More work lined up for semi-sub rig in Norway

Oil and gas company Neptune Energy has extended a contract for the use of a semi-submersible drilling rig in Norway.

Odfjell Drilling revealed earlier during the week that it had agreed on an extension with Neptune Energy for two firm wells in Norway, on behalf of CIMC, for the Deepsea Yantai semi-submersible rig.

This rig is a GM4D harsh environment design capable of operations in harsh environments and at water depths of up to 1,200 metres. It is managed by Odfjell Drilling and owned by China’s CIMC Raffles.

According to the offshore drilling contractor, the scope of the work for this rig is estimated to take 60 days and is scheduled to start in direct continuation of the previous two-well extension with Neptune Energy from October 2022.

Thanks to this extension, the backlog for the Deepsea Yantai rig is expected to now be pushed back to the start of Q2 2024. This semi-sub already has several jobs lined up for 2023.

The rig is expected to work for Austria’s OMV in 1Q 2023 and drill one firm well in the North Sea, plus one optional well in 2023 or 2024. In addition, the semi-sub is scheduled to work for DNO Norge in 2Q/3Q 2023 and drill one firm well in the North Sea.