Earnings Call Transcript - SDRL Q2 2025

Operator, Operator

Thank you for standing by. My name is Gill, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to Seadrill's Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call. It is now my pleasure to turn today's call over to Mr. Kevin Smith, Vice President of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Kevin Smith, Vice President of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations

Welcome to Seadrill's Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call. I'm Kevin Smith, Vice President of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations, and I'm joined today by Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer; Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer; and Grant Creed, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Our call will include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainty. Actual results may differ materially. No one should assume these forward-looking statements remain valid later in the quarter or year, and we assume no obligation to update them, except as required by securities law. Our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provide a more detailed discussion of our forward-looking statements and the risk factors affecting our business. During the call, we will also reference non-GAAP measures. Our earnings release furnished to the SEC and available on our website includes reconciliations with the nearest corresponding GAAP measures. Our use of the term EBITDA on today's call corresponds with the term adjusted EBITDA as defined in our earnings release. I'll now turn the call over to Simon.

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Hello, and thank you for joining us on our call. Today, I'll touch on our quarterly performance before moving to contracting updates, some company updates, and the market. Samir will then discuss our commercial outlook in detail, and Grant will review our quarterly financial results and full-year guidance. In the second quarter, Seadrill delivered adjusted EBITDA of $106 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin, excluding reimbursables of 29%. Two of the active customer dialogues discussed on the previous earnings call have been successfully converted into new contracts. These fixtures underscore the strength of our commercial team in a competitive environment. The West Vela was awarded a two-well contract by Talos Energy beginning mid-November with an estimated term of 90 days and the Sevan Louisiana commenced a well intervention contract with Murphy Oil in early August and is expected to work into November. This will be our first campaign for Murphy, and we are thankful that they've entrusted the work to us. Importantly, these fixtures commenced in the second half of 2025, thereby minimizing costly gaps between contracts. Discussions around the three rigs in our Sonadrill joint venture in Angola, the Sonangol Libongos, Sonangol Quenguela, and West Gemini, remain very positive, and we expect material progress on contract fixtures in the near future. In all areas where we operate, our unwavering commitment to operational excellence is what enables us to deliver best-in-class service to our valued customers, resulting in long-term partnerships. The second quarter of 2025 marked an extraordinary 15 years of operation for the West Gemini in Angola, during which the rig worked primarily for TotalEnergies. Throughout this time, we have consistently set the standard by delivering sustained operational and safety performance, achieving 97% uptime and a TRIR of 0.13 over the last decade. Total remains a critically important customer, and we thank them for their long contractual commitment to the rig. Driven by our commitment to leading-edge innovation and continuous improvement, Seadrill has established the West Minerva real-time operations center at our office in Houston. This cutting-edge facility utilizes advanced analytics and real-time data integration to enhance situational awareness, improve decision-making and streamline communication across our offshore drilling operations. The positive feedback received from clients who have toured the West Minerva reinforces its significant value proposition. Complementing the capabilities of the West Minerva, our Seadrill Academy plays a pivotal role in strengthening Seadrill's performance through world-class training and development. As part of the Seadrill Academy, the West Inspiration, our DrillSIM:6000 simulator, provides immersive scenario-based training in drilling and well control. Within the Seadrill Academy, we've successfully developed and implemented a comprehensive managed pressure drilling training course. Drawing our experience from drilling over 100 MPD wells, this in-house program is specifically designed to provide crews assigned to our 8 MPD equipped drillships with the knowledge and hands-on skills to continue to set the standard in MPD. This commitment to training and development is a cornerstone of the Seadrill culture. Together, the West Minerva and Seadrill Academy reflect Seadrill's integrated approach to technology, training and performance, a winning model of continuous improvement that both we and our clients are proud of and believe in. Shifting to the broader market outlook. We view the current environment as fleeting. Five key themes point towards a market recovery in late 2026 as widely commented on by us and our peers. Firstly, customers are focusing on exploration. At a recent conference, TotalEnergies reiterated its commitment to drill 15 to 20 exploration wells per year going forward. Meanwhile, BP confirmed increased investment in exploration with a plan to drill 40 wells over the next 3 years as part of a renewed focus on its core upstream business. This week, an exploration well in the Bumerangue block in Brazil's Santos Basin revealed BP's largest hydrocarbon discovery in 25 years. This significant find will trigger appraisal activities and underscores the potential within legacy basins. Brazil's fifth licensing round held in June highlighted a growing interest in frontier exploration and a significant reengagement of the super majors. Notably, 19 of the 34 blocks awarded were situated on the underexplored Equatorial Margin play where Exxon and Petrobras have jointly acquired 10 blocks. Chevron, in partnership with CMPC secured 9 blocks signaling Chevron's reentry into Brazil after an 11-year absence. The U.S. Gulf is set for increased exploration activity with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management holding lease sale 262 later this year, the first since December 2023. Recent legislation mandates at least two sales annually from 2026 through 2039, an increase from the prior mandate, which only required three sales over 5 years. This expansion is expected to drive more exploration drilling and increased rig demand. Secondly, despite commodity price uncertainty, operators are moving forward with offshore project FIDs. Wood Mackenzie forecasts a substantial increase in FIDs from $91 billion in 2025 to $164 billion in 2026 and $133 billion in 2027. These figures represent the highest levels in over a decade and underpin our belief in a market recovery. Thirdly, we're encouraged by recent tendering activity and the opportunities we see developing in the coming months, which Samir will cover in more detail. Fourthly, there have been seven multiyear deepwater rig contracts awarded since March, with start dates in the second half of 2026 or 2027. These contracts demonstrate customers' long-term commitment to deepwater even in an uncertain macro environment. And finally, recent transactions leave only one competitive ultra-deepwater drillship undelivered in the shipyard. Active drillship supply currently sits at 77 rigs with contracting of just 6 units needed to reach 95% utilization. The stranded assets are being sold or delivered and most of the cold-stacked drillships cannot be economically reactivated by a rational contractor. And with that, I'll turn the call over to Samir.

