HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2012--
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE:DO) today announced that a
subsidiary has entered into a contract with Keppel AmFELS shipyard in
Brownsville, Texas for the construction of a moored semisubmersible rig
with delivery scheduled for the third quarter of 2013. Total cost,
including commissioning, spares and project management, but excluding
capitalized interest, is expected to be approximately $300 million and
to be paid out of available funds.
The rig, to be named the Ocean Onyx, will be designed to operate
in water depths up to 6,000 feet and will have a variable deck load of
5,000 long tons, a five-ram blowout preventer, and quarters capacity for
140 personnel.
“We think significant opportunity remains for new deepwater units,” said
Larry Dickerson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond
Offshore. “No new capacity targeting the standard midwater and deepwater
markets is currently under construction, and this rig should be ideally
suited to meet emerging demand in this segment. When added to our three
ultra-deepwater drillships under construction, this unit will continue
the process of renewing Diamond’s fleet.”
“We will construct the Ocean Onyx utilizing an existing hull from
a Diamond Offshore cold stacked unit, which previously operated as the
Ocean Voyager. This should allow the Ocean Onyx to be built and
placed into service in approximately half the time and at half the cost
of current newbuilds.”
ABOUT DIAMOND OFFSHORE
Diamond Offshore provides contract drilling services to the energy
industry and is a leader in deepwater drilling. Diamond Offshore’s fleet
of offshore drilling rigs consists of 32 semisubmersibles, 13 jack-ups,
and one drillship, in addition to three ultra-deepwater drillships
currently under construction. For additional information and access to
SEC filings, please visit the Company’s website at www.diamondoffshore.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this press release which are not historical
facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal
securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation,
statements concerning future costs, sources of funds, timing of
construction and delivery, future market conditions, rig design and
capabilities, competition and future returns, and are inherently
uncertain and subject to a variety of risks that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expected by management of the
Company. A discussion of the important risk factors and other
considerations that could materially impact these matters as well as the
Company’s overall business and financial performance can be found in the
Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
readers of this press release are urged to review those reports
carefully when considering these forward-looking statements. Copies of
these reports are available through the Company’s website www.diamondoffshore.com.
Given these risk factors, investors and analysts should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any
change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking
statement is based.
Source: Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
Darren Daugherty, 281-492-5370
Director,
Investor Relations
