The ultra-deepwater rig, due for delivery from South Korean yard group Samsung in the third quarter, has been chartered by Reliance for four years.
However, the market turmoil of recent months has seen Reliance scale back its drilling programme, and sources told Upstream that the unit is likely to go directly to ONGC upon delivery.
The state-run giant has been hampered lately by a shortage of deep-water drilling units and would benefit from having a rig with a water-depth capacity of 12,000 feet.
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