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Thanks, Simon. As anticipated, 2025 is shaping up to be a year marked by softer utilization and a corresponding increase in competition, placing downward pressure on the near-term day rates. Despite the challenging backdrop, we have executed two new contracts. The Sevan Louisiana has secured work in the U.S. Gulf with Murphy Oil, which will generate earnings and cash flow into November 2025. The rig's unique abilities to operate in shallow water environments in dynamic positioning mode opens up a broader spectrum of work opportunities with new operators. Staying in the U.S. Gulf, the West Vela has secured approximately 90 days of additional work with Talos Energy, commencing in November with a break of around 1 month following the end of the current program. The rig continues to exceed expectations, enabling us to add term at strong rates at a time when many of our peers are experiencing increased idle periods in the U.S. Gulf. We are aggressively pursuing opportunities to fill our order book for the remainder of 2025 while also focusing on securing contracts for work with a 2026 and 2027 commencement date. As Simon mentioned, we are beginning to see evidence to support our view that an increase in activity is likely and, frankly, necessary to support energy demand through the rest of the decade and beyond. Paradoxically, market conditions are objectively better and subjectively worse. The current trend of declining utilization exists in the same environment where we have a tightening of supply of rigs and the need for significant oil and gas investment to meet growing energy demand. Rystad is forecasting a step change in customer spending from land to sea in 2026, where offshore CapEx will exceed onshore CapEx for the first time in a decade. The economics of offshore exploration are increasingly attractive, and we anticipate an inflow of capital into this market. When compared to 2025, deepwater spending is expected to increase over 80% and over 130% in 2026 and 2027, respectively. If realized, this level of investment would extend the durability of the cycle and help address any temporary dislocations between rig supply and demand. Our analysis indicates that drillship utilization will demonstrably improve in late 2026 and 2027. Positioning our high-specification floater fleet at the heart of the deepwater market allows us to capitalize as spending is redirected towards offshore basins. In Brazil, which hosts the largest concentration of deepwater rigs, we anticipate demand to remain robust. The recent FID of the Gato do Mato project, Equinor's RFI for an additional rig on the Bacalhau field and Petrobras' Mero and Búzios tenders give us confidence Brazil will remain the key deepwater destination for some time. This is complemented by a notable uptick in interest by the super majors. During the recent offshore bid round, over $180 million in signing bonuses were paid. For context, this is more than double compared to the last round held in 2023. Seadrill is a leading operator in Brazil with six drillships currently working in the country. Our strong track record, deep customer relationships, and local presence position us well. Of our fleet, only the West Carina has near-term availability, and we are actively exploring opportunities both inside and outside Brazil for this unit. Here in the U.S. Gulf, we maintain our view that around four to five rigs are expected to be marketed and available at year-end, creating a temporary oversupply. Despite these headwinds, we have secured near-term work for the West Vela, which is a testament to the exceptional operational performance delivered by our crews. We anticipate demand will improve in 2026 and again in 2027, with idle rigs being reabsorbed and stronger utilization supporting rate progression. Regarding our fleet, we are in active dialogue with multiple customers for work with a 2026 start date for the West Vela and West Neptune. To finish our overview of the Golden Triangle, West Africa remains a significant source of incremental growth with at least six long-term drillship opportunities targeting 2026 and 2027 commencement dates. Securing term work for rigs in Angola remains a key strategic priority for the Sonadrill joint venture as we look to enhance the longevity of the partnership. Discussions for all three rigs remain constructive, and we look forward to providing an update in due course. Outside of the Golden Triangle, Norway remains a region in balance, while East Africa and Asia Pacific are showing tangible signs of incremental demand. We are currently tracking opportunities that could absorb over 22 years of drillship demand with programs commencing in 2026 and 2027. The West Capella is engaged in a competitive tender process for term work in Asia, and we are tracking at least 13 active programs across Mozambique, Australia, and Southeast Asia with start-ups in the next 2 to 3 years. In summary, we see the potential for strong market recovery in late 2026 and 2027. While the precise timing of customer demand remains uncertain, the underlying need for exploration and reserve replacement is clear. Our fleet is underpinned by a solid foundation of backlog extending into 2028. And as market fundamentals improve, we remain confident in our ability to maximize earnings and cash flow for each rig. And with that, I'll hand it over to Grant.

