Seadrill has inked an order at Keppel FELS in Singapore to build a semi-submersible tender rig.
Oslo and New York-listed Seadrill will pay $142m for the self-erecting rig which will be delivered in the second quarter of 2013.
The unit is similar in design to the West Jaya which Keppel delivered to Seadrill in March.
In all it is the eighth such rig that Seadrill has ordered from Keppel since 1994 and brings the number of tender rigs in its fleet to 19.
Alf C Thorkildsen, chief executive of Seadrill, described the price as “very favourable”.
He said: "The tender rig business has delivered excellent operational results as well as outstanding economics over the last decade.
“Based on the continued strength of the offshore drilling market we continue to see strong growth and earnings potential for our business."
Seadrill, already the world’s largest owner of jack-up rigs, is committed to spend nearly $5bn on newbuildings in the next five years.