Seadrill Adds Ultra-Deepwater Dual Derrick Drillship to Fleet

Seadrill Adds Ultra-Deepwater Dual Derrick Drillship to Fleet

Monday, April 11, 2011
Seadrill Ltd.

Seadrill has exercised an option to build a new ultra-deepwater dual derrick drillship at the Samsung yard in South Korea. Total project price is estimated at US $600 million (includes project management, drilling and handling tools, spares, capitalized interest and operations preparations). The delivery is scheduled for the third quarter 2013.

The new unit is similar to the two drillships Seadrill ordered from Samsung in November 2010 with enhanced water depth capacity, technical capabilities as well as increased accommodation capacity compared to previous generation drillships.

The dynamic positioning drillship, will be capable of operations in water depths up to 12,000 feet, and will have a hook load capability of 1,250 tons. This rig is also outfitted with seven ram configuration of the BOP (Blow Out Preventer) stack, especially targeting operations in challenging areas such as the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and West Africa. Furthermore, the drillship will be equipped with a 165 ton capacity heave compensated crane enhancing the unit's operational flexibility and facilitating lifts on the seabed in water depths up to 3,000 meters.

Seadrill has simultaneously secured an extension of the maturity date for a further option agreement to build its seventh drillship to be delivered from Samsung since 2008. Seadrill has currently no specific plan to exercise this option, but might consider it if the strong underlying trend currently seen in the deep water market continues.

Alf C Thorkildsen, Chief Executive Officer of Seadrill Management AS, said, "The decision to add another ultra-deepwater newbuild to our modern fleet is based on the recent improvement in market outlook for ultra-deepwater units, with significantly more tender activities. The new drillship has an attractive delivery window, a favorable construction price and payment schedule and an equipment specification list that will meet our customers' future needs. We have had excellent experience with the Samsung yard and this design and are confident that the unit will be delivered on time and budget once again."

"The strengthening of Seadrill's equity basis through the recently announced bond conversion creates financial flexibility for growing the company further without raising additional equity. The current long-term dayrates give a healthy return on the investment, with further upside if the market strengthens as a result of the strong trend in the oil price.

The project will based on current dayrates and anticipated financing increase Seadrill's dividend capacity going forward. The ordering of the new drillship further confirms Seadrill's commitment to remain a growth company, with the target of reaching US $3 billion in EBITDA in the coming years."

Dragon Oil's Lam Well Knighted Dual Producer

Dragon Oil's Lam Well Knighted Dual Producer

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Dragon Oil plc

 

Dragon Oil announced the completion and initial testing of the Dzheitune (Lam) 28/152 and B/153 development wells. The Dzheitune (Lam) 28/152 well was drilled to a depth of 3,768 meters and completed as a dual producer by the NIS rig. The short string tested at the initial rate of 2,091 barrels of oil per day ("bopd") with the long string testing at 1,372 bopd. The NIS rig has skidded to the next slot and spudded the Dzheitune (Lam) 28/154 well.

The Dzheitune (Lam) B/153 well was drilled by the Iran Khazar rig to the depth of 3,668 meters and completed with dual strings. The short string tested at the initial rate of 1,080 bopd while the initial test result from the long string was 1,348 bopd. The Iran Khazar rig has skidded to the next slot on the Dzheitune (Lam) B platform and spudded the Dzheitune (Lam) B/155 well.

Dr. Abdul Jaleel Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "I am pleased to report the successful completion and solid initial test results of the Dzheitune (Lam) 28/152 and B/153 development wells, the first two wells of this year's 11-well drilling program to have been put into production. Both rigs, the NIS rig and the Iran Khazar rig, are already drilling the next two wells.

"Following the transition over to the new 30-inch trunkline and associated in-field pipelines, we are continuing to see strong average daily production rates in excess of 57,000 bopd in February and March 2011."