Aker BP gains nod to appraise North Sea well using Odfjell rig

Norwegian oil company Aker BP has received consent from the offshore safety body, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), for drilling in the North Sea using the Deepsea Nordkapp rig.

The well, named 25/2-22 S, is located in production license 442 in the North Sea, where Aker BP is the operator. The only partner in the license is Lotos Exploration and Production Norge with a 9.74 percent interest.

The PSA said last Friday that the well would be drilled to appraise discovery 25/2-21 (Liatårnet), which was proven in July 2019. The consent also applies to a sidetrack well designated 25/2-22 A.

Announcing its consent for the well, the offshore safety body said that the drilling was planned to start in mid-January 2020 and would last 36 days in a water depth of 112 meters.

As for the rig, the Deepsea Nordkapp is a semi-submersible drilling rig of the Moss Maritime CS 60E type, owned and operated by Odfjell Drilling. The rig was issued with Acknowledgement of Compliance by the PSA in April 2019.

It is worth reminding that Aker BP exercised its first one-year option for the Deepsea Nordkapp in mid-December 2019. The two companies originally entered the drilling contract in April 2018.

The first one-year option will begin after the expiry of the two-year firm period in May 2021. The approximate contract value for the firm scope is $128 million, excluding any integrated services.

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