Seadrill wins new offshore drilling contracts in the U.S. Gulf and Angola

Seadrill has announced a series of new contract awards in the U.S. Gulf of America/Mexico and offshore Angola, strengthening its backlog into 2026 and early 2027. 

In the U.S. Gulf, Seadrill’s West Neptune drillship was awarded a four-month contract by LLOG Exploration. The program is scheduled to begin immediately following the rig’s current campaign and is expected to add approximately $48 million to Seadrill’s contract backlog.

Also in the Gulf, the Sevan Louisiana received a two-month contract from an undisclosed operator. The work will commence in direct continuation of its current contract with Walter Oil and Gas, avoiding idle time between campaigns. The program will mark the first deployment of Trendsetter well-intervention equipment in the region, expanding the rig’s operational scope.

Offshore Angola, a previously awarded five-well option has been exercised for the Sonangol Quenguela drillship. The extension will keep the rig working for approximately 10 additional months, committing it through February 2027. Sonangol Quenguela operates in partnership with Sonangol.

Seadrill President and CEO Simon Johnson said the awards highlight the company’s ability to secure follow-on work and maintain high fleet utilization during a challenging market environment. He added that the contracts reflect continued progress in building backlog while strengthening relationships with repeat customers.

The latest awards reinforce Seadrill’s position in the deepwater drilling market, particularly in core regions such as the U.S. Gulf and offshore West Africa, as operators advance development and intervention programs.