<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.8

                                GLOBALSANTAFE CORPORATION

                              $250,000,000 5% NOTES DUE 2013

                                    PURCHASE AGREEMENT

New York, New York

February 4, 2003

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, N.Y. 10004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            GlobalSantaFe Corporation, a Caymans Island company (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to you (the "Initial Purchasers") $250,000,000
principal amount of its 5% Notes due 2013 (the "Securities"), to be issued under
an indenture (the "Indenture") to be dated as of February 1, 2003, between the
Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee").

            The sale of the Securities to you will be made without registration
of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), in reliance upon exemptions from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act. You have advised the Company that you will offer and sell the
Securities purchased by you hereunder in accordance with Section 4 hereof on the
terms set forth in the Final Memorandum (as defined below), as soon as you deem
advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

            In connection with the sale of the Securities, the Company has
prepared a final offering memorandum, dated February 4, 2003 (the "Final
Memorandum"). The Final Memorandum sets forth certain information concerning the
Company and the Securities. The Company hereby confirms that it has authorized
the use of the Final Memorandum, and any amendment or supplement thereto, in
connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers.
Any references herein to the Final Memorandum shall be deemed to include all
documents incorporated by reference therein which were filed under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), on or before
the Execution Time (as defined below); and any reference herein to the terms
"amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Final Memorandum shall
be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange
Act after the Execution Time that is incorporated by reference therein. Unless
stated to the contrary, all references herein to the Final Memorandum are to the


                                       1
<PAGE>

Final Memorandum at the Execution Time (as defined below) and are not meant to
include any amendment or supplement subsequent to the Execution Time.

            The Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees of
the Securities will be entitled to the benefits of a Registration Rights
Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") to be dated as of the Closing
Date (as defined below), pursuant to which the Company will agree, among other
things, to file with the Commission, under the circumstances set forth therein,
(i) a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to $250,000,000
principal amount of 5% Notes due 2013 of the Company (the "Exchange Notes") to
be offered in exchange (the "Exchange Offer") for the Securities, and (ii) as
and to the extent required by the Registration Rights Agreement, a shelf
registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

            1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, the Initial Purchasers as set forth below in this
Section 1.

            (a) The Final Memorandum as of its date did not, and the Final
      Memorandum (as the same may have been amended or supplemented) as of the
      Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
      omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
      in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
      misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations
      or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Final
      Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and
      in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or
      on behalf of the Initial Purchasers specifically for inclusion in the
      Final Memorandum (and any amendment or supplement thereof or thereto). All
      documents incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum that were
      filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Execution Time complied, and
      all such documents that are filed under the Exchange Act after the
      Execution Time and on or before the Closing Date will comply, in all
      material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and
      the rules thereunder.

            (b) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
      company in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with power
      and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described
      in the Final Memorandum.

            (c) The Indenture and the Securities have been duly authorized; and
      when the Securities are issued, delivered and paid for pursuant to this
      Agreement on the Closing Date, the Indenture will have been duly executed
      and delivered, such Securities will have been duly executed,
      authenticated, issued and delivered, such Securities and the Indenture
      will conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Final Memorandum
      and the Indenture and such Securities will constitute valid and legally
      binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
      accordance with their terms.

            (d) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
      by the Company; the Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
      authorized, and as of the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and
      delivered by the Company; and this Agreement conforms, and as of the
      Closing Date the Registration Rights Agreement will conform, to the
      respective descriptions thereof in the Final Memorandum.


                                       2
<PAGE>

            (e) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or
      indirectly, any action prohibited by Regulation M promulgated under the
      Exchange Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

            (f) Neither the Company nor any or its affiliates (as defined in
      Rule 501(b) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act
      ("Regulation D")), nor any person acting on its or their behalf (excluding
      the Initial Purchasers and any affiliates thereof) has, directly or
      indirectly, (i) sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or
      otherwise negotiated in respect of, any security (as defined in the
      Securities Act) that is or will be integrated with the sale of the
      Securities in a manner that would require the registration of the
      Securities under the Securities Act or (ii) engaged in any form of general
      solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D)
      in connection with the offering of the Securities.

            (g) Subject to the compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the
      representations, warranties and agreements set forth in Section 4, it is
      not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the
      Securities in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Final
      Memorandum to register the Securities under the Securities Act or to
      qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
      (the "Trust Indenture Act").

