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Suncor signs $119M offshore contract for Transocean rig

Switzerland-based Transocean announced Monday it had signed a 15-month contract with Suncor for the use of its Transocean Barents rig.

15-month contract signed by Switzerland company; work to begin 3rd quarter of 2017

Suncor has signed a 15-month, $119-million contract for the Transocean Barents to begin offshore operations in 2017. (Submitted by Transocean)

Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore oil industry will be getting a Swiss visitor in 2017.

Switzerland-based Transocean announced Monday it had signed a 15-month contract with Suncor for the use of its Transocean Barents rig.

The Transocean Barents is a harsh-environment, ultra-deepwater floater, and is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of next year.

The rig's rate is $260,000 a day, making the contract worth $119 million.

Transocean owned the Deepwater Horizon, which sank off the coast of Louisiana in 2010 after an explosion and fire that killed 11 workers. A movie adaptation of the disaster is currently in theatres.