NLFEnergy

Ensco International and Oilsands Quest: Two Diverse Energy Bets

You have to be careful when comparing ESV to RIG, DO, or NE for that matter, they don't have as much deepwater exposure as those last three do. Jackup rates have been depressed recently (especially in the Mexican and South East Asian markets) due to spec building coming online from smaller competitors. I like ESV a lot, but I would definitely own the other three companies first with NE being the best option for sure.

These Three Deep Sea Drillers Look Like a Bargain

Ensco doesn't have the same deepwater exposure as these three, they own the deepwater market. Ensco is more focused on jackups rigs and geographically is based in different areas than these three, namely southeast Asia. Noble is the real star here as they have the inside track with the Brazilians and over 73% of 2009 days booked for drilling.