Valaris books contract awards, updates fleet status

Source: press release, 15 December 2022

‘VALARIS DS-12’, a DSME 12000 double-hull DP drillship
‘VALARIS DS-12’, a DSME 12000 double-hull DP drillship (photo: Valaris Limited)

Valaris Limited has announced new contracts and contract extensions, with expected associated contract backlog to Valaris of approximately USD 275 million, awarded subsequent to issuing the company’s most recent fleet status report on October 31, 2022. Contract backlog excludes lump sum payments such as mobilisation fees and capital reimbursements.

Valaris contracts:

  • As previously announced on November 21, 2022, Valaris was awarded a four-well contract with bp offshore Egypt for drillship VALARIS DS-12. The contract is expected to commence late in third quarter or early in fourth quarter 2023 and has an estimated duration of 320 days. The estimated total contract value, inclusive of a mobilisation fee, is USD 136 million.
  • 90-day contract with Kistos in the Dutch North Sea for heavy duty harsh environment jackup VALARIS 123. The contract commenced in November 2022. VALARIS 123 will utilise its selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system during the contract with Kistos to significantly reduce NOx emissions from the rig.
  • 195-day contract with ONE-Dyas in the Dutch North Sea for heavy duty harsh environment jackup VALARIS 123. The contract is expected to commence in first quarter 2023 in direct continuation of the rig’s current contract. VALARIS 123 will utilise its selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system during the contract with ONE-Dyas to significantly reduce NOx emissions from the rig.
  • 210-day contract with Shell in the UK North Sea for heavy duty harsh environment jackup VALARIS 121. The contract is expected to commence early in fourth quarter 2023. The expected total contract value is over USD 25 million. The contract has four priced options.
  • 180-day contract with Perenco in the UK North Sea for heavy duty ultra-harsh environment jackup VALARIS 247. The contract is expected to commence in first quarter 2023. The contract has one 60-day option.
  • 90-day option exercised by Cantium in the US Gulf of Mexico for standard duty modern jackup VALARIS 144. The option period is expected to commence in March 2023 in direct continuation of the existing contract. The operating day rate for the option period is USD 85,000.

ARO Drilling contracts:

  • 3-year contract extension offshore Saudi Arabia for standard duty modern jackup VALARIS 147. The extension period is expected to commence in December 2022 in direct continuation of the existing contract. In accordance with the terms of the shareholder agreement, Valaris will bareboat charter VALARIS 147 to ARO. The expected revenue from such bareboat charter is included in the USD 275 million of additional Valaris backlog discussed above.
  • 3-year contract extension offshore Saudi Arabia for standard duty modern jackup VALARIS 148. The extension period is expected to commence in February 2023 in direct continuation of the existing contract. In accordance with the terms of our shareholder agreement, Valaris will bareboat charter VALARIS 148 to ARO. The expected revenue from such bareboat charter is included in the USD 275 million of additional Valaris backlog discussed above.