New deepwater drillship joins Pride fleet

Named Deep Ocean Ascension, the owner is expected to take delivery of the rig in late February 2010, followed by the mobilization of the rig to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico where it is expected to commence operations in the third quarter of the year under a five-year contract with BP.

The delivery of Deep Ocean Ascension represents the addition of a new, technologically advanced generation of rigs to the Pride fleet and is claimed to be one of the most capable drilling rigs in the offshore drilling industry. The next drillship to be delivered in the four-rig construction program is the Deep Ocean Clarion with an expected August 2010 completion date, followed by the Deep Ocean Mendocino in the first quarter of 2011, and the Deep Ocean Molokai in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Pride International headquartered in Houston, Texas, operates a fleet of 23 rigs, including two deepwater drillships, 12 semisubmersible rigs, seven jackups and two managed deepwater rigs. The company’s floating rig fleet operates primarily offshore Brazil and West Africa, and this year, will expand into the U.S. Gulf of Mexico deepwater region, led by the latest newbuilding.