Recently, the ultra-deepwater drillship “Dhirubhai Deepwater KG2”, owned by Swiss offshore drilling contractor Transocean, secured a contract from India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for operations in Indian offshore waters. The contract is valued at approximately $300 million, including fees for ancillary services and mobilization.
The “Dhirubhai Deepwater KG2” has been idle since the conclusion of its long-term operating contract with Petrobras in May 2026. Under the latest charter agreement, the vessel is scheduled to resume operations in the first quarter of 2027 for a two-year term.
Additionally, the contract includes an option for a two-year extension at a fixed rate; if fully exercised, the drillship would operate in India until early 2031.
The “Dhirubhai Deepwater KG2” is a sixth-generation ultra-deepwater drillship built by Samsung Heavy Industries. Commissioned in 2010, it measures 228 meters in length, 42 meters in width, and 19 meters in depth, and is equipped with a DP-3 dynamic positioning system.
This marks the second ultra-deepwater drillship chartered by ONGC this year. In February, ONGC signed a three-year contract with Vantage Drilling to charter the “Platinum Explorer”—a drillship built in 2010—in a deal valued at $261 million.