- Shares of offshore drillers such as Ensco (ESV -5.2%), Transocean (RIG -2.4%) and Seadrill (SDRL -3.4%) are tumbling today, as fleet status updates continue to show tough times ahead for the group.
- In the latest update, ESV said it had agreed to reduce the rate it charged Total (NYSE:TOT) for one ultra-deepwater drillship and reduce the length of the contract on a second ship by six months; two floaters and two jackups also finished contracts and are now idle.
- RBC analysts say they do not expect a bottom in the overall offshore rig count until mid-2016 at the earliest and expect rates and utilization to remain challenged in the interim.
- Also: NE -3%, RDC -1.7%, DO -2.1%, ATW -2%, ORIG -6%, PACD -15.1%.