New Angola O&G regulatory body today. Suspect market will hear some upcoming changes to Angola offshore drilling rules? Perhaps will make required usage of local owned vessels, maybe like a 'right of first refusal'? Otherwise, why else would Angola have a desire to form the JV, and why else would anyone agree to be the operator and be willing to contribute high-dollar drilling rigs to a 50/50 JV? Had to be some business reason with an upside.
I had wondered why the timing of the Seadrill/Sonangol NOC JV announcement. Perhaps it had to be sequenced prior to this today's announced change in the Angola politics?
FWIW, if Seadrill or Seadrill Partner gets the rights to manage the West Libra and the West Aquila (7thG newbuild drillships in South Korean shipyard DSME ... on the same pier at the two Sonangol 7thG drillships), perhaps they would be the unansounced two drillships to go in to the JV? I'm confident all four are available for delivery in 2019; the West Libra and West Aquila under their previously announced accelerated delivery rights. West Libra and West Aquila are owned by www.NorthernDrilling.com . T.D.