Aker Drilling orders ultra deepwater drillships

The two drillships are to be delivered by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in October and December 2013, respectively. The total price per unit is estimated at $600 million. The contract includes two fixed price options for further two drillships to be declared within June and October 2011, respectively.

The DP-equipped drillships are claimed to be the largest and most capable ultra-deepwater units in the market, equipped with double derricks and capable of operations in water depths down to 12,000ft and with drilling depths of 40,000ft. The units are designed for operations in areas such as the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, West Africa, India and the Far East.

“The decision to build the new ultra-deepwater drillships at DSME follows a careful evaluation of all newbuild opportunities. The solid track record and quality of work of DSME combined with the highest specified newbuilds place our company in the best position for taking advantage of a continued favourable development of the offshore drilling market. This investment will be our next step in the development of Aker Drilling as a leading contractor in the ultra-deepwater and harsh environment markets,” said Geir Sjøberg, CEO of Aker Drilling ASA.