Press Releases April 15, 2026 08:00 PM

Transocean Ltd. Announces $158 Million Award for Ultra-Deepwater Drillship

Transocean Secures $158 Million Ultra-Deepwater Drillship Contract in Eastern Mediterranean

By Ajmal Hussain RIG
Transocean Ltd. Announces $158 Million Award for Ultra-Deepwater Drillship
RIG

Transocean Ltd. announced a significant five-well contract award worth approximately $158 million for its Deepwater Asgard drillship to operate in the Eastern Mediterranean. The 390-day campaign is set to begin in Q4 2026 and adds to a total backlog increase of roughly $1.6 billion in April. This contract reinforces Transocean's leadership in ultra-deepwater offshore drilling and highlights robust demand in the offshore oil and gas sector.

Key Points

  • Transocean secured a five-well contract worth $158 million for the Deepwater Asgard, commencing Q4 2026 in the Eastern Mediterranean.
  • Total backlog additions for April reach approximately $1.6 billion, including contracts for other drillships in Norway and Brazil.
  • Transocean operates a fleet of 27 offshore drilling units specializing in ultra-deepwater and harsh environment drilling, indicating strong positioning in the offshore oil and gas sector.

STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, April 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) (“Transocean”) today announced that the Deepwater Asgard was awarded a five-well contract in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea with an undisclosed operator. The estimated 390-day campaign is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026 and contribute approximately $158 million in backlog, excluding additional services and compensation for mobilization and demobilization.

Inclusive of the recently announced fixtures on the Transocean Barents in Norway, and the Deepwater Orion, Deepwater Aquila, and Deepwater Corcovado in Brazil, total backlog additions approximate $1.6 billion since the beginning of April.

About Transocean

Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on ultra-deepwater and harsh environment drilling services and operates the highest specification floating offshore drilling fleet in the world.

Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates a fleet of 27 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting of 20 ultra-deepwater floaters and seven harsh environment floaters.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements described herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements could contain words such as “approximately,” “expected,” “estimated,” or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are beyond our control, and in many cases, cannot be predicted. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the level of activity in offshore oil and gas exploration and development, exploration success by producers, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the fluctuation of current and future prices of oil and gas, the global and regional supply and demand for oil and gas, the intention to scrap certain drilling rigs, the effects of the spread of and mitigation efforts by governments, businesses and individuals related to contagious illnesses, and other factors, including our expectations regarding the timing, completion and anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination with Valaris Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, and other risks discussed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in the company's other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at: www.sec.gov. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. We expressly disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs with regard to the statement or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. All non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations to the most comparative GAAP measure are displayed in quantitative schedules on the company’s website at www.deepwater.com.

This press release, or referenced documents, do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and do not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Transocean. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of Transocean and its securities, including the merits and risks involved, when making any investment decision involving Transocean securities.

Analyst Contact:
Sarah Davidson
+1 713-232-7217

Media Contact:
Kristina Mays
+1 713-232-7734


Risks

  • Operational hazards and delays in offshore drilling could affect project timelines and costs.
  • Fluctuations in oil and gas prices may impact demand for offshore drilling services.
  • International operational risks and geopolitical factors in the Eastern Mediterranean could affect contract execution.

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