Houston-based drilling contractor Atwood Oceanics is understood to have emerged as the frontrunner in a tender to supply UK independent Premier Oil with a high-spec rig to carry out exploration work in the new frontier Ceara basin off Brazil starting in 2017.
According to well-informed sources, Atwood appears now to be in pole position to secure a contract with Premier, edging out rivals Pacific Drilling, Ocean Rig and Maersk Drilling, after offering the newbuild drillship Atwood Admiral.
The