            (h) The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section
      13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

            (i) The Securities satisfy the requirements set forth in Rule
      144A(d)(3) promulgated under the Securities Act.

            (j) None of the Company or its subsidiaries (as defined in Section
      1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act)
      ("Subsidiaries") is required to be registered or regulated as an
      "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of
      1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), and after giving effect
      to the offer and sale of the Securities and the application of the
      proceeds thereof as described in the Final Memorandum, none of the Company
      or its Subsidiaries will be required to be registered or regulated as an
      "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act.

            (k) The Company has not paid or agreed to pay to any person any
      compensation for soliciting another to purchase any Securities (except as
      contemplated by this Agreement).

            (l) Except as set forth in the Final Memorandum, the Company and its
      Subsidiaries possess and are in compliance with all approvals,
      certificates, authorizations, licenses and permits issued by the
      appropriate state, Federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
      necessary to conduct the business now being operated by them, except where
      the failure to possess such approvals, certificates, authorizations,
      licenses and permits or be in compliance therewith is not reasonably
      likely to have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
      otherwise, earnings, business or prospects of the


                                       3
<PAGE>

      Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse
      Effect"), and none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has received any
      notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any
      such approval, certificate, authorization, license or permit that
      individually or in the aggregate, is likely to have a Material Adverse
      Effect.

            (m) Except as set forth in the Final Memorandum, there is no action,
      suit or proceeding before or by any court or governmental agency or body,
      domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and
      its Subsidiaries threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      that is likely to result in any Material Adverse Effect or materially and
      adversely affect the offering of the Securities in the manner contemplated
      by the Final Memorandum.

            2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in
reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell the Securities to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial
Purchasers agree to purchase the Securities from the Company, at a purchase
price of 99.2% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any,
from February 11, 2003, to the Closing Date.

            3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Securities
shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on February 11, 2003, which
date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Initial Purchasers and
the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery
and payment for the Securities being herein called the "Closing Date"). Delivery
of the Securities shall be made to the Initial Purchasers against payment by the
Initial Purchasers of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Company by wire transfer of same day funds to an account specified by the
Company or such other manner of payment as may be agreed upon by the Company and
the Initial Purchasers. Delivery of the Securities shall be made at such
location as the Initial Purchasers shall reasonably designate at least one
business day in advance of the Closing Date and payment for the Securities shall
be made at the office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. ("Counsel for the Initial
Purchasers"), 1301 McKinney, Suite 5100, Houston, Texas 77010-3095. Certificates
for the Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations
as the Initial Purchasers may request not less than three full business days in
advance of the Closing Date.

            The Company agrees to have the Securities available for inspection,
checking and packaging by the Initial Purchasers not later than 1:00 p.m. on the
business day prior to the Closing Date.

            4. Offering of Securities. The Initial Purchasers represent and
warrant to and agree with the Company that (with respect to clauses (b) and (c)
below, with respect to both themselves and their affiliates):

            (a) They are an "accredited investor" within the meaning of
      Regulation D.

            (b) They have not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, any
      Securities except to persons they reasonably believe to be qualified
      institutional buyers, as defined in Rule 144A, in transactions meeting the
      requirements of Rule 144A, and that, in connection with each such sale,
      they have taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser
      of such Securities is aware that such sale is being made in reliance on
      Rule 144A.


                                       4
<PAGE>

            (c) Neither they nor any person acting on their behalf have engaged
      or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising
      (as those terms are used in Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act) in
      connection with any offer or sale of the Securities in the United States.

            5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers that:

            (a) The Company will furnish to the Initial Purchasers and to
      Counsel for the Initial Purchasers, without charge, during the period
      referred to in Subsection (d) hereof, as many copies of the Final
      Memorandum and any supplements and amendments thereof or thereto as it may
      reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other
      production of all documents relating to the offering of the Securities.

            (b) The Company will not amend or supplement the Final Memorandum,
      other than by filing documents under the Exchange Act that are
      incorporated by reference therein, without prior consent of the Initial
      Purchasers, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Prior
      to the completion of the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers,
      the Company will not file any document under the Exchange Act that is
      incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum unless the Company has
      furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any
      such document to which you reasonably object.

