth quarter of 2025 and second quarter of 2026.

What is the baseline for the semi-annual cost adjustment mechanism?

The baseline for the semi-annual cost adjustment mechanism is established as of July 1, 2023.

What is the CEO's view on the award?

CEO Jeremy Thigpen sees the award as a positive sign of the tightness in the market and the flexibility it provides for optimizing the utilization of their high-specification fleet of ultra-deepwater drillships.