Odfjell Drilling confirms another drilling job for semi-sub rig

Offshore drilling contractor Odfjell Drilling has confirmed a new contract for a rig it manages on behalf of CIMC Offshore. This assignment will enable the rig to drill another prospect in the North Sea off Norway for DNO Norge.

Odfjell Drilling reported on Thursday, 1 June 2023, that it had agreed on a contract with DNO Norge for the Deepsea Yantai semi-submersible drilling rig, on behalf of CIMC Offshore. The deal includes the drilling of one firm well, in PL 1182 in the North Sea, and the firm scope of work is estimated to take 35 days. The rig is slated to start this assignment in early 3Q 2024.

This confirmation comes only days after DNO’s partner, Longboat Energy, announced that the Deepsea Yantai rig was assigned for the drilling of the Lotus (Kjøttkake) exploration well. The prospect lies in the prolific Northern North Sea, 4 km southeast of the recent significant Kveikje discovery.

The 2019-built Deepsea Yantai rig, which is capable of harsh environment operation, is of a GM4D design. This rig – formerly known as the Beacon Atlantic – is owned by China’s CIMC and managed by Odfjell Drilling. The rig is expected to work for DNO Norge in 2Q/3Q 2023 and drill one firm well in the North Sea.

This semi-sub has several jobs lined up for 2023 and the most recent one was disclosed with ConocoPhillips Skandinavia, which will see the rig drill one firm well with the option to drill two further wells in PL 891 in the Norwegian Sea.