            (c) The Company will promptly advise the Initial Purchasers when,
      prior to the completion of the sale of the Securities by the Initial
      Purchasers, any document filed under the Exchange Act that is incorporated
      by reference in the Final Memorandum shall have been filed with the
      Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

            (d) If at any time prior to the earliest of (i) the completion of
      the initial resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers, (ii) the
      effective date of the registration statement to be filed pursuant and in
      accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement by and between the
      Company and the Initial Purchasers and (iii) six months after the Closing
      Date, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Memorandum, as then
      amended or supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material
      fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
      therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not
      misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Final
      Memorandum (including any document incorporated by reference therein that
      was filed under the Exchange Act) to comply with the Exchange Act or the
      rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Company promptly will notify
      the Initial Purchasers of the same and, subject to Subsection (b) hereof,
      will prepare and provide to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Subsection
      (a) hereof an amendment or supplement that will correct such statement or
      omission or effect such compliance and, in the case of such an amendment
      or supplement that is to be filed under the Exchange Act and that is
      incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum, will file such
      amendment or supplement with the Commission.

            (e) The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and
      Counsel for the Initial Purchasers in connection with the qualification of
      the Securities for sale by the Initial Purchasers under the laws of such
      jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may


                                       5
<PAGE>

      designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as
      required for the sale of the Securities; provided, however, that the
      Company shall not be required in connection therewith to register or
      qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to
      execute a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or
      subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
      subject. The Company will promptly advise the Initial Purchasers of the
      receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension
      of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
      initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

            (f) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (as defined in
      Rule 501(b) of Regulation D), nor any person acting on its or their behalf
      will solicit any offer to buy or offer or sell the Securities by means of
      any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the
      meaning of Regulation D).

            (g) So long as any of the Securities are "restricted securities"
      within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) promulgated under the Securities Act,
      the Company will, unless it is subject to and complies with Section 13 or
      15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide to each holder of such restricted
      securities and to each prospective purchaser (as designated by such
      holder) of such restricted securities, upon the request of such holder or
      prospective purchaser, any information ("Rule 144A Information") required
      to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) or a successor provision under the
      Securities Act. This covenant is intended to be for the benefit of the
      holders, and the prospective purchasers designated by such holders, from
      time to time of such restricted securities.

            (h) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its affiliates
      (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D) to, resell any Securities that
      have been acquired by any of them other than pursuant to a registration
      statement filed with the Commission or an exemption from the registration
      requirements of the Securities Act.

            (i) Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates (as defined in
      Rule 501(b) of Regulation D), nor any person acting on its or their behalf
      (other than the Initial Purchasers or any affiliates thereof, as to which
      the Company is not responsible) will, directly or indirectly, offer for
      sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any
      security (as defined in the Securities Act) under circumstances that would
      require the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act.

            (j) The Company shall use its best efforts in cooperation with the
      Initial Purchasers to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance
      and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

            6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers. The
obligation of the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Securities shall be subject
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
contained herein as of the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
delivered by the parties hereto (the "Execution Time") and the Closing Date, to
the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant
to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:


                                       6
<PAGE>

            (a) The Initial Purchasers shall have received an opinion, dated the
      Closing Date, of Maples and Calder, special Cayman Islands counsel to the
      Company, to the effect that:

                  (i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
            existing as a company in good standing under the laws of the Cayman
            Islands, with full corporate power and authority to own its
            properties and conduct its business as described in the Final
            Memorandum;

                  (ii) the Company's authorized share capital is as set forth in
            the Final Memorandum under the caption "Capitalization";

                  (iii) this Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration
            Rights Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered
            by the Company (assuming for purposes of delivery that the Company
            has physically delivered to the other parties thereto such documents
            originally executed by the Company);

                  (iv) the Securities have been duly authorized by the Company,
            and assuming their issuance and authentication in accordance with
            the terms of the Indenture, the Securities will be duly executed and
            delivered by the Company (assuming for purposes of delivery that the
            Company has delivered the Securities against due payment therefor);

                  (v) neither the issue and sale of the Securities by the
            Company, the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture,
            this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement nor the
            consummation of any other of the transactions contemplated by this
            Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement will conflict with,
            result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under
            the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or any
            statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
            governmental agency or body in the Cayman Islands having
            jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are
            incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands or any of their
            properties;

                  (vi) to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval,
            authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body
            in the Cayman Islands is required for the consummation of the
            transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Rights
            Agreement or the Indenture;

                  (vii) the statements set forth in the Final Memorandum under
            the caption "Cayman Islands Tax Consequences", insofar as they
            purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents
            referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material
            respects;

