Norway: RWE Dea Hires Leiv Eiriksson Rig

RWE Dea Norge AS has secured rig capacity for drilling three wells in in the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea during the years 2013 to 2015. The wells will be drilled with the Leiv Eiriksson rig, owned by Ocean Rig UDW Inc.

RWE Dea is participating in a rig consortium which is coordinated by Rig Management Norway AS. The consortium has signed a new contract for the fifth-generation semi-submersible drilling rig Leiv Eiriksson with Ocean Rig UDW Inc. The contract is for a firm period of three years with options for extensions. The rig will commence its operations in Norwegian waters late 2012.

“We are very pleased to have contracted an excellent rig with a good track record” says Hans-Joachim Polk, Managing Director of RWE Dea Norge. He explains: “We will use it to drill exploration wells on acreage with very promising hydrocarbon potential, and appraise our recent discoveries. The contract constitutes an important step in our plan to strengthen RWE Dea’s position as an operator in Norway”.

Leiv Eiriksson was completed in 2001 as a fifth-generation semi-submersible drilling unit built to the Bingo 9000 design. The hull was constructed at Dalian New Shipyard in China, with outfitting in the US by Friede Goldman Offshore.

This rig is currently equipped for drilling operations in water depths down to 7 500 feet, but can be upgraded to 10 000 feet – the same depth capability as its sister rig Eirik Raude. Leiv Eiriksson has operated successfully in water depths exceeding 7 000 feet offshore the oil-rich Angola.

[mappress]
Offshore Energy Today Staff, February 7, 2012; Image: ABB