The chief financial officer at Norwegian company Seadrill has warned that the day-rate for ultra-deepwater drilling rigs chartered within the next 12 months will pass the $600,000 mark.
Esa Ikaheimonen told a shipping conference last month that he believes day-rates will continue to rise.
He said, “Seadrill is bullish on rates. The market is seeing almost everything up to $750,000-plus per day.
“I don’t think there is necessarily a limit – $600,000 dollars is definitely not a limit. We will see rates reaching and even breaching that level shortly.”
Seadrill has a strong grip on the deepwater market.
The company operates 44 rigs and has 14 more under construction.
A significant number are classed for deep and ultra-deepwater.
Ikaheimonen said it was Seadrill’s plan to stay focused on ultra-deepwater, where it can get the highest return, and pointed out that price discipline is expected, as a trend for longer-term contracts,
“People recognise the tightness of the market and people act accordingly to secure capacity,”