February 2   |   Rowan Norway   |   400 ft.   Jackup
Rowan has been awarded a contract to supply two jackups to ConocoPhillips for work offshore Norway. For each contract, the firm portion will begin early 2013 and run through June 2016 at a rate in the low-$350s. Each contract also contains a provision for two, one-year options at escalating rates (first option - low-$360s and second option - low-$370s). The Rowan Norway (400' ILC N-Class) will fulfill one contract while the rig for the second contract has yet to be determined. Although the Rowan Viking, also an N-Class unit would be a likely candidate to fill the second contract.

February 2   |   Borgland Dolphin   |   1,500 ft.   Semisub
The Borgland Dolphin (mid-water semisub) has now begun drilling the Maria prospect for Wintershall offshore Norway. As reported earlier, the rig had finished its previous well (Sesam/Sinbad) and was being handed over to Wintershall to drill Maria. The rig is working for a consortium of operators managed by Rig Management Norway on a contract that runs through early 2014 at a rate in the low-$530s.

February 2   |   Ocean Champion   |   250 ft.   Jackup
Diamond Offshore is unlikely to reactivate any of its mat-supported jackups that are cold stacked in the US Gulf of Mexico. Larry Dickerson, Diamond Offshore's President said that while the jackup market in the Gulf of Mexico is strengthening, the company would be more likely to sell its three mat-supported jackups to a company that would be more suited to operate those rigs than Diamond. The Ocean Crusader, Ocean Drake and Ocean Champion have all been cold stacked since 2009. The Ocean Crusader and Ocean Drake are mat cantilver units rated to work in water depths up to 200 feet and the Ocean Champion is a mat slot jackup rated to work in water depths up to 205 feet.

February 2   |   West Phoenix   |   10,000 ft.   Semisub
Total expects the West Phoenix (UDW semsiub) to arrive at their Tomintoul prospect in early February. Tomintoul is located West of Shetlands in Block 205/9. This block along with 205/5c and 205/10 were awarded to Total during the UK's 26th licensing round. License requirements include shooting 2D and reprocessing 3D seismic along with drilling one commitment well. These blocks are located south of Total's Laggan-Tormore gas development.

February 2   |   MTR-1   |   600 ft.   Tender
The MTR-1 tender barge has been awarded a five-month contract for work offshore Indonesia as an accommodation unit. The contract has a dayrate in the low-$30s.