Plains E&P Company has contracted two latest-generation, ultra-deepwater drillships to accelerate the expansion of its deepwater Gulf of Mexico drilling program. The Noble Sam Croft and Noble Tom Madden drillships are under construction with delivery to PXP expected mid-year 2014 and early 2015, respectively. PXP, which late last year closed the acquisition of interests in certain deepwater GoM oil and gas properties, earlier this year acquired lease blocks near its newly-acquired infrastructure and secured drilling rig capacity to accelerate its top-tier GoM program beginning in the second half of 2014.

Offshore