The delivery dates of two ultradeepwater newbuild drillships were delayed by two years, Transocean Ltd. said in its latest monthly fleet update summary on June 22. They will be delivered in second-quarter 2019 and first-quarter 2020, respectively, the company added.

The delivery dates were delayed after the company amended its construction contracts with Sembcorp Marine's subsidiary, Jurong Shipyard.

The GSF Monarch and Transocean Spitsbergen are idle. The Spitsbergen's well program concluded 45 days early due to efficient rig performance; under the contract, the company is paid if there is early termination, Transocean added. The GSF C.R. Luigs is stacked, having previously been idle.

Transocean also said that Transocean Andaman’s offshore Thailand contract was extended for one year; the Deepwater Champion’s received a three-month contract extension for U.S. Gulf of Mexico; GSF Galaxy II received a one-well contract extension in the U.K. North Sea; and the Sedco Express received a 45-day contract offshore Nigeria.

The total value of new contracts since the last report is about US$109 million.

GSF Celtic Sea and Transocean Amirante are held for sale. Switzerland-based Transocean plans to scrap 20 floaters, and will recycle Amirante and either sell or recycle Celtic Sea.

Offshore