Greece's DryShips is planning to order more new drillships through its subsidiary Ocean Rig.
The owner is sitting on three drillship orders at Samsung Heavy Industries of Korea with three options more.
The three seventh-generation drillships are due for delivery from Samsung next year while the options are to be exercised by October 4th.
The company is likely to start exercising options for further drillships at the yard following expected syndication of a $1.4bn credit facility for the firm trio of drillships over the next two months.
It is also discussing $2.2bn worth of intended employment contracts, which are expected to be firmed up in the coming weeks.