Statoil is eyeing on placing more orders for new Category D semi-submersible rigs, in order to replace the ageing fleet off Norway, according to Bloomberg News.
Amid tight availability off Norway, the move is aimed at combating a rig capacity shortage and high dayrates that have fuelled drilling costs.
Meanwhile, rig contractor Songa Offshore has so far secured long-term charter contracts from Statoil for a total of four Cat-D newbuild rigs ordered at Korean yard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering for $570 million apiece and due for delivery in 2014 and 2015.
“When we’ve spent time and effort ordering four, it gives us a drive to do more,” Statoil’s head of rig strategy and procurement Torgeir Loland said.