Atwood Oceanics (“Atwood”), a Houston-based offshore drilling contractor, has chosen Atwood Condor as the name for its newbuild ultra-deepwater dynamically positioned (“DP”) semisubmersible. The Atwood Condor remains on track for delivery from Jurong Shipyard in Singapore by the middle of 2012.

Atwood is actively marketing the unit -- which is especially suited for deep drilling exploration and development applications – for opportunities commencing directly after the rig’s commissioning and delivery.

The Atwood Condor is an ExD Millennium class ultra-deepwater DP semisubmersible with 10,000 feet of water depth capability and state-of-the-art drilling and completion features. Operating capabilities include a six-ram Blowout Preventer (including three shear rams, high-pressure shearing capacity and enhanced subsea energy for activating subsea functions), high-torque top drive providing one million pound rotating hook load, low-emissions engines, efficient pipe-handling and subsea tree-running equipment and accommodations for 200 personnel.

The Atwood Condor represents the eleventh rig in Atwood’s worldwide fleet. Condor is the name of a species of large, broad-wing soaring birds that are native to the Western Hemisphere and are known for their majestic flight.