ANADARKO takes on new drillship for Mozambique

Anadarko (APC) has extended its contract for the Belford Dolphin drillship for a full four years and has taken usage of a new-build drillship from Fred Olsen Energy.  Both drillships are to be used off for further exploration off Mozambique.  Sounds to me like Anadarko are proposing to drill far more than a half dozen wells, if they are wanting two full-time drillships off Mozambique.

Dolphin Drilling Ltd., a subsidiary of Fred. Olsen, has entered into contracts for the provision of the drillship Belford Dolphin (UDW drillship) and its newbuild drillship under construction by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC). The contracts are each for four years and are expected to be in support of Anadarko's future long term drilling programmes offshore Mozambique.

The Belford Dolphin contract will commence January 1, 2012 in direct continuation of its existing contract with APC which had previously been scheduled to continue to April 2013. The value for the Belford Dolphin contract is approximately $701 million.

The four year term of the newbuild drillship contact will begin on commencement of operations offshore Mozambique expected in the fourth quarter 2013 following delivery by HHI and mobilization to Mozambique. The newbuild drillship contract value is approximately $727 million including a mobilization fee of $15 million. In connection with the newbuild contract it will be invested in a second BOP, estimated to USD 35 million.  Source RIGZONE