Transocean wins about $550M in Gulf drilling contracts
The Proteus work is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, followed by the Conqueror program in the third quarter.
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Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Transocean Ltd. (RIG) announced contract awards for two ultra-deepwater drillships in the U.S. Gulf, representing approximately $550 million in firm contract backlog. The Deepwater Proteus received a ten-well contract with an undisclosed operator; its estimated 700-day campaign is expected to contribute approximately $325 million in backlog and commence in the first quarter of 2027, directly continuing its current U.S. Gulf contract.
The Deepwater Conqueror received a five-well contract with an undisclosed operator. Its estimated 450 days of work are expected to contribute approximately $225 million in backlog, excluding mobilization fees, and commence in the third quarter of 2027, directly continuing its program in Equatorial Guinea. Transocean says it owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates 27 mobile offshore drilling units: 20 ultra-deepwater floaters and seven harsh-environment floaters. The company described the backlog contributions and start dates as estimates and stated that forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
firm contract backlog financial
ultra-deepwater technical
mobilization fees financial
floaters technical
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (date of earliest event reported):
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 7.01Regulation FD Disclosure.
Transocean Ltd. announced contract awards for two of its ultra-deepwater drillships in the U.S. Gulf. In aggregate, the fixtures represent approximately $550 million in firm contract backlog.
The Deepwater Proteus was awarded a ten-well contract with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf. The estimated 700-day campaign is expected to contribute approximately $325 million in backlog and commence in the first quarter of 2027 in direct continuation of the rig’s current U.S. Gulf contract.
The Deepwater Conqueror was awarded a five-well contract with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf. The estimated 450 days of work is expected to contribute approximately $225 million in backlog, excluding mobilization fees, and commence in the third quarter of 2027 in direct continuation of the rig’s program in Equatorial Guinea.
A copy of the press release announcing the fixture referred to above is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | | Description |
99.1 | Transocean Ltd. Announces Contract Awards Totaling $550 Million | |
101 | Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL). |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
TRANSOCEAN LTD. | ||
Date: October 9, 2026 | By: | /s/ Debra Kupferman |
Debra Kupferman | ||
Authorized Person | ||
EXHIBIT 99.1
Transocean Ltd. Announces Contract Awards Totaling $550 Million
STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, October 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) (“Transocean”) today announced contract awards for two of its ultra-deepwater drillships in the U.S. Gulf. In aggregate, the fixtures represent approximately $550 million in firm contract backlog.
The Deepwater Proteus was awarded a ten-well contract with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf. The estimated 700-day campaign is expected to contribute approximately $325 million in backlog and commence in the first quarter of 2027 in direct continuation of the rig’s current U.S. Gulf contract.
The Deepwater Conqueror was awarded a five-well contract with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf. The estimated 450 days of work is expected to contribute approximately $225 million in backlog, excluding mobilization fees, and commence in the third quarter of 2027 in direct continuation of the rig’s program in Equatorial Guinea.
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 “expected,” “estimated,” “approximately,” 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