Switzerland: Transocean Provides Monthly Fleet Update

Transocean Ltd. issued a monthly fleet update summary which includes new contracts, significant changes to existing contracts, and changes in estimated planned out of service time of 15 or more days since August 15, 2012.

Total backlog associated with new contracts or extensions since the August 15, 2012 fleet update summary is approximately $1.7 billion. Estimated out of service time for 2012 increased by a net 36 days, primarily due to unexpected repairs on a Harsh Environment semisubmersible. The increase in 2013 estimated out of service time of a net 151 days includes 86 days (57 percent) related to the acceleration of shipyards from 2014 and 45 days (30 percent) associated with the preparation of rigs for new or potential contracts.

The ultra-deepwater newbuild drillship, Deepwater Invictus, was awarded a three-year contract at a dayrate of $595,000 ($652 million contract backlog) and is expected to commence operations in the second quarter of 2014 upon delivery from the shipyard and customer acceptance. The Deepwater Invictus is currently under construction at the DSME shipyard in Korea and will be capable of operating in water depths up to 12,000 feet and drilling wells up to 40,000 feet deep. The newbuild will include a second blow-out preventer system requested by the customer for which the company will be compensated. The rig is one of two ultra-deepwater newbuild drillships acquired in the October 2011 Aker Drilling ASA transaction.

Other highlights are as follows:

– GSF Development Driller I — Awarded an estimated 20-month contract extension at a dayrate of $580,000 ($348 million contract backlog). The rig’s prior dayrate was $522,000.

– GSF Rig 135 — Awarded a two-year contract for work offshore Congo at a dayrate of $365,000 ($266 million contract backlog). The rig’s prior dayrate was $340,000.

– Transocean Prospect — Awarded a four-well contract for work in the U.K. sector of the North Sea at a dayrate of $405,000 for the first two wells and $375,000 for the remaining two wells ($146 million contract backlog). The rig’s prior contract dayrate was $252,000.

– GSF Parameswara — Awarded a two-year contract extension for work offshore Indonesia at a dayrate of $136,000 ($99 million contract backlog). The rig’s prior contract dayrate was $122,000.

– Two deepwater floaters, the Jim Cunningham and Discoverer 534, were sold. Both rigs were stacked and previously held for sale. The details of the transactions have not been disclosed.

– On September 10, 2012, the company committed to discontinue operations in the standard jackup and swamp barge markets. All standard jackups and the swamp barge are currently held for sale.

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Press Release, September 19, 2012