                  (viii) under the laws of the Cayman Islands, the submission of
            the Company to the jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal
            court sitting in the City of New York and the appointment of The
            Corporation Trust as its authorised


                                       7
<PAGE>

            agent for the purposes described in Section 13 of this Agreement are
            valid and binding; service of process effected in the manner set
            forth in Section 13 of this Agreement will be effective under the
            laws of the Cayman Islands to confer personal jurisdiction over the
            Company, assuming this to be the case under the laws of New York;
            the courts of the Cayman Islands will observe and give effect to the
            choice of New York law as the governing law of this Agreement; and
            the Company can sue and be sued in its own name under the laws of
            the Cayman Islands; and

                  (ix) the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognise a foreign
            judgment as the basis for a claim at common law in the Cayman
            Islands provided such judgment (A) is given by a competent foreign
            court; (B) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a
            liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given; (C) is final;
            (D) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and (E) was not
            obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which
            is contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands.

            All references in this Subsection (a) to the Final Memorandum shall
      be deemed to include any amendment or supplement thereto at the Closing
      Date.

            (b) The Initial Purchasers shall have received an opinion, dated the
      Closing Date, of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Company, to the
      effect that:

                  (i) the Indenture, assuming its due authorization, and further
            assuming its due execution and delivery by the Company insofar as
            such matters are governed by Cayman Islands law, has been duly
            executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due
            authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, is a
            legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable
            against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the
            enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
            reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
            other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and general
            principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a
            proceeding in equity or at law); and the Securities, assuming their
            due authorization, and further assuming their due execution and
            delivery by the Company insofar as such matters are governed by
            Cayman Islands law, when executed and authenticated in accordance
            with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for
            by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the terms of this
            Agreement and the Indenture, will constitute legal, valid and
            binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company
            in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof
            may be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
            reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
            other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and general
            principles of equity (regardless or whether considered in a
            proceeding in equity or at law); and the Securities when issued,
            delivered and sold, will conform to the description thereof
            contained in the Final Memorandum;

                  (ii) to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval,
            authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body
            is required


                                       8
<PAGE>

            under U.S. federal law or the laws of the State of Texas for the
            consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
            Agreement or by the Registration Rights Agreement, except such as
            may be required under the blue sky or securities laws of any
            jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
            Securities by the Initial Purchasers (as to which such counsel need
            express no opinion), and such other approvals (specified in such
            opinion) as have been obtained;

                  (iii) neither the issue and sale of the Securities by the
            Company, the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture,
            this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the
            consummation of any other of the transactions contemplated hereby
            nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result
            in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under (A) any
            applicable U.S. federal law or the laws of the State of Texas or (B)
            the terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument
            providing for the borrowing of money known to such counsel and to
            which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound
            except in the case of clauses (A) and (B) above, such conflict,
            breach, violation or default that is not, individually or in the
            aggregate reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (iv) the Company is not required to be registered or regulated
            as an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
            Company Act;

                  (v) assuming (A) the accuracy of the representations and
            warranties and compliance with the agreements of the Company and the
            Initial Purchasers contained herein, (B) the compliance by the
            Initial Purchasers with the offering and transfer procedures and
            restrictions described in the Final Memorandum and (C) the accuracy
            of the representations and warranties made in accordance with this
            Agreement and the Final Memorandum by the purchasers to whom you
            initially resell Securities, it is not necessary in connection with
            the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company to the
            Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement to register the
            Securities under the Securities Act or to qualify an indenture in
            respect thereof under the Trust Indenture Act.

            Such counsel shall also state that such counsel has participated in
      conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company,
      representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company,
      representatives of the Initial Purchasers and representatives of counsel
      for the Initial Purchasers, at which conferences the contents of the Final
      Memorandum and related matters were discussed, and, although such counsel
      has not independently verified and is not passing upon and assumes no
      responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
      statements contained in the Final Memorandum (except to the extent
      specified above) (relying as to factual matters upon statements of
      officers and other representatives of the Company), no facts have come to
      such counsel's attention which lead such counsel to believe that at the
      Execution Time or at the Closing Date the Final Memorandum (other than the
      financial statements and schedules, the notes thereto and the auditor's
      reports thereon, and the other financial, numerical and accounting data
      included or incorporated by reference or


                                       9
<PAGE>

      omitted therefrom, and the exhibits thereto, as to which such counsel need
      express no belief), contained or contains an untrue statement of a
      material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to
      make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under
      which they were made, not misleading.

