Houston-based drilling rig operator Atwood Oceanics has been awarded a drilling services contract by BHP Billiton Petroleum for the semisubmersible rig Atwood Falcon.
The contract is for 330 days and the work will be performed offshore Australia at a US$430,000 day rate. The work will be in direct continuation with the rig's contracted drilling programs. As part of the contract, BHP Billiton retains the right to further extend the contract for two option periods of about 120 days each at the same day rate. Contract commencement is expected to occur in direct continuation of present operations.
Atwood was also awarded a nine-month contract extension by Mubadala Petroleum for the jackup Atwood Orca. The extension is priced at a day rate of about $165,000 in Thailand.