Grant Creed, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Thanks, Samir. I'll now walk through our second quarter financial results before providing an update on our full year 2025 guidance. Total operating revenues for the second quarter were $377 million, representing a sequential increase of $42 million. This improvement was driven almost entirely by higher contract drilling revenues. Both the West Neptune and West Polaris benefited from sequential increases in operating days as the Neptune completed its scheduled SPS and upgrades, while the Polaris commenced its contract with Petrobras in mid-February. These items were partially offset by reduced operating days for the West Capella, which completed its contract in the prior quarter. In addition, economic utilization improved to 93%, up from 84% in the first quarter. The marked increase in revenue conversion was driven by the West Auriga and West Polaris, which resolved teething issues following the commencement of their inaugural long-term drilling contracts in Brazil as well as the West Tellus, which resumed operations in February. Finally, management contract revenues increased $4 million quarter-on-quarter to $65 million, reflecting an agreed-upon inflationary increase for the daily management fee Seadrill earns for providing management, operational, and technical support to Sonadrill. The increase was retroactively applied from January 1, 2025. Turning to expenses. Total operating expenses for the second quarter were $371 million, up from $317 million in the prior quarter. This increase was driven primarily by a $51 million accrual recorded in management contract expenses related to an unfavorable legal judgment associated with the establishment of the Sonadrill joint venture dating back to 2018. As previously disclosed, approximately $10 million of the total liability pertains to 2025 and impacts current year adjusted EBITDA, and the remainder relates to prior periods. Adjusted EBITDA was $106 million, up $73 million from the prior quarter. And adjusted EBITDA margin, excluding reimbursables, was 29.5%. Moving to the balance sheet and cash flow statement. We continue to maintain a robust balance sheet with ample liquidity and the lowest net leverage in our peer group. At the end of the second quarter, gross principal debt remained $625 million with maturities extending through 2030. We held $419 million in cash, which included $26 million of restricted cash. Net cash flow from operations during the second quarter was $11 million and includes unfavorable working capital movements of $66 million, driven by an increase in trade receivables for the West Neptune, West Tellus, and West Polaris as well as settlements of project costs incurred in prior periods related to the West Auriga and West Polaris contract preparations and the West Neptune special periodic survey and upgrades. Payments for capital additions captured within investing activities were $23 million. Now moving on to our full year outlook. We maintain the adjusted EBITDA range of $320 million to $380 million, and that's based on an updated range for operating revenues of $1.32 billion to $1.38 billion, which excludes $50 million of reimbursable revenues. Adjusted EBITDA guidance includes a non-cash net expense of $33 million related to the amortization of mobilization costs and revenues, of which $14 million has been recognized through June 30. Full year capital expenditure guidance range is also maintained at $250 million to $300 million. And with that, I'll hand back to Simon for his closing remarks.

