Noble to mobilize semi from GoM to eastern Mediterranean

Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation (NYSE:NE) reports that it has been awarded a contract for the semisubmersible rig Noble Paul Romano and has received a contract extension on the semisubmersible rig Noble Max Smith, two rigs located in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the company has been awarded a contract for the jackup rig Noble George Sauvageau operating in the Southern sector of the North Sea.

The Noble Paul Romano has been awarded a six well, approximately 180-day contract by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (GSPC) for operations offshore Egypt at a dayrate of $325,000, excluding mobilization revenues. The rig, which has been idle in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico since June 2010, is expected to commence the new contract in October 2011, following mobilization to an initial drilling location in the Eastern Mediterranean. The contract could be extended for up to four optional wells. The Noble Paul Romano is a Noble EVA 4000, conventionally moored deepwater semisubmersible rated to operate in water depths of up to 6,000 feet.

The Noble Max Smith, operating offshore Mexico for Pemex Exploracion y Produccion (PEMEX), has received a five-month extension of its current contract. The extension commenced in August 2011 at a dayrate of $380,000. The Noble Max Smith is a Noble EVA 4000, conventionally-moored deepwater semisubmersible capable of operating in water depths of up to 7,000 feet. It rig has operated offshore Mexico since August 2008.

In addition, Noble reported that the semisubmersible rig Noble Driller commenced its full operating dayrate of $383,000 on August 1, 2011 and has mobilized to an operating location in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The rig is under contract through June 2013.

Finally, the Noble George Sauvageau has been awarded a one-year contract by Wintershall for operations in the Southern sector of the North Sea at a dayrate of $115,000. The rig is now firmly committed through 2012.

August 8, 2011