Solstad vessels to support two offshore drilling campaigns in Norway

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has been awarded contracts for two platform supply vessels (PSVs) in Norway. 

Normand Naley under its previous name Rem Commander; Image: Kees Torn; Source: Wikimedia – CC BY-SA 2.0 license
Normand Naley under its previous name Rem Commander; Author: Kees Torn; Source: Wikimedia – under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license

Solstad said on Wednesday that Wintershall Dea had awarded a 10-well firm plus options contract to support its West Mira rig drilling campaign. The contract duration is estimated to be 30 months.

The beginning of the contract will take place in August/September 2019, and will be covered by two large PSVs built in 2011, the Normand Falnes and Normand Naley.

The Northern Drilling-owned West Mira semi-submersible rig will perform production drilling on Wintershall Dea’s fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, including Vega, Nova and Maria fields, as well as exploration drilling.

The Normand Falnes is currently being reactivated from layup. The vessel has also been secured by Vår Energi for a one-well contract to support the company’s Scarabeo 8 drilling operation in the Norwegian Sea. The duration of the contract is approximately 80 days, starting in early June 2019.

As a result, the vessel is fully committed up to the beginning of the Wintershall Dea contract.

It is worth mentioning that Vår Energi recently received consent from the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority to use the Saipem-owned Scarabeo 8 drilling rig for drilling and completion of a production well on the Marulk field, which is located in the Norwegian Sea.

“The latest contract awards contribute positively to the Solstad fleet backlog at rates that reflect improving market conditions for vessel owners,” Solstad concluded.

Offshore Energy Today Staff


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