Seadrill signs contract with Total for West Jupiter newbuild

Seadrill has signed a firm five-year period contract with Total Upstream Nigeria for the newbuild ultra-deepwater drillship West Jupiter. The sixth-generation rig is under construction at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, with expected delivery in August 2014. The rig will be outfitted to work in up to 10,000 ft of water and will be capable of operating in water depths up to 12,000 ft and drilling depths up to 37,500 ft.

“We are very pleased to have been chosen by Total and its partners for this important project,” Per Wullf, CEO and president of Seadrill, said. “This contract provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship with a key customer and strategically increase our rig fleet in Nigeria, adding the West Jupiter alongside the West Capella, which has been operating in the Usan field offshore Nigeria since 2008. Seadrill takes pride in continuing to build its presence in the Nigerian oil & gas industry.”