Rowan Provides Fleet Contract Status Update

HOUSTON, April 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowan Companies plc ("Rowan" or the "Company") RDC announced today that its report of drilling rig status and contract information has been updated as of April 22, 2015.  The report titled "Fleet Status Report" can be found on the Company's website at www.rowan.com.

Notable events in the current report include:

• Rowan Reliance: Rig is currently in operation on the North Platte #3 well.
• Rowan Relentless: Rig was delivered from Hyundai Heavy Industries on March 31, 2015 and is currently mobilizing to the Gulf of Mexico.
• Rowan Renaissance: Rig is expected to mobilize to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico from West Africa by 3Q 2015.
• Hank Boswell:  Revised operating rate to $163,000 from $180,000 beginning March 1, 2015. Resume operating rate of $180,000 on March 1, 2016.
• Bob Keller:  Revised operating rate to $120,000 from $177,500 beginning March 1, 2015. Resume operating rate of $177,500 on March 1, 2016.
• Scooter Yeargain:  Revised operating rate to $163,000 from $180,000 beginning March 1, 2015. Resume operating rate of $180,000 on March 1, 2016.
• Bob Palmer:  Revised operating rate to $198,000 from $235,000 beginning March 1, 2015. Resume operating rate of $235,000 on March 1, 2016.
• Gilbert Rowe:  Revised operating rate to $106,000 from $122,000 beginning March 1, 2015.
• Rowan Gorilla IV:  Rig came off contract mid April 2015.
• Rowan Gorilla III:  Adjusted expected contract duration to February 2016 from January 2016. Rate is adjusted to $162,500 from $165,000 for the remainder of the contract, beginning with the well that commenced on March 6, 2015.

The Company continues to estimate planned out-of-service time for the first quarter and full-year of 2015 to range from 3% to 6% for its jack-ups and drillships, subject to fleet repositioning and market conditions.

No operational downtime is included in projected out-of-service days, but the Company estimates jack-up operational downtime to account for approximately 2.5% of in-service days in current and future quarters.  The Company continues to expect drillship operational downtime to be approximately 5% after a break-in period of approximately six months up to one year (during which drillship operational downtime will likely be higher).

Out-of-service days are days where a rig is (or is planned to be) out-of-service and is not able to earn revenue.  The Company may be compensated for certain out-of-service days such as shipyard stays or transit periods preceding a contract.  However, any such compensation is deferred and recognized over the period of drilling operations.  Operational downtime is when a rig is under contract and unable to conduct planned operations due to equipment breakdowns or procedural failures.  

Unless otherwise indicated, all day rates on the fleet status include estimated amortization of contract mobilization/modification revenues.  However, day rates exclude approximately $20 to $30 million of other miscellaneous aggregate annual revenue the Company receives during rig operations (or approximately $5 to $8 million per quarter).  Day rates also exclude rebillable revenues which are equally offset by drilling expenses.

This summary is provided as a courtesy and is not intended to replace a detailed review of the Monthly Fleet Status Report.  While the Company has attempted to include items it believes are significant, we encourage you to review the Monthly Fleet Status Report in detail.

Company is a global provider of contract drilling services in the ultra-deepwater and shallow water jack-up market with a fleet of 34 offshore drilling units, including four ultra-deepwater drillships, with one additional drillship under construction, and 30 jack-up rigs, 19 of which are rated high-specification.  The Company's fleet is located worldwide, including the United Kingdom and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea, the Middle East, the United States Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Asia, West and North Africa and Trinidad.  All four of the Company's ultra-deepwater drillships are under long-term contracts.  The Company's Class A Ordinary Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RDC."  For more information on the Company, please visit www.rowancompanies.com.   

Statements herein that are not historical facts are forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements as to the expectations, beliefs and future expected business, financial performance and prospects of the Company. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to certain risks, assumptions, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements.  Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include oil and natural gas prices, the level of offshore expenditures by energy companies, variations in energy demand, changes in day rates, cancellation by our customers of drilling contracts, letter agreements or letters of intent or the exercise of early termination provisions, risks associated with fixed cost drilling operations, cost overruns or delays on shipyard repair, construction or transportation of drilling units, maintenance and repair costs, costs or delays for conversion or upgrade projects, operating hazards and equipment failure, risks of collision and damage, casualty losses and limitations on insurance coverage, customer credit and risk of customer bankruptcy, conditions in the general economy and energy industry, weather conditions and severe weather in the Company's operating areas, increasing complexity and costs of compliance with environmental and other laws and regulations, changes in tax laws and interpretations by taxing authorities, civil unrest and instability, terrorism and hostilities in our areas of operations that may result in loss or seizure of assets, the outcome of disputes and legal proceedings, effects of the change in our corporate structure, and other risks disclosed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Rowan Companies plc