HOUSTON , Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Worldwide offshore oil and gas drilling contractor GlobalSantaFe Corporation (NYSE: GSF) today reported net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007 , of $448.6 million , or $1.96 per diluted share, on revenues of $1.19 billion . The results compare with net income of $245.6 million , or $1.02 per diluted share, on revenues of $909.2 million for the same quarter of 2006. Excluding transaction costs of $12.6 million , or 6 cents per diluted share, related to its pending merger with Transocean, the company would have reported net income of $461.2 million , or $2.02 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2007.

For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2007 , GlobalSantaFe reported net income of $1.17 billion , or $5.05 per diluted share, on revenues of $3.17 billion , compared with net income of $657.0 million , or $2.67 per diluted share, on revenues of $2.36 billion for the corresponding nine-month period of 2006.

GlobalSantaFe President and CEO Jon Marshall commented: 'We had an outstanding third quarter with record financial and operating results that were achieved through strong performance in every segment of our business. The contract drilling segment produced record operating income by delivering strong revenues and holding costs below projections. We also benefited from the solid results of the combined drilling management services and oil and gas segments. I am particularly proud that our people maintained their unwavering focus on safety and delivered this strong operational performance while managing the added demands of our pending merger.'

Third-Quarter 2007 Analysis

Operating income increased 78 percent to $501.0 million in the third quarter of 2007, compared with $281.8 million in the third quarter last year. Contract drilling operating income increased 70 percent in the third quarter of 2007 to $522.3 million on higher average daily revenues per rig of $185,200 and average rig utilization of 96 percent. This compares with contract drilling operating income of $307.2 million in the third quarter of 2006 on average daily revenues per rig of $130,500 and average utilization of 97 percent.

The improved third-quarter 2007 operating results also reflected higher operating income for the combined drilling management services and oil and gas segments, primarily resulting from stronger turnkey drilling performance compared with the third quarter of 2006.

Conference Call

GlobalSantaFe will hold a conference call to discuss its 2007 third quarter results on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007 , at 10 a.m. Central Time / 11 a.m. Eastern. To listen to the live call by phone, dial 617-614-3472 (reference code 95464339). To listen over the Internet, go to the GlobalSantaFe Web site at http://www.globalsantafe.com.

A recording of the call will be available for replay from 1 p.m. Central / 2 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 2 through 12 a.m. Central / 1 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2007 . To hear the replay by phone, dial 617-801-6888 (reference code 13643191). To listen over the Internet, go to http://www.globalsantafe.com.

To the extent not provided in the call, reconciliations of any non-GAAP measures discussed in the call will be available on the Investor Relations page of the GlobalSantaFe Web site in the form of this earnings release or other materials. To access this information online, go to http://www.globalsantafe.com and click on the 'Investor Relations' link.

About GlobalSantaFe

GlobalSantaFe is one of the largest offshore oil and gas drilling contractors and the leading provider of drilling management services worldwide. The company owns or operates a contract drilling fleet of 37 premium jackup rigs; six heavy-duty, harsh environment jackups; 11 semisubmersibles and three dynamically positioned, ultra-deepwater drillships, as well as two semisubmersibles owned by third parties and operated under a joint venture agreement. In addition, it is scheduled to take delivery of a new ultra-deepwater semisubmersible in 2009 and a new ultra-deepwater drillship in 2010. For more information about GlobalSantaFe, go to http://www.globalsantafe.com.

     Contact Information
     Investors:             Media:
     Richard Hoffman        Jeff Awalt
     281-925-6441           281-925-6448



                            GlobalSantaFe Corporation
                   Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
                     (In millions, except per share amounts)




                                      Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                          September 30,     September 30,
                                          2007     2006     2007      2006
    Revenues:
       Contract drilling                  $949.3  $699.2  $2,557.2  $1,800.9
       Drilling management services        224.1   202.9     563.2     523.6
       Oil and gas                          14.8     7.1      44.8      37.5
         Total revenues                  1,188.2   909.2   3,165.2   2,362.0

