Go-ahead for DNO’s North Sea drilling ops with Odfjell Drilling-managed rig

September 24, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Norway’s oil and gas player DNO has secured the thumbs-up from the country’s authorities for drilling activities in the North Sea with a semi-submersible rig managed by Odfjell Drilling, an offshore drilling contractor.

Deepsea Yantai; Source: Odfjell Drilling

The Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) has granted DNO Norge consent for exploration drilling in block 25/7 for the Norma Appraisal prospect in the North Sea.

This consent covers the 25/7-15 S appraisal well and 25/7-15 A side-track in production license 984, which is valid from March 1, 2019, until the same date in 2029.

DNO Norge (30%) is the operator of this production license, with the remaining licensees being Vår Energi (20%), Equinor (20%), Source Energy (20%), and Aker BP (10%).

The water depth at the site is 121 meters, and the drilling activities will be conducted with the Deepsea Yantai semi-submersible rig.

The rig is working on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) on drilling assignments with DNO, Wellesley Petroleum, and Well Expertise.

The 2019-built Deepsea Yantai GM4D harsh-environment semi-submersible rig is owned by China’s CIMC and managed by Odfjell Drilling.