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

In summary, we are pleased with the momentum we've built through recent contract awards. We remain actively engaged in constructive dialogues with customers for additional opportunities. As we look towards 2026, we are focused on maximizing profitability and minimizing gaps between contracts. With our backlog profile and disciplined approach to contracting, we remain well positioned to deliver long-term shareholder value as the market improves. Through leading edge innovations and our relentless pursuit of operational excellence, we will continue delivering safe, efficient and reliable operations for our customers every day. With that, I'll now hand the call over for questions.

Operator, Operator

First question comes from the line of Fredrik Stene with Clarksons Securities.

Fredrik Stene, Analyst

So I wanted to touch upon the contracting opportunities that you're mentioning and maybe even more so in the recent report. You did have the Vela and the Louisiana contract today, but I also got the impression that there is more in store in the relatively near future. And just looking at the fleet roll-off, I would be inclined to think that this potentially relates to the Sonadrill rigs, potentially relates to the ongoing Búzios tender, for example. So any more color you can give on that would be super helpful, also some specifics. And as an overarching question around this, based on the discussions that you're currently having, do you have a pipeline of potential work for all your rigs, that is non-stacked rigs going forward?

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Fredrik, there are a few questions to address. I'll begin with the situation in Angola. As you may know, there has been some political unrest in Angola, which has led to delays in administrative processes and approvals. However, we remain optimistic about recontracting our Angola fleet. We are in advanced discussions regarding all three assets, and we believe we have a competitive position in that market, with hopes to announce something soon. That said, it will take time. Notably, some assets have exited that market, reinforcing our confidence that we are well-positioned for new contracts. Regarding Brazil, while I can't go into specific details, we have successfully contracted our fleet there. We have six rigs in Brazil, with the Carina being the main one available. We feel good about our position and are exploring opportunities with Petrobras, which are publicly known, as well as with major companies looking for assets both in Brazil and elsewhere. We are actively marketing the rig across multiple regions globally. To wrap up, concerning our fleet that is not stacked, we are engaged in active discussions regarding all those assets. As mentioned in our prepared remarks, we believe that the market will start recovering in the second half of 2026 and into 2027. We think we're nearing the bottom of the downturn, potentially by late this year or early next year, after which we anticipate a recovery into 2026 and 2027.

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yes. And just to add, Fredrik, to Samir's comments. So I think that we're increasingly confident that the market is going to improve through '26. The work is starting to appear in tendering activity and some of those long-dated FIDs that have been awarded of late. 2025 is a nice sight, but we've demonstrated our ability to win work that our peers haven't been able to put a glove on. So we're quite pleased with the progress of our contracting, and we'll just continue to work diligently. The best advertisement that we have for us is the performance of our rigs, most notably the West Vela and the Sevan Louisiana. Those rigs are winning these contracts by virtue of performance they provide every day to our client base. And I'm ecstatic with what the guys and the rigs have been able to deliver to the clients.

Fredrik Stene, Analyst

All right. That's super helpful. And then just a super short follow-up to my one question is, are there any rigs for which we should expect prolonged idle time in between contracts?

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

I believe we are making every effort to avoid creating our own opportunities. We do have a couple of minor gaps, especially with the Louisiana in the near term. However, the marketing team has really stepped up to ensure we keep the rigs operational and build backlog that directly follows our existing contracts. So far, I've been very satisfied with what the team has achieved. We'll see how it develops; it's a competitive environment, but it is improving. I'm quite confident in what we have accomplished and how things will progress. Samir, do you have anything to add?

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

No.

Operator, Operator

Your next question comes from the line of David Smith with Pickering Energy Partners.

