Driller Hercules hibernates eight rigs in weak market

摘要

Houston-Contract Gulf of Mexico driller Hercules Offshore's decision to hibernate eight drilling rigs, including five jackups, appeared to take analysts off guard even at a time when most are predicting the region to continue slack for most of this year.In its fleet status report released late January 20, Hercules, which specializes in lower-end shallow-water rigs where current demand is sluggish from a weakening economy, said it had "cold-stacked," or put into a deeply idled state, its Hercules 85, 101, 153, 207 and 211 jackup rigs. It also retired four jackups that had been cold-stacked since 2001.