Offshore drilling services company Transocean announced the awarding of contracts for two of its semi-submersible rigs designed for operations in harsh environments. The agreements represent approximately $185 million in new order backlog and support oil and gas exploration and production activity in Norway and Australia.
According to the company, the contracts were awarded to the Transocean Norge and Transocean Equinox units, two assets designed to operate in complex conditions within the international offshore drilling market.
Harbour Energy awards Transocean a contract in Norway
On one hand, the Transocean Norge platform secured a contract with Harbour Energy to drill five wells in Norwegian waters. The program entails approximately 300 days of work and is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2028 as a direct continuation of the campaign currently underway by the unit.
The award will add approximately $149 million to Transocean’s contract portfolio, excluding mobilization and additional services. The agreement also includes three additional options, each for drilling one well.
The platform’s continued operation reflects the sustained demand for specialized equipment for offshore activities in the North Sea, one of the most active regions for hydrocarbon exploration and production.
Santos assures drilling capacity in Australia
Furthermore, the Transocean Equinox platform was selected by Santos to carry out a two-well drilling campaign in Australia. The project involves approximately 90 days of work and is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2027.
This contract will add approximately $36 million to the company’s order backlog, excluding mobilization and ancillary services. It also includes five options for drilling additional wells.
The award strengthens Transocean’s presence in the Australian market and highlights the need for platforms capable of operating in technically demanding drilling environments.
A market that continues to demand specialized platforms
Currently, Transocean maintains a strong presence in the offshore drilling sector thanks to its expertise in ultra-deepwater projects and extreme environments. The company operates a fleet of 27 mobile marine drilling units, comprising 20 floating platforms for ultra-deepwater drilling and seven platforms designed for harsh conditions.
Securing these new contracts strengthens the company’s long-term business and reinforces the future use of two of its most specialized platforms. Furthermore, it demonstrates the company’s continued investment in the exploration and development of energy resources in regions that are strategic for the global oil and gas industry.
Source: Deepwater
Photo: Shutterstock
