Transocean rig pair picks up multimillion-dollar gigs with BP and Equinor

January 5, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Transocean, an offshore drilling giant, has secured more drilling work for two mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) off the coasts of Brazil and Norway.

Transocean Enabler rig at sea — Transocean Enabler rig; Credit: Jan Arne Wold/Equinor

Transocean emphasized that the fixtures, which represent approximately $168 million of firm backlog, entail a contract award and an extension for two of its drilling units, encompassing a drillship and a semi-submersible rig.

Thanks to this, the Deepwater Mykonos drillship has won a contract with BP in Brazil. The estimated 302-day campaign is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and contribute approximately $120 million in backlog, excluding additional services and compensation for mobilization and demobilization.

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

The rig owner has also landed three one-well options in Norway for the Transocean Enabler rig. The incremental 105 days of work, which is in direct continuation of the rig’s current activity with Equinor, is expected to contribute approximately $48 million in backlog.

As a result of this extension, the rig is committed through September 2027. 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.

Transocean, which owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates a fleet of 27 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting of 20 ultra-deepwater floaters and seven harsh environment floaters, recently also confirmed the execution of a six-well contract in Australia.

This deal is for the 2013-built Deepwater Skyros drillship, which will start the estimated 320-day campaign in the first quarter of 2027.