            Such opinion may be limited to the laws of the State of Texas, the
      general contract law of the State of New York and the federal laws of the
      United States. Such counsel may rely as to matters of Cayman Islands law
      upon the opinion of Maples and Calder furnished pursuant to Subsection 6
      (a) of this Agreement and as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem
      proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public
      officials.

            Any references in this Subsection (b) to the Final Memorandum shall
      be deemed to include any amendment or supplement thereto at the Closing
      Date.

            (c) The Initial Purchasers shall have received an opinion, dated the
      Closing Date, of Walter A. Baker, Assistant General Counsel of the
      Company, to the effect that:

                  (i) each of Global Marine Inc., GlobalSantaFe Drilling
            Company, Applied Drilling Technology Inc., Santa Fe Drilling
            Operations Inc., Key International Drilling Company Limited,
            GlobalSantaFe Baltic Inc., GlobalSantaFe International Services Inc.
            and GlobalSantaFe International Drilling Corporation (individually a
            "Specified Subsidiary" and collectively the "Specified
            Subsidiaries") has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
            a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
            which it is chartered or organized, with corporate power and
            authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
            described in the Final Memorandum, and the Company and each of the
            Specified Subsidiaries is duly qualified to transact business as a
            foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
            jurisdiction which requires such qualification wherein it owns or
            leases material properties or conducts material business, except as
            would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (ii) all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each
            Specified Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
            issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as
            otherwise set forth in the Final Memorandum, all outstanding shares
            of capital stock of the Specified Subsidiaries are owned by the
            Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free
            and clear of any perfected security interest and to the knowledge of
            such counsel, any other security interests, claims, liens or
            encumbrances;

                  (iii) no consent, approval, authorization or order of any
            court or governmental agency or body is required for the
            consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
            except such as may be required under the blue sky or securities laws
            of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution
            of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers, as to which


                                       10
<PAGE>

            such counsel need express no opinion, and such other approvals
            (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained;

                  (iv) neither the issuance and sale by the Company of the
            Securities, the execution and delivery by the Company of the
            Indenture, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
            thereby, nor the fulfillment of the terms of this Agreement will
            conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
            default under (A) any applicable U.S. federal or Texas law, (B) the
            terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument known to
            such counsel and to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
            a party or bound or (C) any judgment, order or decree known to such
            counsel to be applicable to the Company or its Specified
            Subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency,
            governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company
            or its Specified Subsidiaries except in the case of clauses (A), (B)
            and (C) above, such conflict, breach, violation or default that is
            not, individually or in the aggregate reasonably likely to have a
            Material Adverse Effect;

                  (v) except as set forth in the Final Memorandum, the Company
            and its Specified Subsidiaries possess and are in compliance with
            all approvals, certificates, authorizations, licenses and permits
            issued by the appropriate state, Federal or foreign regulatory
            agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their business as described
            in the Final Memorandum, except where the failure to possess such
            approvals, certificates, authorizations, licenses and permits or be
            in compliance therewith would not be reasonably likely to have a
            Material Adverse Effect, and to the knowledge of such counsel, none
            of the Company or its Specified Subsidiaries have received any
            notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of
            any such approval, certificate, authorization, license or permit
            which, individually or in the aggregate, if it became the subject of
            any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would be reasonably
            likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

                  (vi) to the knowledge of such counsel, there is no pending or
            threatened action, suit or proceeding before any court or government
            agency, authority or body or any arbitrator to which the Company or
            its Specified Subsidiaries is a party which is of a character that
            would be required to be disclosed in the Final Memorandum if it were
            filed as a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Commission
            under the Securities Act, which is not disclosed in the Final
            Memorandum.

            Such counsel shall also state that such counsel has participated in
      conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company,
      representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company,
      representatives of the Initial Purchasers and representatives of counsel
      for the Initial Purchasers, at which conferences the contents of the Final
      Memorandum and related matters were discussed, and, although such counsel
      has not independently verified and is not passing upon and assumes no
      responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
      statements contained in the Final Memorandum (except to the extent
      specified above) (relying as to factual


                                       11
<PAGE>

      matters upon statements of officers and other representatives of the
      Company), no facts have come to such counsel's attention which lead such
      counsel to believe that at the Execution Time or at the Closing Date the
      Final Memorandum (other than the financial statements and schedules, the
      notes thereto and the auditor's reports thereon, and the other financial,
      numerical and accounting data included or incorporated by reference or
      omitted therefrom, and the exhibits thereto, as to which such counsel need
      express no belief) contained or contains an untrue statement of a material
      fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the
      statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which
      they were made, not misleading.

