Wellesley hires Transocean rig for North Sea job

Norway-based Wellesley Petroleum has made an agreement with Transocean for a three-firm slot contract with the Transocean Arctic semi-submersible rig. 

The contract is scheduled to start on June 1, 2018. The Transocean Arctic will be employed on an exploration drilling campaign in the Måløy Slope area of the Northern North Sea (blocks 35/11 & 12) offshore Norway, Wellesley said on Friday.

The rig will drill two exploration wells in the Wellesley-operated PL925 license. Wellesley has a 90% interest in the license and Concedo ASA as its partner holds the remaining 10% interest. Plans are also being made to drill a further exploration well to test an extension of the currently stranded Grosbeak Discovery.

Chris Elliott, CEO of the Wellesley Group of companies, commented: “We are pleased to have secured a warm drilling rig to execute our campaign, which will be conducted in an area we believe to be highly prospective. Well planning is progressing and we are working with our JV partners and the relevant authorities to deliver a robust campaign plan.”