New US Gulf drilling contracts have added approximately $550 million to Transocean's firm backlog, extending its offshore project commitments into 2027.[6][10] The company announced the awards on 19 October, with Offshore Engineer reporting the details on 20 October.[6][10] The customers for both drillships remain undisclosed.[6][10]
Deepwater Proteus received a contract for ten wells, with an estimated duration of 700 days and approximately $325 million in backlog.[6][10] Work is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, directly after the rig's existing US Gulf contract.[6][10]
Deepwater Conqueror received a contract for five wells and an estimated 450 days of work.[6][10] The award is expected to contribute approximately $225 million in backlog, excluding mobilization fees, and start in the third quarter of 2027 after the drillship's programme in Equatorial Guinea.[6][10]
The awards secure future drilling work rather than establish that either new campaign is already operating.[6][10] They also set different deployment paths, with Proteus remaining in the US Gulf and Conqueror scheduled to follow its Equatorial Guinea programme with US Gulf work.[6][10] The cover photograph shows Deepwater Conqueror and is credited to Transocean by Offshore Engineer.[6]
Sources: [6] https://www.oedigital.com/news/543782-transocean-secures-550m-in-us-gulf-drillship-deals [10] https://www.deepwater.com/news/detail?ID=30626