Archer firms up North Sea job with TAQA

Oil services provider Archer has secured a formal contract award for the provision of a modular drilling unit and associated services from TAQA.

Last December Archer signed a letter of intent with an unnamed operator for the provision of drilling services using the modular drilling rig Archer Topaz.

The LOI was for a firm contract period of two years and three months, with options for an additional seven months of work following the initial contract period.

In an update on Friday, Archer said that the rig had been contracted by TAQA to perform a twenty-one well plug and abandonment campaign for the oil company’s Northern North Sea Cormorant Alpha platform.

The integrated P&A service delivery will include services provided by Archer’s Engineering, Rentals, Oiltools and Wireline divisions.

It will also require Archer to manage and deliver cementing, swarf and re-injection services from third-party providers.

The Archer Topaz is estimated to mobilise to Cormorant Alpha in the second half of 2021 following the removal of the existing Cormorant Alpha integral derrick equipment set, and reactivation activities on the platform by Archer’s Engineering division.

“We are delighted with the award of this contract which secures the rig work until late 2023”, said Dag Skindlo, Chief Executive Officer of Archer.