Chevron USA Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, has announced that the Discoverer Clear Leader, an ultra deepwater drill ship newly built to Chevron’s specifications, has begun work for Chevron in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico under a 5 year contract with Transocean.

The state of the art vessel is capable of drilling wells in 12,000 feet of water to a total depth of 40,000 feet, surpassing the limits of previous technology.

Mr George Kirkland EVP Upstream & Gas at Chevron said that "The Discoverer Clear Leader offers the most advanced drilling capabilities in the offshore drilling industry and will enable Chevron to expand the search for new domestic sources of energy."

Chevron is one of the top lease holders and producers in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The drill ship will begin work for Chevron at several of its deepwater projects, including Tahiti and Jack/St Malo.

The Discoverer Clear Leader is the first of two new drill ships to be commissioned for Chevron. The second vessel, the Discoverer Inspiration, is expected to be delivered in early 2010.