Transocean newbuilding begins contract with Chevron

The dynamically positioned double-hulled Discoverer Inspiration includes the most advanced drilling capabilities in the offshore drilling industry

.

The vessel is an enhanced version of Transocean’s three predecessor Enterprise-class drillships, which have set deepwater drilling records in recent years, including the world water-depth drilling record of 10,011 feet set by the Discoverer Deep Seas while working for Chevron in the U

.

S

.

Gulf of Mexico

.

One of 25 ultra-deepwater floaters in the Transocean fleet, the newbuilding features Transocean’s patented dual-activity drilling technology, which allows for parallel drilling operations designed to save time and money in deepwater well construction, compared with conventional rigs

.

The dual-activity technology, along with a new and enhanced top drive system, a high-pressure mud system and other unique features of the drillship target the drilling of wells up to 40,000 feet of total depth

.

The rig also has a variable deck-load of more than 20,000 tonnes

and the

capability of drilling in water depths of up to 12,000 feet

.

In addition to the

Discoverer Inspiration,

the company has three newbuild ultra-deepwater floaters in various stages of construction or preparation for initial contracts which are scheduled to commence operations in 2010 and 2011

.

Two of those vessels, the

Discoverer India

and the

Discoverer Luanda

(the latter owned by a joint venture company with Angco Cayman Limited), are also enhanced

Enterprise

-class drillships

.

The other unit is the drillship

Deepwater Champion

.