Transocean rig trio staying longer in South America and Europe

November 18, 2025, by Melisa Cavcic

Transocean, an offshore drilling giant, has lined up more work off the coasts of Brazil, Norway, and Romania for one of its drillships and two semi-submersible rigs.

Transocean Barents rig; Source: OMV Petrom

While revealing contract fixtures for one ultra-deepwater drillship and two harsh environment semi-submersible rigs, Transocean explains that these fixtures represent approximately $89 million in firm contract backlog.

Petrobras has exercised a 90-day option for the Deepwater Mykonos drillship in Brazil in direct continuation of its current program, which is expected to contribute around $33 million in backlog.

With an Enhanced Samsung 10000 design, the 2011-built drillship can accommodate 205 people. While the rig’s maximum drilling depth is 35,000 feet, its maximum water depth is 10,000 feet.

A two-well option was exercised for the Transocean Enabler rig in Norway at a day rate of $453,000 per day, excluding additional services. This rig is currently working for Equinor.

With a maximum drilling depth of 8,500 meters, the harsh-environment semi-submersible Cat D rig can operate in water depths of 500 meters.

The last deal is with OMV Petrom, which exercised a one-well option for the Transocean Barents rig in Romania at a day rate of $480,000 per day.

This 2009-built harsh-environment semi-submersible of Aker H-6e design has a maximum drilling depth of 10,670 meters.

One of Transocean’s rigs recently assisted ConocoPhillips in finding more gas in the Otway Basin offshore Australia.