Rowan announced it has exercised its option to build a third GustoMSC P10000 design ultra-deepwater drillship with Hyundai Heavy Industries. Total cost for the rig, including commissioning, project management and spares, but excluding capitalized interest is $600 million, plus another $50 million for additional owner furnished equipment plus training and ramp-up costs. Delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2014, and the agreement also includes an option for an additional drillship, which is exercisable by February 2012.

If exercised, that unit would be delivered in the first half of 2015. The Gusto-designed units are rated to drill in up to 12,000 feet of water and can drill wells up to a total depth of 40,000 feet. Delivery of Rowan’s first two units from Hyundai are scheduled for delivery in late 2013 and mid 2014.

Noble Corporation has exercised an option with Hyundai Heavy Industries for the construction of an ultra-deepwater drillship, the fourth ordered this year by the company. The rig, which has not yet been named, is based on the Hyundai Gusto P10000 hull design and will be outfitted to drill in up to 10,000 ft of water but will be capable of operating in up to 12,000-ft water depths. Construction cost, including turnkey construction contract, company-furnished equipment, project management and spares, is expected to be $630 million, and delivery is scheduled for the second half of 2014. The rig will be equipped with two complete BOP systems and a DP-3 stationkeeping system and will provide accommodations for 210 personnel. Noble does not currently have a contract in place for the rig.

ENSCO, PLC has received a short contract from Cimarex Energy Co. for idle jackup ENSCO 81. The rig is expected to move to location in South Timbalier Block 265 in about a week, with the 17-day P&A keeping the rig working through the end of the month. The rig has been idle in South Timbalier Block 28 since early August after completing a contract for Walter Oil & Gas Corporation....

Noble Corporation has exercised options with Sembcorp Marine subsidiary Jurong Shipyard for the construction of two additional high-specification heavy duty, harsh environment Friede & Goldman JU3000N jackups. Total delivered costs are estimated at $245 million per rig, which includes project management, spares, and start-up costs, but excludes capitalized interest. Deliveries are scheduled for the third and fourth quarters of 2014. With the new orders, Noble will have six new jackup rigs under construction with Jurong Shipyard. In addition, the company has seven ultra-deepwater drillships under construction, three of which are scheduled to be delivered later this year, and Noble continues to evaluate an option it has with Hyundai Heavy Industries for the construction of an additional ultra-deepwater drillship which expires on August 31, 2011. If exercised, the unit would be delivered in the second-half of 2014.

Rowan has secured a one-year contract for idle jackup Rowan Gorilla II with Petronas Carigali, with work starting off Malaysia in October/November. The rig, which had been stacked in Sabine Pass since late May, will depart the US Gulf in August, with transport time taking around 60 days.

Surveys and repairs have been completed on jackup Hercules 173 and the rig has ...

Rowan Companies has entered into turnkey contracts with Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea for the construction of two ultra-deepwater drillships. The Gusto MSC P10000 design units will each cost about $605 million, excluding capitalized interest, and will be delivered in late 2013 and mid-2014. The rigs will be able to drill in water depths up to 12,000 ft and will have a rated drilling depth of 40,000 ft.

Other features will include retractable thrusters, dual activity capability, five mud pumps, and a maximum hook load capacity of 1,250 tons, along with a seven-ram BOP, a variable deck load capacity of 20,000 tons, and accommodations for 210 personnel. Rowan has owned only one floating rig in its history. Semi Rowan Midland was rated to drill in 1,200 ft of water but was converted to a floating production unit when it was sold to ATP O&G.

Mexican state oil giant Pemex will finalize contract awards on June 9 for jackup tender 18575088-515-11, a four-jackup requirement. Noble Drilling was low bidder on Parts 1 and 4, while Diamond Offshore won Parts 2 and 3. The Noble Eddie Paul was the low bidder for the 195-day Part 1 contract starting June ...

On May 17, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. entered into an agreement whereby the operator will contract newbuild drillships Ocean BlackHawk and Ocean BlackHornet for five-year terms starting in late 2013 and early 2014. The rigs are currently being built at the Hyundai Heavy Industries yard in South Korea. The two contracts will generate a total of $1.8 billion in revenue for Diamond. In addition, both companies agreed to dismiss all claims relating to Anadarko’s 2010 force majeure declaration on semi Ocean Monarch. Diamond disputed the claim, and the two parties had been in discussions for the past several months. Following this announcement on May 19, Diamond reported it had exercised an option with Hyundai Heavy Industries to build a third Gusto P-10000 design drillship at an estimated cost of $614 million. The rig will be rated to drill in up to 12,000 fsw and will have dual activity capability, a seven-ram blowout preventer, and a maximum hookload capacity of 1,250 tons. Delivery of the yet to be named unit is scheduled for the second quarter of 2014. The order now gives Diamond eight rigs that will be able to drill in at least 10,000 fsw.

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Noble Corporation has exercised an option with Singapore’s Jurong Shipyard to build two additional Friede & Goldman (F&G) JU3000N high-spec, heavy duty jackups. Cost for each rig, including project management, spares and start-up costs, is $235 million, with deliveries scheduled for the third quarter of 2013 and first quarter of 2014. With the orders, Noble now has four jackups under construction and the company has options for another two units available, with exercise due by January 1, 2012. The F&G jackups are rated to drill in up to 400 feet of water and will have a rated drilling depth of 30,000 feet. Each rig will have a cantilever reach of 75 feet, a 2.5 million pound hookload capacity and a 15,000 psi blowout preventer system (BOP), along with accommodations for up to 150.

Diamond Offshore has received an extension from South Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries on an option for the yard to build a third drillship. The original option was due to be exercised by March 31, 2011, but has been pushed out to May 16, 2011. Diamond originally ordered the Ocean BlackHawk from Hyundai in early January and exercised its first option a month later when it ...