Two shipbuilders have sealed contracts with Noble Corp for the construction of an ultra-deepwater drillship.
New York-listed Noble says it is splashing an estimated $550m to build the 18,200-gt Noble Globetrotter II.
South Korea's STX Heavy Industries will manufacture the hull at its facility in Dalian, China, and then the structure will be sent to the Netherlands where Dutch design firm Huisman Equipment will help assemble and install the unit's topside equipment.
The Swiss drilling giant expects the vessel to hit the water in the second half of 2013.
It will join the company's 18,200-gt drillship Globtrotter, which is due for delivery in 2011.
In addition, the units may become eligible for a 15% performance bonus.