            The opinions expressed in such opinion may be limited to the laws of
      the State of Texas, the corporate laws of the State of Delaware and the
      federal laws of the United States. Such counsel may rely as to matters of
      Cayman Islands law upon the opinion of Maples and Calder furnished
      pursuant to Subsection 6 (a) of this Agreement and as to matters of fact,
      to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of
      the Company and public officials.

            All references in this Subsection (c) to the Final Memorandum shall
      be deemed to include any amendment or supplement thereto at the Closing
      Date.

            (d) The Initial Purchasers shall have received from Counsel for the
      Initial Purchasers such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with
      respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the
      Final Memorandum (together with any amendment or supplement thereof or
      thereto) and other related matters as the Initial Purchasers may
      reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel
      such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them
      to pass upon such matters.

            (e) The Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers a
      certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board or the
      President or any Vice President and the principal financial or accounting
      officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the
      signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Final Memorandum,
      any amendment or supplement to the Final Memorandum and this Agreement and
      that:

                  (i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
            Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of
            the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date
            and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied
            all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
            prior to the Closing Date;

                  (ii) since the date of the most recent financial statements
            included or incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum
            (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereof or thereto), there
            has been no material adverse change or prospective material adverse
            change in the condition (financial or other), earnings, business or
            properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, whether or not
            arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except


                                       12
<PAGE>

            as set forth in or contemplated in the Final Memorandum (exclusive
            of any amendment or supplement thereof or thereto); and

                  (iii) with respect to the financial information as of or for
            the periods ended December 31, 2002 included or incorporated by
            reference in the Final Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement
            thereto as of the Closing Date, to the effect reasonably requested
            by the Initial Purchasers.

            (f) At the Execution Time and at the Closing Date,
      PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers
      a letter or letters, dated, respectively, as of the Execution Time and as
      of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
      Purchasers, confirming that they are independent certified public
      accountants with respect to the Company and stating in effect that:

                  (i) in their opinion the financial statements audited by them
            and incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum comply as to
            form in all material respects with the applicable sections of
            Regulation S-X;

                  (ii) with respect to the quarters and year-to-date periods
            ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2002 and 2001, they
            performed the procedures specified by the American Institute of
            Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim financial
            information as described in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial
            Information, on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets
            and the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income and of
            cash flows included in the Form 10-Qs incorporated by reference in
            the Final Memorandum and inquired of certain officials of the
            Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters
            whether those unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
            comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
            sections of Regulation S-X and that as a result of the foregoing
            procedures, nothing came to their attention that caused them to
            believe that:

                        (A) any material modifications should be made to the
                  unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
                  described in 6(f)(ii) above for them to be in conformity with
                  generally accepted accounting principles; or

                        (B) the unaudited condensed consolidated financial
                  statements described in 6(f)(ii) above do not comply as to
                  form in all material respects with the applicable sections of
                  Regulation S-X;

                  (iii) with respect to the period from October 1, 2002 to
            November 30, 2002, they read the unaudited consolidated financial
            data of the Company as of and for the two-month periods ended
            November 30 of both 2002 and 2001 furnished them by the Company and
            inquired of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility
            for financial and accounting matters whether those unaudited
            financial data are stated on a basis substantially consistent with
            that of the audited financial statements incorporated by reference
            in the Final


                                       13
<PAGE>

            Memorandum, and that as a result of the foregoing procedures,
            nothing came to their attention caused them to believe that:

                        (A) at November 30, 2002, there was any change in
                  ordinary shares, increase in long-term debt, including capital
                  lease obligation, or any decrease in consolidated net current
                  assets (working capital) or shareholders' equity of the
                  Company and subsidiaries consolidated as compared with amounts
                  shown on the September 30, 2002 unaudited condensed
                  consolidated balance sheet incorporated by reference in the
                  Final Memorandum; or

                        (B) for the period from October 1, 2002 to November 30,
                  2002, there were any decreases, as compared to the
                  corresponding period in the preceding year, in total
                  consolidated revenues, operating income or net income, except
                  in all instances for increases or decreases that the Final
                  Memorandum discloses have occurred or may occur and except as
                  may be set forth in such letter.