David Smith, Analyst

If I remember correctly, you didn't seem enthusiastic about investing in idle assets without a clear outlook for contracting. Samir, I appreciate your comments on being in advanced discussions in the Angola market. However, I wanted to confirm, considering the earlier remarks about not investing in idle rigs, is it reasonable to think you wouldn't initiate the SPS for the Gemini unless you had significant visibility for future work?

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yes, that's correct, Dave. Generally speaking, we're hesitant to engage in discretionary work without a solid contract in place. Samir provided a good overview of our situation regarding the rigs looking for work in Angola. At the same time, we want to avoid unnecessarily long idle periods while awaiting final approval. What we've done with Gemini is offload a significant amount of operator equipment in Angola before moving to Namibia, and we’ve essentially been on standby. We have done a small amount of work, but not on a large scale. As Samir mentioned, we anticipate good developments on the contracting front, and at the same time, we will proceed with the necessary survey work and contract preparation required for that work.

David Smith, Analyst

Just a little bit bigger picture one, if I may. In previous cycles, I think we've typically seen floater contract lead times kind of go in the same direction as utilization and backlog. But the past 4, 5 months, we've seen operators locking in multiyear contracts with lead times of 12, 15, 24 months. Even though near-term demand looks soft and the rig count has been trending lower, it's creating some multi-quarter gaps in between contracts, which seems fairly uncommon versus prior cycles. One of the few reasons that I can think of, for the change in operator behavior compared to prior cycles, maybe operators are saying the same thing that contractors have been saying, right? The demand outlook in late '26 and '27 is strong. The market could be tight better to lock in the rigs they need now. But maybe I'm missing a better explanation. So I was curious for your thoughts.

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Dave, let me start and then Samir can add some color. But no, we see it the same way you do. We think that there's an improving dynamic. We're clearly in a bit of a trough at the moment. We've talked about how the markets developed and what unique features this business cycle versus previous. And one of those has been a lack of visibility. But yes, we believe fundamentally that those people who are going long and long now are doing so because I believe it will confer an advantage with what's coming ahead. When we think about that and when we think about our exposure to the market, a lot of people are concerned about our ability to recontract. We're relatively calm in terms of what lies in front of us and we see our near-term exposure to the market as evidence of operating leverage relative to our peers. And certainly, Samir and I have had a lot of high-minded conversations about the importance of not going long and low. And I think some of these longer-term fixtures that have been brought to market recently, I think they were greeted by spectators and market participants with great interest and applause. And we were certainly glad to see those rigs receive that work. But it will be interesting to see whether those fixtures stand the test of time and whether they'll come to be seen as being the such good fixtures in the future. Like I said, we believe now is not the time to go long and low.

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Dave, the only thing I'd add to that is, for us, we've been very, very focused on making sure we add to the white space that exists today in 2025 and into early 2026. And candidly, we're getting the rates our peers are getting for work that starts late '26, early '27, but we're getting it for near-term work. So for us, minimizing those gaps between contracts is absolutely paramount. And that's where we've been very focused on making sure that we have as much direct continuation work as we can get.

Operator, Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Truls Olsen with Fearnley Securities.

Truls Olsen, Analyst

A couple of questions from me. And this goes back to perhaps earlier calls, but anyways, and sorry if you've already been through this, but my line broke here for a while. But you spoke about the CJ 70 market in Norway and ConocoPhillips in demand. How is that? Any color on updates on that front?

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Not much to share with you, to be honest, Truls. We haven't heard anything more from Conoco. Discussions to date have indicated that the well program will take the rig into late 2026. We recently received Rig of the Year from Conoco for the service delivered by the West Elara. So we know the rig is performing well. However, we are not any further along in understanding their long-term plans for their jack-up fleet in Norway.

Truls Olsen, Analyst

Okay. Understood. And then another topic is the Sete claim and that voluntary mediation, which you entered into. Any updates and color you can share on that one?

