Contract drilling expense for the first quarter totaled $145 million compared to $139 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily driven by the shipyard projects for the Ocean Patriot and Ocean Endeavor. The Ocean Endeavor may require another out-of-service period for further repairs and enhancements later in 2022, subject to ongoing assessments.
Diamond Offshore added $29 million of backlog during the first quarter, bringing the Company’s total contracted backlog as of April 1, 2022 to $1.2 billion, which represents 15.6 rig years of work.
Operational Highlights
During the first quarter, the Company successfully commenced operations with the West Auriga (one of three rigs managed by the Company) on a one-year contract. With the commencement of this contract, Diamond Offshore has three ultra-deepwater drillships working for BP in the Gulf of Mexico.
During the quarter, the Company’s owned drillship fleet continued to perform in an exceptional manner, achieving an operating efficiency of nearly 100% during the quarter. Excluding the two rigs in shipyard during the first quarter, the Company’s remaining fleet achieved operational efficiency of 97% during the quarter.
Liquidity and Outlook
As of March 31, 2022, Diamond Offshore had total liquidity of $388 million, comprised of $54 million of unrestricted cash, and $334 million of available capacity on its revolving credit facility and delayed draw First Lien Notes.
Discussing the offshore drilling market, Mr. Wolford commented “We continue to see improvements in the moored, DP and drillship segments of the market. Rates and utilization for drillships have improved and are at recent cycle highs, and we expect this trend to continue in the coming months. The moored segment has also improved; however, it has been at a more measured pace and more geographically diverse than that of drillships. We are pleased to have significant backlog with repricing and new opportunities available to us in the quarters ahead. Customers continue to favor working rigs, and we believe Diamond Offshore is well situated for the repricing cycle currently under way in both the moored and drillship segments.”
ABOUT DIAMOND OFFSHORE
Diamond Offshore is a leader in offshore drilling, providing innovation, thought leadership and contract drilling services to solve complex deepwater challenges around the globe. Additional information and access to the Company’s SEC filings are available at http://www.diamondoffshore.com/.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, including statements relating to future financial results;