UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
     Washington, D.C. 20549     
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):  January 19, 2006	

ENSCO International Incorporated	
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 	
	
   Delaware	          1-8097	    76-0232579	
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation	 	 	(Commission File Number)	 	 	(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)	 	 	
	
 	500 North Akard Street
Suite 4300
Dallas, Texas 75201-3331	 	
 	 	 	(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)	 	 	 	 	 	

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (214) 397-3000	
	
 	Not Applicable	 	
 	 	 	(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)	 	 	 	 	 	

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:	
 	
¨	 	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 	
¨	 	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 	
¨	 	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 	
¨	 	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

	
	
TABLE OF CONTENTS	
 	
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT	
         Item 8.01 Other Events	
         Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits	
SIGNATURES	
EXHIBIT INDEX	
Press release issued by ENSCO International Incorporated dated January 19, 2006 announcing a contract for new ultra-deepwater semisubmersible rig	

	

 INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT	
 	
 Item 8.01  Other Events	
 	
        Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release dated January 19, 2006 of ENSCO International Incorporated announcing a contract for new ultra-deepwater semisubmersible rig.	
 	
 Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits	
 	
        (c)  Exhibits	
 	
        Exhibit No.	 	Description                                                                                     	
 		
       99.1	 	Press release issued by ENSCO International Incorporated dated January 19, 2006 announcing a contract for new ultra-deepwater semisubmersible rig	

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 SIGNATURES	
 	
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.	
 	
 	 	     ENSCO International Incorporated

 	 	 	
 	 	 	
Date:  January 19, 2006	 	      /s/ H. E. MALONE, JR.          
     H. E. Malone, Jr.
     Vice President	

 		
 		
 	 	      /s/ DAVID A. ARMOUR          
     David A. Armour
     Controller	

3	

	

 EXHIBIT INDEX	

        Exhibit No.	 	Description                                                                                             	
 		
       99.1	 	Press release issued by ENSCO International Incorporated dated January 19, 2006 announcing a contract for new ultra-deepwater semisubmersible rig	

4	

	

 
Exhibit 99.1	
	
NEWS RELEASE	
ENSCO INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED	
	
500 North Akard • Suite 4300 • Dallas, Texas 75201-3331
Tel: (214) 397-3000 • Fax: (214) 397-3370 • Web Site: www.enscous.com	

ENSCO Announces Contract for New Ultra-Deepwater Semisubmersible Rig	
 	
      Dallas, Texas, January 19, 2006 ... ENSCO International Incorporated (NYSE: ESV) announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company has entered into a drilling contract with two large independent oil companies to provide a new ultra-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig, to be named ENSCO 8501. The drilling contract with Nexen Petroleum U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Nexen Inc. (NYSE: NXY) and with Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) is for a firm three and a half year primary term, with four one-year extension options at mutually agreed day rates. The term commitment is comprised of a two year obligation by Nexen and a one and a half year obligation by Noble Energy. The aggregate day rate revenue expected to be paid under the contract during the primary term is approximately $423 million. Under the terms of the agreement, ENSCO will also be reimbursed for mobilization and other start-up costs, and day rates will be adjusted for future variances in operating costs.	
 	
      The Company also announced that it entered into an agreement with Keppel FELS Limited in Singapore to construct ENSCO 8501. The total project cost of ENSCO 8501 is currently expected to be approximately $338 million, with mobilization to the Gulf of Mexico anticipated by the second quarter of 2009. ENSCO 8501 is the Company's second semisubmersible rig in the 8500 Series, and the Company's third deepwater semisubmersible rig, joining ENSCO 7500, delivered in 2000, and ENSCO 8500, which is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2008.	
 	
      The ENSCO 8500 Series deepwater semisubmersibles are an enhanced version of the ENSCO 7500. The 8500 Series rigs will be capable of drilling in up to 8,500 feet of water, and can readily be upgraded to 10,000 feet water-depth capability if required. Enhancements include a two million pound quad derrick, offline pipe handling capability, increased drilling capacity, greater variable deck load, and improved automatic station keeping ability. With these features, the 8500 Series rigs will be especially well-suited for deepwater development drilling.	
 	
      Carl F. Thorne, ENSCO's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are pleased to have entered into a second transaction of this type in the last few months. As with the ENSCO 8500 project, ENSCO 8501 is expected to provide a cost-effective deepwater drilling solution for our customers and expand ENSCO's deepwater capability on a conservative and financially attractive basis. We are gratified to again be working with Keppel FELS shipyard on the ENSCO 8501. We highly value our longstanding relationship which has resulted in a history of successfully delivering high-quality newbuild rigs on time and within budget.	
 	
      Statements contained in this news release that state Company or management intentions, hopes, beliefs, anticipations, expectations or predictions of future events are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include references to the expected ENSCO 8500 and ENSCO 8501 delivery dates, the cost of ENSCO 8501, and the anticipated drilling contract revenues for ENSCO 8501. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the following: (i) delay in the anticipated ENSCO 8500 and ENSCO 8501 delivery dates, (ii) changes in actual cost of ENSCO 8501, (iii) changes in the actual ENSCO 8501 drilling contract revenue or term, (iv) general rig construction risks, (v) risks of rig design and delivery acceptance, (vi) risks associated with shipbuilding in foreign jurisdictions, (vii) force majeure events, (viii) renegotiation, nullification, or breach of contracts, and (ix) the risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC filings. Copies of such filings may be obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC.	
 	
      The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in Company or management expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.	
 	
      ENSCO, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, owns and operates a modern fleet of offshore drilling rigs servicing the petroleum industry on a global basis.	

 	
Contact: Richard LeBlanc
              214-397-3011