New task for Noble to tackle nonconformities on jack-up rig

Norwegian offshore safety regulator has carried out an audit of the management of materials handling and the working environment on one of Noble’s jack-up rigs, currently working for Aker BP off Norway, and is awaiting a response from the offshore drilling contractor regarding the way the identified nonconformities will be handled.

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) recently revealed that it had conducted the audit from 17 to 23 February 2023 with the objective of verifying that Noble’s management of materials handling and the working environment on its Noble Integrator jack-up rig complied with the regulatory requirements.

While conducting its investigation, the offshore safety watchdog identified several breaches of the regulations. The ten nonconformities that the regulator found concern procedures for lifting operations; operationally responsible entity for the drill floor during day time; MOB boat forerunners; transfer of information when changing shifts and crews; joint, local working environment committee (FS-AMU); the safety service; training related to health risks; management of the psychosocial working environment; overview of working environment risks and presentation of analyses; and non-conformity handling.

In addition, the regulator observed five factors it categorised as improvement points regarding daily checks of offshore cranes, secondary evacuation route from offshore cranes, pre-use checks of lifting equipment, competence management, and materials handling of steel plates.

In line with the findings of the PSA’s audit, the offshore safety watchdog has asked Noble to report how these nonconformities will be addressed and provide its assessment of the improvement points observed.

The 2014-built Noble Integrator is a Gusto MSC CJ70 X150 MD jack-up rig, which was constructed at Keppel FELS shipyard in Singapore. It can accommodate 150 people. Capable of working in a water depth of 492 ft, the rig’s maximum drilling depth is 40,000 ft.

Previously, Aker BP contracted the rig under the frame agreement with Maersk Drilling in 2017 when the Aker BP Jack-up Alliance, including Halliburton, was established. In December 2021, a deal to renew the frame agreement was disclosed.

The Noble Integrator rig secured more work with Aker BP after the Norwegian player entered into drilling and wells alliance agreements in January 2023 with Noble Corporation, Odfjell Drilling and Halliburton to carry out drilling activities on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).

Noble seems to be reaping the benefits of its merger with Maersk Drilling, as its total backlog recently rose to $4.6 billion, thanks to the new deals totalling $1.1 billion, secured during the first quarter of 2023.