Offshore drilling contractor Seadrill secured two contract awards totaling $260 million for ultra-deepwater drillships in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, significantly boosting its backlog. The West Neptune drillship received a 365-day contract extension starting September 2026, while the West Vela drillship was awarded a separate 270-day drilling program beginning August 2026, both awarded by LLOG Exploration Company. LLOG, a subsidiary of Harbour Energy, extended its long-standing collaboration with Seadrill, citing strong operational performance from both drillships as a key factor in winning follow-on work. The contracts enhance Seadrill’s revenue visibility amid near-term market softness in the U.S. Gulf, with both vessels positioned for favorable availability in 2027 as global floater utilization improves. Seadrill’s CEO Samir Ali highlighted the deals as critical for supporting free cash flow generation during the current market conditions.