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yes, sure. Look, we don't really have a material update since what we shared with the market on the first quarter earnings call. We continue to have constructive discussions with Petrobras, and we're preparing for a mediation process as we previously disclosed, which is in its very early stages. Some of our peers, who are part of the same process, seem to be a little bit further forward than we are. But we expect to have some feedback on the mediation in early July, but that hasn't been the case. It's not affecting our day-to-day operations or any future contracting opportunities for that matter. This is a really complex legal matter that relates to a project that dates back over a decade. And given that it's in Brazil and it's part of a much larger dispute between Sete and Petrobras, we expect it to run for some time before we get a clear idea as to how it might be resolved. Importantly, it hasn't stopped us from bidding for additional work with Petrobras and make specific sort of reference to West Carina there. We're a strategic contractor for Petrobras. We've got five rigs under contract to them, and as I say, an outstanding tender at present. So we will do what we need to, to preserve our company's interest. But as I said, I think I've said to many people before, I'm not sleepless at night worrying about this issue. Unfortunately, we can't control the pace of resolution. It's going to take some time. We are encouraged that it was Petrobras who proposed the mediation process, so the drilling contractors affected. And we just ask everyone to be patient as things develop. And we will keep people updated as and when anything material occurs.

Truls Olsen, Analyst

Excellent. And given the market outlook, hopefully, you can start to see it even better going forward as well on the other front. But anyways, a final element, you talk about the near-term opportunities and being a competitive market, obviously, with a call it, positive movement. But anyways, day rates on the Vela and the Louisiana, any color you can give relative to, call it, recent market data points?

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Sure. I would say that with the Vela, we are achieving rates similar to what our peers are expected to get in the second half of 2026 and early 2027. However, we're securing these rates in 2025, which provides some context for where current rates are settling. We're not engaging in any of the opportunities that others are willing to take on. Regarding the Sevan Louisiana, as Simon mentioned earlier, we are currently undertaking intervention work, which has a different price point. Nevertheless, it remains cash flow positive and EBITDA positive for us, so we view it as beneficial work and are pleased to include it in the Sevan schedule.

Operator, Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Greg Lewis with BTIG.

Greg Lewis, Analyst

Simon, I'd be kind of curious, right, like kind of what's your view or outlook on the intervention market? Clearly, Louisiana has had some success. Well intervention is different than drilling, but it seems like a viable business, not only in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, but kind of broader based. We've seen opportunities for well intervention, obviously, in the North Sea for years, West Africa, Brazil more recently. Just kind of curious how you're thinking about the well intervention market. Is really this just a one-off opportunity for the Louisiana? Or could this become something more important to Seadrill over time?

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yes, I believe for us, Greg, it's mainly about maintaining continuous utilization of the Sevan Louisiana schedule. We are exploring deeper relationships with suppliers of essential equipment that enable us to perform this work optimally, similar to leading well intervention specialists. This has been an interesting development. The focus is truly on ensuring that the Sevan Louisiana, which has unique capabilities regarding its dynamic positioning in shallow waters, can effectively serve a small but crucial client base in the Gulf of Mexico's transition zone, where there is a need to alternate between well intervention and conventional drilling tasks. Our goal is to facilitate this with the rig, leveraging its special water depth capability and its ability to switch modes of operation. More broadly, regarding the well intervention market, your observation is accurate that it has evolved from merely a discussion about plug and abandonment responsibilities in mature legacy basins like the North Sea. We are now noticing a greater demand for both plug and abandonment and enhanced well intervention in maturing reservoirs in Southern Africa, Brazil, and definitely in the Gulf of Mexico. There are relatively few vessels worldwide capable of performing this work, and operators have expressed growing frustration over the high costs associated with mobilizing units across distant locations. Therefore, our aim is to offer a more localized solution that, while potentially lower in value compared to typical drilling work, provides better visibility on the Sevan Louisiana schedule and addresses a significant gap that operators have been concerned about for quite some time.

Greg Lewis, Analyst

Yes, absolutely. I have another question. I'm curious about the options on the Vela. Typically, we see that with longer-term work, the options are usually at a high price. Can you provide any insight on those customer options for the Vela? Additionally, are those options at a higher level than what the rig will be working at in November?

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

So Greg, we can't go into the exact rate, but I'll tell you your guess is pretty good.

Greg Lewis, Analyst

Okay. Yes. I wasn't looking for a specific rate; I was trying to understand that in previous cycles, we've seen options remain flat at times, while at other times, they've been higher or occasionally lower. I also have another question. Some of your competitors have very impressively evaluated their noncore assets and decided to retire them. They recognized that within your fleet, there are rigs that haven't been in use for years, as well as some that have worked more recently. Do you have any outlook on the longer-term stacked rigs in the fleet and the possibility that we could see those heading to the scrap yards?

