North Atlantic Drilling Ltd. (NADL) has received a notice of termination from Rosneft of the service order for the West Navigator drillship in connection with the framework agreement.
The drillship was indicatively scheduled to start operations under its five-year contract with Rosneft during the summer of 2015, which would have required earlier mobilisation.
NADL previously outlined, in its fourth quarter 2014 results report, that it would be very challenging to close the transactions with Rosneft on the same terms or in the timeframe contemplated in the executed agreements, and that there had been significant risks attached to the US$4.1 billion order backlog related to the drilling contracts with Rosneft.
The termination of the service order for West Navigator will reduce NADL’s contract backlog by US$1 billion.
According to NADL, it will be marketing the West Navigator for alternative future opportunities, however remains in discussions with Rosneft to explore various alternatives for future co-operation.