afr, page-12

Could someone familiar with drilling contracts indicate typical timelines from contract signing to when drilling commences. I'm assuming it must be common to have long lead times because with just one rig, how could CKK be close to signing two client contracts? I understand it to take around 6 months to complete building a new GT3000 (even though more than one can be built similataneously). Do clients typically contract rigs many months in advance? i.e. sign a contract now for using the rig say in January 2012 and giving the supplier enough time to built another rig.

Or are others interpeting the "close to signing two client contracts" as meaning, "you'd think we should get one of the two".

Thanks guys.