Second rig moved from Gulf of Mexico

Diamond Offshore Drilling has pulled another rig out of the Gulf of Mexico due to the deepwater petroleum drilling moratorium.

The Houston-based company said that it has ordered the Ocean Confidence rig to the Republic of Congo. The rig departed the Gulf last weekend.

Diamond Offshore said it rewrote a drilling contract with Murphy Exploration and Production Co. Its current contract with Murphy was changed to a one-year commitment in the Gulf that will begin when Murphy is confident it can get permits to drill.

In exchange, the companies signed a new agreement to drill off the coast of the Republic of Congo.

Last week, Diamond Offshore said it was moving another Gulf rig to Egypt.