Drillships News

 

Transocean-Valaris Tie-Up to Create $17B Offshore Drilling Major with 73 Rigs

Feb 10, 2026

Offshore drilling contractor Transocean has agreed to acquire Valaris in an all-stock transaction valued at about $5.8 billion, creating one of the world’s largest offshore drilling contractors with a fleet of 73 drilling rigs.The combined company will have an enterprise value of roughly $17 billion, with Transocean shareholders expected to own about 53% of the merged entity and Valaris shareholders the remaining 47% on a fully diluted basis…

Vantage Drilling’s Ultra-Deepwater Drillship Heads to India Under $260M Contract

Feb 10, 2026

Offshore drilling contractor Vantage Drilling has secured a contract with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for its ultra-deepwater drillship Platinum Explorer for operations off India.The binding Notification of Award (NoA) from ONGC comes…

Stena Drilling’s Stena Evolution Drillship Gets DNV’s Emissions Notation

Feb 05, 2026

Stena Drilling’s Stena Evolution drillship has received the Abate (P+) notation from classification society DNV.The Abate (P+) qualifier confirms defined design and control of the vessel’s power generation systems, together with an emission…

Transocean Nets $168M in Two Drilling Rig Contracts

Jan 05, 2026

Offshore drilling contractor Transocean has secured a new contract and an extension for two of its rigs, adding approximately $168 million to its firm backlog.In Brazil, the Deepwater Mykonos was awarded a contract by BP for an estimated 302-day campaign beginning in the third quarter of 2026…

Saipem Extends Charter, Purchase Option for Deep Value Driller Drillship

Dec 29, 2025

Deep Value Driller has agreed with Saipem to extend the bareboat charter for its seventh-generation drillship Deep Value Driller and to prolong the period during which Saipem may exercise an option to buy the vessel.Under the amended agreement…

Saipem Gets DNV Certification for Offshore Asset Lifecycle Management

Dec 19, 2025

Saipem has obtained ISO 55001:2024 certification, the international standard for asset lifecycle management, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards operational excellence and offshore sustainability.The certification, issued by DNV…

Shell Picks Valaris Drillship for Work Offshore Brazil

Dec 12, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has secured a multi-year contract with Shell for its VALARIS DS-8 drillship, which will be put to work offshore Brazil.The contract is expected to start in the first quarter of 2027, with an estimated duration of approximately 800 days…

Petrobras Targets Start of Foz do Amazonas Production Within Seven Years

Oct 22, 2025

Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras' could start oil and gas production in the Foz do Amazonas basin within seven years if large reserves are confirmed, the company's Chief Executive Magda Chambriard told Reuters on Tuesday.Brazil's environmental…

Saipem Scoops $135M in New Drilling Rig Contracts and Extensions

Oct 22, 2025

Saipem has strengthened its offshore drilling order intake with new contract awards and extensions worth a total amount of approximately $135 million, further reinforcing its presence in key strategic areas such as West Africa, the Mediterranean…

Sanctions Force Vantage Drilling to End Platinum Explorer Contract

Oct 20, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Vantage Drilling has announced the termination of the contract for its ultra-deepwater drillship Platinum Explorer.The termination, with immediate effect, is for the 260-day campaign the Platinum Explorer drillship was hired earlier in 2025…

Seadrill Adopts igus’ Modular Energy Chains to Cut Offshore Downtime and Costs

Oct 16, 2025

The igus e-loop replaced traditional service loops being installed on Seadrill’s West Polaris drillship (Credit: Supplied by igus)A modular cable management system, designed by German-based supplier igus, has been implemented by offshore driller Seadrill to reduce downtime…

Valaris Drillship to Return to Egypt Under New $140M Contract with BP

Oct 13, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has secured a five-well contract with BP’s subsidiary BP Exploration Delta for VALARIS DS-12 drillship in Egypt.The contract is expected to begin in the second quarter 2026 and has an estimated duration of 350 days…

Petrobras Awaits Brazil's Drilling Permit as Idle Drillship Costs Mount

Oct 09, 2025

Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras has racked up 180 million reais ($33.7 million) in costs to keep a drillship on standby in the Foz do Amazonas basin, a company source and a local union said, as it awaits a regulator's decision on a drilling request…

Noble Corporation’s Drillship Up for Another Drilling Job off Ghana

Sep 29, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation has signed a new contract with Amni International Petroleum Development Company in Ghana for the Noble Venturer drillship.The contract is expected to start once the rig is released from its current…

Vantage Drilling Confirms Deal for Platinum Explorer Drillship

Sep 10, 2025

UAE-based offshore drilling contractor Vantage Drilling has signed the contract for its ultra-deepwater drillship Platinum Explorer.Operations with an undisclosed client for the approximately 260-day campaign, inclusive of mobilization and demobilization time…

Current News

US Grants License to Support Oil and Gas Exploration in Venezuela

US Grants License to Support O

Malaysia Offers Nine Exploration Blocks in 2026 Bid Round

Malaysia Offers Nine Explorati

Egypt Instructs International Oil Companies to Double Production by 2030

Egypt Instructs International

TotalEnergies Posts 13% Drop in Fourth-Quarter Profit

TotalEnergies Posts 13% Drop i

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News

 
Offshore Engineer Magazine