Hercules Offshore has canceled the remainder of its contract with Great Gulfcan Energy with jackup Hercules 212, and the rig is hot stacked in West Cameron 38. The rig had been working in High Island 98-L and was originally scheduled to complete the work in mid-July, but financial issues with the operator led to the cancellation. Shipyard work on jackup Hercules 120 has not been completed, and now the rig is not expected to return to its contract with Chevron until late June. The rig, which is under contract through the end of 2011, was originally due to return to work May 25. Pisces Energy will now keep jackup Hercules 204 for an additional well in Ship Shoal 151. The operator now has the rig through end-July, after which it will go to Ship Shoal 112 for a 40-day well with Stone Energy. With the extension, the rig is now next available in the first half of September. Finally, inland barge Hercules 17 has secured a follow-up contract with Energy Partners, Ltd. for a 42-day well. Work will begin later this week after the current contract with Marlin Energy is completed. The new work keeps the rig busy to mid-July....

Seahawk Drilling has recently secured several new contracts and extensions for its jackup fleet. First, Great GulfCan has signed up to take the Seahawk 2001 for a 90-day plus three, 90-day options program. Operations in the state waters in the High Island area are due to begin this week. The firm portion of the work will keep the rig working to mid-July. Next, PetroQuest Energy has inked a deal to take the Seahawk 2004 for a three-well contract in Ship Shoal Block 72. The 90-day program is scheduled to begin in late June or early July after the current contract with Walter O&G is completed. Walter still has around 20days left on its current well in West Cameron Block 29, which will be followed by a 60-day stint in Ship Shoal Block 189. Breton Energy will take jackup Seahawk 2007 for a 60-day well plus an unpriced option in West Cameron Block 71 starting around mid-June. The rig has just over 60 days remaining on its current contract with Castex Energy in Eugene Island Block 224. The rig is now next available around mid-August. Arena Offshore has exercised the first of two priced options on its contract with the Seahawk ...