Commitments and contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and contingencies

Commitments and contingencies

Legal Proceedings

From time to time we are a party, as plaintiff or defendant, to lawsuits in various jurisdictions for demurrage, damages, off-hire and other claims and commercial disputes arising from the construction or operation of our drilling units, in the ordinary course of business or in connection with our acquisition or disposal activities. We believe that the resolution of such claims will not have a material impact, individually or in the aggregate, on our operations or financial condition. Our best estimate of the outcome of the various disputes has been reflected in our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2023 (Successor).

SFL Hercules Ltd

On March 5, 2023, Seadrill was served with a claim from SFL Hercules Ltd., filed in the Oslo District Court in Norway, relating to our redelivery of the rig West Hercules to SFL in December 2022. In its petition, SFL claims that the rig was not redelivered in the condition required under our contract with SFL and seeks damages in the amount of approximately NOK300 million (approximately $28 million). Seadrill filed a statement of defence on May 2, 2023 and SFL filed a further submission with additional claims on June 14, 2023. We are currently assessing the claim and intend to vigorously defend our position. Currently, we are unable to determine an amount or range of possible loss, if any.

Sonadrill fees claim

In March 2023, Seadrill was served with a claim from an individual (the “Claimant”) filed in the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, King’s Bench Division, Commercial Court. The Claimant alleges breach of contract and unjust enrichment damages of approximately $72 million related to an alleged failure by the Company to pay the Claimant a fee for services in arranging the Sonadrill joint venture. We do not believe that the Claimant is entitled to the fee claimed and intend to vigorously defend our position. At this time, we are unable to determine an amount or range of possible loss, if any.

Oro Negro

The CEO of Perforadora Oro Negro, S. DE R.L. DE C.V ("Oro Negro"), a Mexican drilling rig contractor, filed a complaint personally and in his capacity as foreign representative of Oro Negro on June 6, 2019 in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, within Oro Negro’s Chapter 15 proceedings ancillary to its Mexican insolvency process. The complaint names Seadrill and its joint venture partner as co-defendants along with other defendants including Oro Negro bondholders. With respect to Seadrill, the complaint asserts claims relating to alleged tortious interference but does not seek to quantify damages. On August 25, 2019, Seadrill submitted a motion to dismiss the complaint on technical legal grounds. Oro Negro responded to this motion on October 25, 2019. On August 6, 2021 the United States Bankruptcy Court was notified that the auction of Oro Negro’s assets was approved by the Mexican Concurso court. The complaint proceedings had been stayed since March 2020, and the stay was due to continue until the first to occur of April 6, 2023 or a purchase is agreed. On April 6, 2023, Oro Negro filed a stipulation and order withdrawing the complaint in full, without prejudice. As withdrawal of the complaint is without prejudice, Oro Negro retains the ability to re-file a future claim against some or all of the defendants. Seadrill intends to continue to vigorously defend against the claims Oro Negro asserts.

Nigerian Cabotage Act litigation

Seadrill Mobile Units Nigeria Ltd ("SMUNL") commenced proceedings in May 2016 against the Honourable Minister for Transportation, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ("NMASA") with respect to interpretation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 (the "Cabotage Act"). On June 14, 2019, the Federal High Court of Nigeria delivered a judgement finding that: (1) Drilling operations fall within the definition of "Coastal Trade" or "Cabotage" under the Act and (2) Drilling Rigs fall within the definition of "Vessels" under the Cabotage Act. On the basis of this decision, SMUNL and Seadrill were required to deduct 2% of their contract value and remit the same to NMASA and SMUNL was required to register for Cabotage with NMASA and pay all fees and tariffs as may be published in the guidelines that may be issued by the Minister of Transportation in accordance with the Cabotage Act. SMUNL filed an urgent notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal in July 2019 together with a request for an injunction restraining the authorities from any enforcement of the Cabotage Act pending appeal. Due to the volume of cases currently being handled by the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, we anticipate a decision within three to five years.

Although we intend to strongly pursue this appeal, we cannot predict the outcome of this case. We do not believe that it is probable that the ultimate liability, if any, resulting from this litigation will have a material effect on our financial position and results of operations and cash flows.

Lava Jato

The Brazilian markets have experienced heightened volatility in recent years due to the uncertainties derived from the ongoing investigations being conducted by the Office of the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor, the Brazilian Federal Police, the Brazilian Securities Commission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários), the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim) and other Brazilian and foreign public authorities, including the largest such investigation known as Lava Jato, and the impact that such investigations have on the Brazilian economy and political environment. Numerous elected officials, public servants and executives and other personnel of large and state-owned companies have been subject to investigation, arrest, criminal charges and other proceedings in connection with allegations of political corruption, including the acceptance of bribes by means of kickbacks on contracts granted by the government to several infrastructure, oil and gas and construction companies, among others. The profits of these kickbacks allegedly financed the political campaigns of political parties that were unaccounted for or not publicly disclosed and served to personally enrich the recipients of the bribery scheme.

On September 23, 2020, Seadrill's subsidiary Seadrill Serviços de Petroleo, Ltda was served with a search and seizure warrant from the Federal Police in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as part of the phase of Operation Lava Jato relating to individuals formally associated with Seadrill Serviços. At this time, Seadrill understands that this investigation has been closed.

Individuals who have had commercial arrangements with Seadrill have been identified in the Lava Jato investigations and the investigations by the Brazilian authorities are ongoing. The outcome of certain of these investigations is uncertain, but they have already had an adverse impact on the business, image and reputation of the implicated companies, and on the general market perception of the Brazilian economy. We cannot predict whether such allegations will lead to further political and economic instability or whether new allegations against government officials or executives will arise in the future. We also cannot predict the outcome of any such allegations on the Brazilian economy, and the Lava Jato investigation including its recent phases, could adversely affect our business and operations.

Any other material disputes or litigation

During the course of the preceding 12 months, the Company has not been involved in any other material litigation or legal proceedings.

Guarantees

We have issued performance guarantees for potential liabilities that may result from drilling activities under current or previous managed rig arrangements with Sonadrill and Northern Ocean. As of June 30, 2023, we had not recognized any liabilities for these guarantees as we do not consider it probable that the guarantees will be called. As of June 30, 2023, the guarantees provided on behalf of Sonadrill have been capped at $1.1 billion (December 31, 2022:$1.1 billion), in the aggregate, across the three rigs operating in the joint venture on three active and one future contract. The guarantees provided on behalf of Northern Ocean have been capped at $100 million (December 31, 2022: $100 million).