Transocean Inc. Provides Fourth Quarter 2004 Update

Transocean Inc.

Transocean Inc. (NYSE:RIG) reported that results for the three months ended December 31, 2004 are expected to be below results of the previous quarter in 2004. Revenues for the fourth quarter were negatively impacted by idle time on the drillship Deepwater Millennium in the Gulf of Mexico, downtime relating to the mobilization of the drillship Deepwater Pathfinder to Nigeria and semisubmersible Transocean Rather to the North Sea and the warm stacking of the semisubmersible rig M.G. Hulme in Nigeria. In addition, costs to complete repairs on two previously damaged rigs, the jackup rig Trident 20 and the semisubmersible rig Jim Cunningham, a special periodic survey on the semisubmersible rig Polar Pioneer and substantial work on the jackup rig J.T. Angel in the Far East prior to commencing a new contract will contribute to significantly higher operating and maintenance costs in the quarter. Repair and maintenance programs performed on the Trident 20, Polar Pioneer and J.T. Angel were completed during the fourth quarter of 2004 and each rig has returned to service. Repairs to the Jim Cunningham should be completed during January 2005 and the rig is expected to immediately recommence a drilling program in the eastern Mediterranean. General and administrative expenses will also be higher than the previous quarter in 2004 due to severance costs and costs related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance efforts.

The company will report results for the fourth quarter and full year 2004 on the morning of Tuesday, February 15, 2005. Following the earnings report, expected to be released prior to the commencement of trading in the United States, the company will conduct a teleconference call at 10:00 a.m. ET on February 15. Individuals who wish to participate in the teleconference call should dial 303-262-2075 approximately five to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the call.

In addition, the conference call will be simulcast through a listen-only broadcast over the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto the company's Worldwide Web address at www.deepwater.com and selecting "Investor Relations." It may also be accessed via the Worldwide Web at www.CompanyBoardroom.com by typing in the company's New York Stock Exchange trading symbol, "RIG."

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