Statoil charters Maersk semi for four-year deepwater program

Offshore staff

HOUSTON -- Statoil Gulf of Mexico LLC has entered into an agreement with Maersk Contractors USA for a four-year charter of a newbuild semi, worth $696 million.

The rig is under construction at Keppel FELS in Singapore, and is scheduled for delivery in April 2008. It is designed to drill to 10,000 m (30,000 ft) TD in up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft) of water.

The company will primarily use the rig for wildcat drilling in the deepwater GoM, but it will also be deployed in the operator's other international focus locations, as well.

The charter begins as soon as the rig arrives in the Gulf, which is expected by June 2008.

"This long-term contract will secure drilling capability in the Gulf of Mexico," says Bill Maloney, senior VP for global exploration in International E&P. "It underpins our determination to build a role as exploration operator beyond Norwegian waters."

Statoil has also entered into an agreement with Woodside Energy (USA) to share the rig for 18 months during the contract period.

12/04/06