Sevan Drilling has signed a Letter of Intent with an unspecified operator in the US Gulf of Mexico for a 3-year charter contract for one of its newbuild rigs currently under construction.

The agreed charter rate is in line with previous company guidance of around US $500,000 per day, said the company. Further details will be provided once a final charter contract is executed.

Sevan intends to establish an office in the United States to support the operation of the rig, it added.

The final terms and conditions of the contract are expected to be concluded in the upcoming weeks. There can, however, be no assurances that a final contract will be entered into, it also stated.