    Expenses:
       Contract drilling                   345.5   318.6   1,032.2     884.6
       Drilling management services        215.5   209.8     537.3     524.4
       Oil and gas                           5.9     3.9      18.7      13.0
       Depreciation, depletion and
        amortization                        87.7    77.0     251.6     224.9
       Involuntary conversion of long-
        lived assets,
         net of related recoveries, loss
          of hire recoveries
         and gain on dispositions of
          equipment                           -       -      (57.1)    (85.3)
       General and administrative           32.6    18.1      80.2      61.2
         Total operating expenses          687.2   627.4   1,862.9   1,622.8

         Operating income                  501.0   281.8   1,302.3     739.2

    Other income (expense):
       Interest expense                    (12.0)   (9.0)    (34.5)    (27.4)
       Interest capitalized                  4.9     2.2      12.1      17.4
       Interest income                       8.2     5.4      20.7      19.7
       Other                                (1.2)    1.3       1.2      (0.3)
         Total other income (expense)       (0.1)   (0.1)     (0.5)      9.4

         Income before income taxes        500.9   281.7   1,301.8     748.6

    Provision for income taxes:
       Current tax provision                44.4    25.8      89.6      61.5
       Deferred tax provision                7.9    10.3      52.1      30.1
         Total provision for income
          taxes                             52.3    36.1     141.7      91.6

         Income from continuing
          operations                       448.6   245.6   1,160.1     657.0

    Income from discontinued operations,
     net of tax effect                         -       -        5.7        -

    Net income                            $448.6  $245.6  $1,165.8    $657.0

    Earnings per ordinary share:
       Basic
         Income from continuing
          operations                       $1.99   $1.03     $5.09     $2.71
         Income from discontinued
          operations                           -       -      0.03         -
           Net income                      $1.99   $1.03     $5.12     $2.71

       Diluted
         Income from continuing
          operations                       $1.96   $1.02     $5.02     $2.67
         Income from discontinued
          operations                           -       -      0.03         -
           Net income                      $1.96   $1.02     $5.05     $2.67


    Average ordinary shares:
       Basic                               225.6   238.1     227.9     242.6
       Diluted                             228.3   241.0     231.0     246.2



                            GlobalSantaFe Corporation
                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                  (In millions)


                                             September 30,     December 31,
                                                 2007             2006
    Current assets:
       Cash and cash equivalents               $449.1           $336.4
       Marketable securities                     16.0             12.5
       Accounts receivable, net of
        allowances                              969.3            653.4
       Accounts receivable from insurers        113.4            138.9
       Prepaid expenses                          97.4             68.8
       Other current assets                      26.8             23.7

         Total current assets                 1,672.0          1,233.7

    Net properties                            4,813.9          4,514.6
    Goodwill                                    334.4            339.2
    Deferred income taxes                        37.3             34.3
    Other assets                                123.4             98.4

         Total assets                        $6,981.0         $6,220.2



    Current liabilities:
       Accounts payable                        $341.2           $284.5
       Other accrued liabilities                268.5            278.6

         Total current liabilities              609.7            563.1

    Long-term debt                              550.5            623.9
    Capital lease obligations                    14.7             15.4
    Deferred income taxes                        82.4             27.7
    Other long-term liabilities                 233.7            143.0

    Shareholders' equity:
       Ordinary shares and additional paid-
        in capital                            3,211.4          3,178.6
       Retained earnings                      2,375.4          1,764.1
       Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (96.8)           (95.6)

         Total shareholders' equity           5,490.0          4,847.1

         Total liabilities and
          shareholders' equity               $6,981.0         $6,220.2



                            GlobalSantaFe Corporation
                 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
                                  (In millions)


                                                          Nine Months Ended
                                                            September 30,
                                                            2007      2006

    Cash flows from operating
     activities:
      Net income                                          $1,165.8    $657.0
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
      cash flow provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation, depletion and amortization             251.6     224.9
        Deferred income taxes                                 52.1      30.1
        Stock-based compensation expense                      26.6      27.0
        Involuntary conversion of long-lived assets,
         net of related recoveries, loss of hire
         recoveries and gain on dispositions
         of equipment                                        (57.1)    (85.3)
        Cash received from insurance for loss of hire
         and other recoveries                                 54.5        -
        Increase in accounts receivable                     (367.7)   (225.6)
        Increase in prepaid expenses and other
         current assets                                      (31.6)    (37.8)
        Increase in deferred mobilization costs               (5.3)     (2.8)
        Increase in accounts payable                          59.2      74.6
        Increase in accrued liabilities                       23.3      12.4
        Increase in deferred revenues                         87.2       5.6
        Increase in other long-term liabilities                6.9      29.4
        Contributions to defined benefit plans                (8.0)    (64.0)
        Other, net                                            (2.9)     (3.1)

