Offshore drilling contractors facing uncertainty

摘要

Companies in the deepwater drilling market have lost more than half of their value overthe last year; Transocean, Seadrill, ENSCO and Diamond are currently priced 56% lower on average compared to January 2014 in line with the decrease in oil prices, according to Douglas-Westwood. While these sharp falls in share prices reflect similartrends across the oil and gas industry, the number of active ultra-deep water rigs have remained high with 171 units contracted versus 175 units last January. Day rates have also increased slightly from an average of $470,000 to $485,465, although this is largely a result of contracts signed before the fall in oil prices.