Pacific Drilling S.A. agrees with Samsung Heavy Industries to extend an option to construct an eighth ultra-deepwater drillship.

The contractual option has been extended until January 18, 2013, on the same commercial terms, including delivery scheduled for the first quarter of 2015.

Pacific Drilling says it is a fast growing company that is committed to becoming the industry’s preferred ultra-deepwater drilling contractor. Their fleet of seven ultra-deepwater drillships will represent one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets in the world. The company currently operates four recently delivered drillships under customer contract and has three drillships under construction at Samsung, two of which are under customer contract.