Just a few days later, Swiss offshore drilling giant Transocean was awarded a charter contract for another ultra-deepwater drillship.
On September 10, Transocean announced that it had signed a charter contract with British energy giant BP for the ultra-deepwater drillship Deepwater Atlas, which will be deployed in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Under the contract, the Deepwater Atlas is expected to commence performance in the second quarter of 2028 for a period of 365 days, with a 365-day option. The value of the contract is approximately $232 million, excluding mobilization fees and without additional services.
Deepwater Atlas is currently serving Beacon Offshore Energy in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico at a daily rate of $455,000, which is expected to end in July 2025.
Earlier this year, the Deepwater Atlas was awarded two new contracts by Beacon Offshore Energy, also in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, with a January 2027 expiration date. The first contract is a four-well drilling contract at a daily rate of $505,000, or potentially three wells at the same daily rate, and the second contract is a two-well drilling contract at a daily rate of $580,000, or potentially two 20K wells at a daily rate of $650,000.