          Net cash flow provided by operating
           activities                                      1,254.6     642.4

    Cash flows from investing
     activities:
      Capital expenditures                                  (568.3)   (424.3)
      Cash received from insurance for involuntary
       conversion of long-lived assets                        62.3     108.1
      Purchases of available-for-sale marketable
       securities                                           (147.0) (1,201.4)
      Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale
       marketable securities                                 144.2   1,453.7
      Proceeds from disposals of properties and
       equipment                                              34.9       2.3
      Other                                                     -        2.7

        Net cash flow used in investing activities          (473.9)    (58.9)

    Cash flows from financing
     activities:
      Dividend payments                                     (154.5)   (164.6)
      Borrowings under credit facility                       195.0        -
      Payments on credit facility                           (270.0)       -
      Deferred financing costs                                  -       (0.7)
      Excess tax deduction resulting
       from option exercises                                  12.1       5.5
      Payments on capitalized lease obligations              (10.0)    (10.1)
      Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares               95.9     126.8
      Payments for ordinary shares repurchased
       and retired                                          (536.5)   (778.3)

        Net cash flow used in financing
        activities                                          (668.0)   (821.4)

    Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents         112.7    (237.9)

    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period         336.4     562.6

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period              $449.1    $324.7




                            GlobalSantaFe Corporation
                    Results of Operations by Business Segment
              (Dollars in millions, except average revenues per day)

                                       Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                         September 30,         September 30,
                                        2007      2006        2007      2006
    Revenues:
      Contract drilling  (1)           $979.0    $704.7    $2,633.2  $1,814.8
      Drilling management services      246.9     213.7       599.9     548.9
      Oil and gas                        14.8       7.1        44.8      37.5
      Intersegment elimination          (52.5)    (16.3)     (112.7)    (39.2)
        Total revenues               $1,188.2    $909.2    $3,165.2  $2,362.0

    Operating income:
      Contract drilling                $522.3    $307.2    $1,289.9    $704.1
      Drilling management services        8.6      (6.9)       25.9      (0.8)
      Oil and gas                         5.0       1.6        15.7      17.7
      Involuntary conversion of long-
       lived assets,
        net of related recoveries,
         loss of hire recoveries
        and gain on dispositions of
         equipment                         -         -         57.1      85.3
      Corporate operating expenses      (34.9)    (20.1)      (86.3)    (67.1)

        Total operating income          501.0     281.8     1,302.3     739.2

    Interest (expense) income, net        1.1      (1.4)       (1.7)      9.7
    Other                                (1.2)      1.3         1.2      (0.3)
        Income before income taxes     $500.9    $281.7    $1,301.8    $748.6


    Depreciation, depletion and
     amortization
      included in operating income :
      Contract drilling                 $81.5     $73.4      $235.1    $212.2
      Drilling management                  -         -           -         -
      Oil and gas                         3.9       1.6        10.4       6.8
      Corporate                           2.3       2.0         6.1       5.9
        Total depreciation, depletion
         and amortization               $87.7     $77.0      $251.6    $224.9



    Average rig utilization rate          96%       97%         92%       95%

    Average revenues per day  (2)    $185,200  $130,500    $174,300  $115,400

    Turnkey wells drilled                  17        20          45        54
    Turnkey well completions                8         9          17        21


      (1) Expense reimbursements included in contract drilling revenues and
          expenses totaled $16.4 million and $17.4 million for the three
          months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $55.1
          million and $60.5 million, respectively, for the nine months ended
          September 30, 2007 and 2006. Operating income for these periods was
          not affected by these reimbursements.

      (2) Average revenues per day is the ratio of rig-related contract
          drilling revenues divided by the aggregate contract days. The
          calculation of average revenues per day excludes non-rig related
          revenues, consisting mainly of reimbursed expenses, of $16.7 million
          and $17.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended
          September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $55.8 million and
          $61.3 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30,
          2007 and 2006.

SOURCE GlobalSantaFe