http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article149554.ece
Seadrill taps profits gusher
By Upstream staff
Norwegian outfit Seadrill reported a bigger-than-expected jump in fourth-quarter operating profit and painted an upbeat picture for 2008 with high oil prices stoking demand for its drilling rigs.
Operating profit rose to $110 million in October-December from $79 million in the same quarter in 2006, beating an average forecast of $105 million in a Reuters poll of 13 analysts.
On the back of a favourable tax ruling and developments at its Seawell unit, Seadrill's EPS surged to $0.56 from $0.14 a year earlier, smashing an average forecast of $0.16.
Seadrill, worth $10 billion, said its main challenge in 2008 will be to take delivery and commence operations of the eight newly built rigs scheduled for delivery this year.
Several years of all-out growth, fuelled by surging oil prices, has resulted in delays in new rig deliveries by the offshore services sector, but Seadrill said its programme was "progressing according to plan with only minor delays".
It said that it has received several contracting proposals for its available rigs but has been hesitant to conclude talks.
"The board is...reluctant to conclude (deals) since it is likely that the increased new building costs, high demand and limited rig availability combined with increased oil prices will push up day-rates further," Seadrill said in a statement.
Bermuda-based Seadrill repeated that its first quarter results would be hit by down-time at a drillship but reiterated that it expected a "significant increase" in revenues as its fleet expands later in 2008 and in 2009 and as dayrates rise.
The company has a fleet of 37 drilling units, including 13 still under construction. It did not envisage any difficulties in gaining the $2 billion to complete its programme.
"The board sees no risk to concluding this financing," Seadrill said.
Seadrill said it has placed a new $131 million order for a self-erecting tender rig, with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2010, but added that the outlook for new builds has deteriorated after a spree of orders worldwide.
"The long lead-time from order to delivery, the increased construction prices and the lack of operational cash flow in the construction period makes newbuildings projects less interesting today than two years ago," Seadrill said, adding that it was continuing to eye potential acquisitions.
"Several groups are currently ordering deepwater rig capacity...(and) these initiatives may represent opportunities for consolidation for Seadrill at a later stage," it said.
Seadrill added that it would probably reject outstanding third party bids for Odfjell Invest and Scorpion Offshore.