OMV hires Solstad PSV for operations offshore New Zealand

Norwegian vessel supplier Solstad Offshore has entered into a contract with OMV Taranaki for the provision of a platform supply vessel (PSV) for operations offshore New Zealand. 

Solstad said on Tuesday that the PSV Normand Tortuga would support OMV’s upcoming Crestal infield drilling campaign at the Maui A Platform offshore New Zealand.

The vessel will start the contract in Taranaki by mid-March for a firm period of 250 days with 11 months of options thereafter, the vessel owner said.

Keith Soutar, Solstad Offshore Managing Director, Asia Pacific, said: “We are delighted to receive this contract award from OMV. The New Zealand marketplace has been a key strategic target of ours and, further to the recent CSV Normand Baltic contract award, this additional contract will now result in two vessels being in region commencing 1Q/2Q 2020.”

OMV New Zealand owns and operates the Maui gas field having acquired the 83.75% share from Shell and the 6.25% share from Todd Energy at the end of 2018.

The oil company last year signed a contract with Archer for the provision of drilling services using the modular drilling rig Archer Emerald, including associated services, materials, equipment and personnel.

The contract is for five wells, with two one-well extension options, on OMV’s Maui A platform. It is scheduled to start in March this year.