Aker BP adds two new wells to Maersk rig backlog

Danish offshore drilling contractor Maersk Drilling has secured an additional two-well contract for the low-emission rig Maersk Integrator with Aker BP.

The plan is that in direct continuation of the rig’s previously announced work scope with a different operator, Maersk Integrator will return to Aker BP’s Ivar Aasen field for a two-well campaign expected to start in 3Q 2021, Maersk said on Friday.

The contract has an estimated duration of 73 days and a contract value of approximately $19.5 million, excluding integrated services provided and potential performance bonuses.

Maersk Integrator is contracted under the terms of the frame agreement that Maersk Drilling and Aker BP entered into in 2017 as part of the Aker BP Jack-up Alliance, which also includes Halliburton.

The ultra-harsh environment jack-up rig is currently completing a series of upgrades to turn it into a hybrid, low-emission rig.

The upgrades are supported by a grant from the Norwegian NOx Fund and a separate compensation scheme agreed with Aker BP rewarding reductions in fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

As for the Maersk Integrator’s working schedule this year, in February 2021, the rig is scheduled to work on the Tambar field for Aker BP.

After that, the rig will move to the Ula field offshore Norway in April to drill the Ula F – Producer 1 well under a contract awarded by Aker BP back in August 2020.

Later in 2021, the jack-up is supposed to start a contract with OMV and drill one exploration well in the North Sea. The job is scheduled for mid-2021 and it has an estimated duration of 52 days.

Morten Kelstrup, COO of Maersk Drilling, said: “It’s great to add another two wells which shores up Maersk Integrator’s drilling programmes for all of 2021.

“We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Aker BP and Halliburton in order to add to the efficiency gains realised by our alliance. This in itself lowers the CO2 emissions associated with drilling, and the low-emission upgrades will contribute further to delivering on our target of reducing the CO2 intensity from rig operations”.

Maersk Integrator is an ultra-harsh environment CJ70 XLE jack-up rig, designed for year-round operations in the North Sea. It was delivered in 2015 and is currently operating offshore Norway.