                  (iv) With respect to the period subsequent to November 30,
            2002, they have inquired of certain officials of the Company who
            have responsibility for financial and accounting matters whether (i)
            at February 3, 2003, there was any change in ordinary shares or
            increase in long-term debt, including capital lease obligation, of
            the Company as compared with amounts shown on the September 30, 2002
            unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet incorporated by
            reference in the Final Memorandum or (ii) for the period from
            October 1, 2002 to February 3, 2003, there were any decreases, as
            compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in
            total consolidated revenues. On the basis of these inquiries and
            their reading of minutes of the meetings of the directors and audit
            committee of the Company, nothing came to their attention that
            caused them to believe that there was any such change, increase or
            decrease, except in all instances that the Final Memorandum
            discloses have occurred or may occur and except as may be set forth
            in such letter.

                  (v) They have performed certain other specified procedures as
            a result of which they determined that certain information of an
            accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to
            accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the
            general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries) set
            forth in the Final Memorandum, the information included or
            incorporated in Items 1, 2, 6, 7, and 11 of the Company's Annual
            Report on Form 10-K, incorporated in the Final Memorandum, and the
            information included in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included or
            incorporated in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q,
            incorporated in the Final Memorandum, agrees with the accounting
            records of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions
            of legal interpretation.


                                       14
<PAGE>

                  References to the Final Memorandum in this Subsection (f)
            include any amendment or supplement thereof or thereto at the date
            of the letter.

            (g) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of
      which information is given in the Final Memorandum, there shall not have
      been (i) any increase or decrease specified in the letter or letters
      referred to in Subsection (f) hereof or (ii) any change, or any
      development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business
      or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries the effect of which, in
      any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the judgment of
      the Initial Purchasers, so material and adverse as to make it impractical
      or inadvisable to market the Securities as contemplated by the Final
      Memorandum.

            (h) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any
      decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt securities by any
      "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for
      purposes of Rule 436(g) promulgated under the Securities Act) or any
      notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or
      of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the
      direction of the possible change.

            (i) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to
      the Initial Purchasers such further information, certificates and
      documents as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request.

            If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have
been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement,
or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this
Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form
and substance to the Initial Purchasers and Counsel for the Initial Purchasers,
this Agreement and all obligations of the Initial Purchasers hereunder may be
canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Initial
Purchasers. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing
or by telephone, facsimile or telegraph confirmed in writing.

            The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be
delivered at the office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., 1301 McKinney, Suite
5100, Houston, Texas 77010-3095, on the Closing Date.

            7. Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers' Expenses. If the sale of the
Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the
obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 6 hereof is not
satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because
of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by the Initial Purchasers in the payment for the Securities on the
Closing Date, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers upon demand for
all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed
purchase and sale of the Securities.


                                       15
<PAGE>

            8. Indemnification and Contribution.

            (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial
Purchasers, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Initial
Purchasers and each person who controls the Initial Purchasers within the
meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may become subject under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
the Final Memorandum, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Rule
144A information provided by the Company to any holder or prospective purchaser
of Securities pursuant to Subsection 5(g) or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
agrees to reimburse such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in any of
such documents, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers specifically
for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability that the Company may otherwise have.

            (b) The Initial Purchasers agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its directors, its officers and each person who controls the Company
within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Initial Purchasers,
but only with reference to written information relating to the Initial
Purchasers furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers
specifically for inclusion in the Final Memorandum or in any amendment or
supplement thereto. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability that the Initial Purchasers may otherwise have.

            (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i)
will not relieve it from liability under Subsection 8(a) or 8(b) hereof unless
and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure
results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and
defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from
any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification
obligation provided in Subsection 8(a) or 8(b) hereof. The indemnifying party
shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party's choice at the
indemnifying party's expense to represent the indemnified party in any action
for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall
not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel
retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below);
provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to appoint
counsel to represent the


                                       16
<PAGE>

indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to
employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party
shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if
(i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the
indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii)
the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include
both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it
and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent
the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution
of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified
party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, it
being understood that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for more than
one separate firm (in addition to one local counsel in each jurisdiction) for
all indemnified parties in each jurisdiction in which any claim or action
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances is brought. An
indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. An indemnifying party
will not, without its prior consent, be liable for any settlement or compromise
or consent to the entry of any judgment.