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yes. So happy to talk about that, Greg. I mean there's three rigs in particular with us that fall in that category. There's the West Eclipse, which has been cold stacked now for in excess of 5 years in Southern Africa. We, from time to time, look at opportunities to remove that rig from the supply and recycle it. But we've also received a number of interesting options around repurposing that rig from parties who want to deploy it for nondrilling, non-oilfield-related applications, in fact. So the only reason that I think we haven't progressed with that particular rig has just been our interest in sort of this business development opportunity. In terms of the Aquarius and Phoenix, which is stacked in Norway, we don't see any material activity improvement in Norway until mid-'26 at the earliest. Both rigs require a material capital allocation to put them back to work, both 5-year SPS work and also just equipment upgrades to continue to work in Norway. But I want to make it quite clear that those rigs have a lot of life left in them. We have a history of monetizing rigs at premium value. So to the extent someone were to show interest in buying those rigs from us or whether there's a trade sale opportunity, that's something we would definitely look at on the merits at the time. But it's important also to remember that harsh environment assets are much more expensive to replace than benign environment deepwater units, especially those with the ability to work in Norway. So I don't think you can expect us doing anything on the recycling front with the Aquarius or the Phoenix anytime soon. They have life in Norway, we believe, albeit not in the immediate future. And certainly, they have opportunities in harsh environment markets outside of Norway.

Operator, Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Hamed Khorsand with BWS Financial.

Hamed Khorsand, Analyst

So my first question here is that your commentary is now changing to end of '26 for the market. And I just wanted to understand what your expectations are for day rates given that there's more and more availability as you go into '26 for these contract opportunities.

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yes. So it's still a competitive environment out there. So the day rates are still holding up pretty well. I'd say a year ago, we were looking at five handles in late 2026. Is that possible? Obviously, it's still there. But I'd say we're probably slightly lower than that, but rates are still holding up for the most part, especially in the U.S. Gulf.

Operator, Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Josh Jayne with Daniel Energy Partners.

Josh Jayne, Analyst

Apologies if this was covered in the opening remarks. But could you remind me how many of your drillships have MPD? How you are thinking about additions moving forward, and maybe just give you the floor to talk about MPD as a competitive advantage as it relates to your fleet today?

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yes, Josh. I’ll start and then Samir can add more details. Eight of our drillships are equipped with Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD). We also operate a jackup that uses both MPD and Controlled Mud Line technology, as well as a semi-submersible in Norway with the same technology. We believe we are leaders in this area, having drilled over 100 MPD wells across the company. We are among the few drilling contractors utilizing every technology available today. In recent years, we have collaborated closely with Oil States Industries to introduce a new and improved Integrated Risers and Joints (IRJ). This partnership, along with other vendors, has allowed us to make significant improvements in rig-up and rig-down times, as well as the durability of the bearings supporting the rotating packing elements. We see MPD transitioning from a traditional rental service to a more integrated part of daily rig operations. We treat the equipment as if it belongs to us, even when supplied by third-party vendors, and have been working with these vendors to enhance results. There's considerable interest in the unit we deployed in Brazil with the West Polaris, and we plan to hold an operator demonstration day with Oil States in the coming month. We are very pleased with our progress in this area and view it as a key differentiator compared to other drilling contractors who haven't invested as much effort. Samir, do you have anything to add?

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Yes. I would say commercially, it is becoming increasingly important. In the U.S. Gulf, it is almost essential. Both of our drillships in the U.S. Gulf are equipped with it. In Brazil, it is starting to become more of a requirement. West Africa is likely the third area where it is needed or required. As we engage with more operators, it is shifting from a nice-to-have to almost a necessity. Therefore, I wouldn’t be surprised if, in 5 years, it is required pretty much everywhere.

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yes, I have one final thought. In the past, this technology has been used for specific hole sections or technical challenges. However, people are increasingly beginning to see it as a performance tool. I wouldn't be surprised if five years from now, wells are drilled using a closed system from the setup of the wellhead to the completion of the well. This concept hasn't been widely considered until recently. We're excited about the future of the technology, believing it to be inherently safer than conventional operations, and we are fully committed to it.

