Seadrill has secured a $420 million contract for its West Carina ultra-deepwater drillship offshore Indonesia, with an estimated firm duration of 880 days and priced options for up to a further 880 days, taking the rig’s commitments well into 2030 and beyond.
The contract is with an undisclosed operator and includes a mobilisation fee in addition to the $420 million firm value. Operations are expected to begin in the first half of 2027, following the West Carina’s current engagement in Brazil, which was extended through mid-2026 before the rig transitioned to its next programme. The Indonesia award is one of the largest single drillship contracts in Southeast Asia announced this year and adds substantially to Seadrill’s revenue visibility.
Alongside the West Carina award, Seadrill announced a series of extensions and new awards across its fleet. In Malaysia, the West Capella secured extensions totalling approximately $94 million, keeping the rig active in one of the region’s most active deepwater drilling markets. In Angola, Sonadrill’s Sonangol Libongos received a contract extension with Kosmos Energy for approximately 70 days. In the US Gulf, the Sevan Louisiana, a semi-submersible unit, secured a short-term contract with an undisclosed operator for approximately 60 days.
Seadrill said more than 85 percent of its available drillship days for 2027 are now contracted, providing significant revenue visibility heading into the year. The company’s contract backlog has grown substantially through 2026, reflecting a deepwater drilling market that has been tightening steadily as operators accelerate project sanctioning following the post-Hormuz oil price environment. In its second-quarter 2026 results, Seadrill raised its full-year revenue guidance to $1.50 billion to $1.55 billion and increased its Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $420 million to $450 million.
The West Carina is an ultra-deepwater drillship capable of operating in water depths of up to 12,000 feet. Its deployment to Indonesia from 2027 will position Seadrill alongside Transocean, Noble Corporation and Valaris as a significant operator in the Southeast Asian deepwater drilling market at a time when activity across Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese deepwater blocks is accelerating. The Searah joint venture between Eni and Petronas has two simultaneous deepwater gas FIDs progressing in Indonesia, and PTTEP is advancing its SK405B development in Malaysia, generating demand for high-specification deepwater drilling assets across the region.
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