            (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in Subsection 8(a) or
8(b) hereof is unavailable to or insufficient for any reason to hold harmless an
indemnified party (other than as set forth therein), the Company and the Initial
Purchasers agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending same) (collectively "Losses") to which the
Company and the Initial Purchasers may be subject in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and by the
Initial Purchasers from the offering of the Securities; provided, however, that
in no case shall the Initial Purchasers be responsible for any amount in excess
of the discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by the
Initial Purchasers hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Initial
Purchasers shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and of
the Initial Purchasers in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net
proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses), and
benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the
total discounts and commissions. Relative fault shall be determined by reference
to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information
provided by the Company or the Initial Purchasers. The Company and the Initial
Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were
determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does
not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Subsection 8(d), no person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Subsection 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled


                                       17
<PAGE>

to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls the
Initial Purchasers within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of the Initial
Purchasers shall have the same rights to contribution as the Initial Purchasers,
and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each officer and director of the Company
shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case
to the applicable terms and conditions of this Subsection 8(d).

            9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in
the absolute discretion of the Initial Purchasers, by notice given to the
Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if prior to such
time (i) trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have been suspended by the
Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on
the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended, limited or minimum prices
shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities in New York, London or the Cayman Islands declared
by the relevant authorities, or a material disruption in commercial banking or
securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or the United
Kingdom or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of
hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or
other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to
make it, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, impracticable or inadvisable
to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by
the Final Memorandum.

            10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Initial Purchasers set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or the Company
or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section
8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The
provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or
cancellation of this Agreement.

            11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and
effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Initial Purchasers, will be
mailed, delivered, telegraphed or sent by facsimile and confirmed to them, at 85
Broad Street, New York, New York, 10004, Attention: Registration Department; or,
if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered, telegraphed or sent by
facsimile and confirmed to it at 15375 Memorial, Houston, Texas 77079, attention
of General Counsel.

            12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers
and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and,
except as expressly set forth in Subsection 5(g) hereof, no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder.

            13. Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company irrevocably (i) agrees
that any legal suit, action or proceeding against the Company brought by the
Initial Purchasers or any person who controls the Initial Purchasers arising out
of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be
instituted in any New York court, (ii) waives, to the fullest extent it may
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any such proceeding and (iii) submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of such


                                       18
<PAGE>

courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company has appointed The
Corporation Trust, New York, New York, as its authorized agent (the "Authorized
Agent") upon whom process may be served in any such action arising out of or
based on this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby which may be
instituted in any New York court by the Initial Purchasers or by any person who
controls the Initial Purchasers, expressly consents to the jurisdiction of any
such court in respect of any such action, and waives any other requirements of
or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Such appointment
shall be irrevocable. The Company represents and warrants that the Authorized
Agent has agreed to act as such agent for service of process and agrees to take
any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and
instruments that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and
effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written
notice of such service to the Company shall be deemed, in every respect,
effective service of process upon the Company.

            14. Foreign Currency Indemnity. In respect of any judgment or order
given or made for any amount due hereunder that is expressed and paid in a
currency (the "Judgment Currency") other than United States dollars, the Company
will indemnify the Initial Purchasers against any loss incurred by the Initial
Purchasers as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at
which the United States dollar amount is converted into the Judgment Currency
for the purpose of such judgment or order and (ii) the rate of exchange at which
the Initial Purchasers are able to purchase United States dollars with the
amount of judgment currency actually received by the Initial Purchasers. The
foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of
the Company and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such
judgment or order as aforesaid. The term "rate of exchange" shall include any
premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or
conversion into United States dollars.

            15. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

            16. Business Day. For purposes of this Agreement, "business day"
means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on
which banking institutions in The City of New York, New York are authorized or
obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

            17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts will together constitute one and the same instrument.


                                       19
<PAGE>

            If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon
this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement between the
Company and the Initial Purchasers.

                              Very truly yours,

                              GLOBALSANTAFE CORPORATION

                              By: /s/ James L. McCulloch
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                    Name: James L. McCulloch
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title: Senior Vice President and
                                           General Counsel
                                           -----------------------------------

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.

/s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
---------------------------
(GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.)


                                       20