Deepsea Bollsta will return

Northern Ocean has announced a contract award for the Deepsea Bollsta drilling rig with a subsidiary of a major operator for oil exploration work in Namibia. The contract duration is for one well estimated at 63 days, and will likely commence in the fourth quarter of 2024, the international drilling contractor said.

After successfully transiting from Norway to Namibia, the Deepsea Bollsta has been operating within the Orange Basin in Namibia for 18 months, and continues to demonstrate the efficiencies of utilising a sixth-generation semisubmersible in this region, according to Northern Ocean.

The company established itself in West Africa with Odfjell Drilling managing its two high-specification rigs, and remains committed to securing further backlog with premier clients globally.

“Before the commencement of the new contract, the Deepsea Bollsta will undertake a five-year class survey, and there will also likely be a short idle period prior to commencement,” the company announced. Early in the year, Shell turned down the option to extend the Deepsea Bollsta drilling contract, opting to pay out the standby rate until 10 June.

Chevron was looking for a rig for the fourth quarter on 2024 or early next year, while Galp, Shell and TotalEnergies will all need multiple rigs to further promising exploration and much-anticipated appraisal work, which will eventually lead to development drilling.

In March, the Deepsea Bollsta was busy drilling the Enigma-1X well in Block 2913A of PEL39 for Shell, which the oil major said confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons and needs further evaluation.