Friday, May 2, 2008

Global fleet up by eight

Worldwide offshore rig count increased by eight this week as the start of several jack-up contracts in the US Gulf of Mexico, West Africa and Asia-Australia region, while the total available offshore rig fleet size increased by three.

This week, 622 of the world's 688 mobile offshore drilling units are under contract. Worldwide offshore rig fleet utilization is 90.4%, according to ODS-Petrodata's weekly mobile offshore rig count. The worldwide offshore drilling fleet was expanded with the delivery this week of Diamond Offshore newbuild jackup Ocean Shield from Keppel Fels. The rig is expected to leave Singapore this month to start a one-year assignment with Eni in Australia. The Offshore Resolute jack-up also joined the global fleet following its delivery on 25 April to Scorpion Offshore by Keppel AmFels. The rig is currently undergoing endurance testing in the Gulf of Mexico prior to mobilizing to Vietnam for a contract with Thang Long Joint Operating company. Also, the semi-submersible Neptune Finder returned to the active fleet. The US Gulf of Mexico contracted offshore rig count experienced a net increase of six this week as a result of seven new jack-up contracts and the end of a semisub contract. With 106 rigs out of 125 available under contract, fleet utilization stands at 84.8%. In the Asia-Australia region, the number of rigs under contract rose by two this week, while the total offshore fleet size rose by two. With 102 out of 105 available offshore rigs under contract, fleet utilization stands at 97.1%. In West Africa, the offshore rig fleet size and the number of contracted rigs increased by one each. With 58 rigs out of 59 available under contract, utilization remains at 98.3%.
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