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Equinor brings on another rig

(UTC)Last modified
Photo: Odfjell Drilling

Equinor has awarded a two-year firm contract to Northern Ocean Wind AS to employ the mobile rig Deepsea Bollsta on the Norwegian continental shelf. 

The contract value for the firm period is calculated at around USD 335 million, with planned start-up in the later part of 2025. The contract also includes five one-year options.

Contract signing group image
From left: Kjetil Gjersdal, chief executive officer of Odfjell Drilling, Arne Jacobsen, chief executive officer of Northern Ocean Ltd, Erik Kirkemo, senior vice president of Equinor Drilling and Well and Dana K. Risvik, vice president of Drilling and Well procurement, marked the new rig contract in Stavanger.
Photo: Kjetil Eide (Equinor)

“We have an ambition to maintain our production from the Norwegian continental shelf at a high level towards 2035, supplying the energy that Europe demands. Our ability to continuously drill new wells is at the heart of this. There is still a large remaining resource potential in our producing fields. We also see attractive exploration opportunities in Norway,” says Kjetil Hove, executive vice president for Exploration and Production Norway (EPN).

Northern Ocean Wind AS is a company owned by Northern Ocean Ltd. Deepsea Bollsta will be operated by Odfjell Drilling. They currently operate three rigs for Equinor, Deepsea Aberdeen, Deepsea Atlantic and Deepsea Stavanger. Currently, the rig is in Africa and has been drilling in Namibia but has previous track-record for operations in Norway.

“We are pleased to continue our cooperation with the Odfjell Drilling, who has demonstrated a strong safety and performance culture. This will add flexible capacity to our drilling portfolio. On average we have 25 active drilling operations on the Norwegian continental shelf. Rig capacity is important for us, we plan to deliver 50-70 increased recovery wells and 20-30 exploration wells annually going forward,” says Erik Kirkemo, senior vice president for Drilling and Well.

Deepsea Bollsta is a sixth-generation harsh environment, winterized, mobile rig.

The contract value does not include integrated rig services or mobilisation/demobilisation fees.

Equinor’s drilling capacity on the NCS:

  • Equinor has drilling facilities (derricks / drilling towers) on 18 of the Equinor operated platforms on the Norwegian continental shelf: Johan Sverdrup, Snorre A and B, Statfjord A, B and C, Oseberg A, B and C, Heidrun, Njord, Gullfaks A, B and C, Kvitebjørn, Sleipner A, Grane, and Visund.
  • Equinor currently has seven floating rigs on contract for work on the Norwegian continental shelf: COSLPromoter, Deepsea Atlantic, Deepsea Aberdeen, Deepsea Stavanger, Transocean Enabler, Transocean Encourage, Transocean Spitsbergen.
  • Equinor currently has three jack-up rigs on contract for work on the Norwegian continental shelf: Askeladden (Gullfaks owned), Askepott (Gullfaks owned), Barsk (Shelf Drilling owned).

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