Through years of underinvestment, demand for hydrocarbons remained relatively robust
Global offshore market is on the upswing
Contractors set for multi-year recovery amid continually improving economics and efficiencies
After ‘eight years of winter’, the offshore drilling industry is well into springtime and speeding towards what, by all accounts, appears to be a warm and sustained summer. From doing everything possible to adapt and survive, finally the sector is experiencing improving utilisation and strengthening day rates, due to the tightening supply of the most coveted high-specification assets in key markets. Drillships experienced a steep rise in utilisation over the course of 2021 (see Fig.1), moving quickly from 74pc to 93pc, with forecast utilisation to be around 98pc for the next two years. Semisubmersibles saw an even more impressive rise in utilisation, from 63.4pc in January to 82.4pc in mid-D
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
