Rig information tables

December 2004 Supplement    Rig Information Tables

The tables offer insight as to the size of fleets and the number of rigs capable of operating at the edge of technological achievement. Table 1 shows the top companies, by fleet size, holding the world’s finest rigs. The drop-off in fleet size is dramatic, ranging from 71 down to 10 across just 10 companies. Some, such as Rowan, ENSCO, Nabors Offshore and Maersk, are almost exclusively concentrated in jackups, while Transocean is distributed across all rig types. Overall utilization ranged from 95%, for GlobalSantaFe, to 80%, for Nabors Offshore. 

Table 2 shows that there are only 14 drilling rigs capable of operating in 10,000-ft water. Two of those are semisubmersibles, the rest are drillships. If water depth is extended to 8,000-ft capability and deeper, the number of rigs operating in these waters only grows to 22. Within that group, only the Bedford Dolphin is rated to 39,000 ft drilling depth. Five others are rated to 35,000-ft drilling depths and 13 will get to 30,000 ft. Dayrates range from $103,000 to $275,000.

Table 3 describes the towering heights to which jackup technology has reached. There are now jackups capable of operating in over 500 ft water, with the Bob Palmer leading the pack with its 550-ft rated water depth and 35,000-ft drilling capability. Eighteen rigs can now operate in 400 ft and deeper water, with two more scheduled for completion by year-end 2005. Dayrates range from $60,000 to $120,000. ENSCO 67 is the granddaddy of the group, having been delivered in 1976.