The 1976-built vessel, which drills to a depth of 6,000 metres, is on contract to the Anglo-Dutch energy giant for $244,000 per day until late February 2014.
However, Shell suffered a problem-riddled 2012 drilling season off Alaska that saw the Noble Discoverer detained for deficiencies by US port-state control and the Noble-operated conical drilling unit Kulluk grounded while under tow.
The Noble Discoverer extension discussions are an indicator that Shell’s “confidence goes significantly beyond 2014” for the drilling programme, Noble senior vice-president Roger Hunt said in a recent conference call to discuss the Houston drilling contractor’s first-quarter earnings.
The