Josh Jayne, Analyst

I would like to know what indicators you are looking for before you start buying back shares in the market again. It seems understood that the market will be somewhat soft until the first half of 2026, but there is an expectation of improvement afterward. What specific signs will prompt you to resume the buyback? Additionally, it would be helpful to hear your systematic thinking on this matter. I’ll hand it back over to you.

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yes, definitely. We have a financial policy that outlines our goals and criteria for returning capital. As we approach 2027 and consider the cash flow our operations are projected to generate, shareholder returns are a primary focus for our Board. We are encouraged by recent market developments, but we remain cautious about some macroeconomic challenges we've witnessed over the past three to six months. We're seeking some certainty and stability, particularly concerning tariffs and their potential impact on our business. We will assess the outcomes from our EBITDA closely. Currently, as we mentioned last quarter, our focus is on conserving cash, though that could change in the future. We need to see some economic stability and a positive outlook for oil prices before we become more active. Grant, do you have anything to add?

Grant Creed, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

The only thing I'd add is a big part of our story on cash flow generation is the repricing from our legacy contracts that we have in Brazil. We've got three rigs there on contracts that were signed some time ago at the bottom of the market, Jupiter, Tellus, Carina. We've now recontracted two of those at substantially higher day rates. And that uplift will kick in from the second quarter of next year, and that uplift will flow directly to the bottom line and ultimately cash. And of course, Samir has talked about the third of those, Carina, we're actively pursuing opportunities in Brazil. So that will be a big key milestone in our cash flow generation story that will be important to capital returns, Josh.

Operator, Operator

Your next comes from the line of Noel Parks with Tuohy Brothers.

Noel Parks, Analyst

I was curious, as you engage with various operators, whether the capital discipline-driven risk/reward perspective among customers is fairly consistent. Are there notable differences between regions or between national oil companies compared to what the majors and independents are considering? I'm interested to know if you're encountering people with completely different scenarios in mind or if there's a general uniformity.

Samir Ali, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

It's relatively consistent. I would say that the larger the company, the greater the pressure on returning capital and providing it back to shareholders. We also work with some private companies, which have their own motivations. However, the end result is the same in both scenarios, as you've observed a deferral of demand. At the same time they are deferring demand, they acknowledge that this situation cannot last indefinitely. There is an implicit understanding that while they may be delaying it now, they recognize the need to return to the market and will require assets to drill wells in late 2026 and early 2027. You can already see some companies starting to contract for assets in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

I think 2025 will prove to be a very grim low point when we're looking back in a couple of years' time. I mean there's been a pronounced lack of exploration success year-to-date on relative to historical run rate. We've seen a real low water point in terms of the number of FIDs that have progressed. And I think the point that Samir makes really needs to be underlined that that's not sustainable given the world's need for cost-effective hydrocarbons. And I think that you can't just continue to kick the can down the road. And certainly, we're starting to see activity levels now and forecasts around FIDs and project sanctions that are starting to underline that there's going to be a lot more drilling demand going forward.

Noel Parks, Analyst

You mentioned some disappointments in exploration. However, we did see a positive development with BP's discovery at Bumerangue offshore Brazil. Considering the significance of that discovery, do you believe it could help boost or accelerate exploratory interest in the industry?

Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

I think it's a good start. But I think on a worldwide basis, it's a drop in the ocean in terms of what's needed. It's certainly great that it's BP has had that success because I mean, they've recently changed their strategy and redirected their efforts back towards conventional hydrocarbons away from renewables. So we're pleased with that. I think the most important thing is, as we said in the prepared comments, we believe it's going to drive some near-term activity in Brazil around appraisal drilling. We don't know too much on exactly the size of the wells reserves. It's probably a bit early to make any accurate determination of that. But the aerial extent of the reservoir is enormous. And that coupled with the amount of pay that we understand was in the zone that they penetrated. That's really a good news story for BP and a good news story for a part of the Santos Basin that a lot of people have written off has played out. So I think we made the point that some of these legacy reservoirs still have a lot of energy left in them.

Operator, Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes today's call. Thank you all for joining. You may now disconnect. Have a nice day ahead, everyone.