OMV books Maersk rig for Ommadawn drilling offshore Norway

Dec. 7, 2020
OMV (Norge) has contracted the low-emission jackup rig Maersk Integrator to drill an exploration well in the Ommadawn prospect offshore Norway.

Offshore staff

LYNGBY, Denmark – OMV (Norge) has contracted the low-emission jackup rig Maersk Integrator to drill an exploration well in the Ommadawn prospect offshore Norway.

The well, on license PL 970, is due to spud in mid-2021. Operator Maersk Drilling estimates a 52-day timeframe to complete operations. However, the $14.3-million contract includes an option to add around 28 days of well testing.

Currently the rig is undergoing upgrades that involve combining use of hybrid power with low levels of NOx emissions, and adding data intelligence to further reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Performance bonus schemes included in the contract reward Maersk Drilling for lowered fuel consumption and NOx emissions during the drilling operations.

COO Morten Kelstrup described this as “a new type of collaborative contractual set-up…where we will focus on aligning incentives in the planning and execution of the drilling operation, which again is expected to significantly reduce the uncertainty about overall well construction costs for our customer.

“We believe this kind of commercial model has the potential to increase exploration drilling activity in Norway and across the North Sea…

“By reducing fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and NOx emissions we are not only making contributions towards reaching emission targets, but also create value for our customer under the incentive schemes established in Norway.”

The same rig will drill wildcat well 2/9-6 S in North Sea license 617 for MOL Norge, after it has completed operations on production well 16/1-D-7 for Aker BP on the Ivar Aasen field.

MOL’s target is around 31 km (19.3 mi) east of the Valhall field. According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, which authorized the well, this will be the first exploration drilling activity on PL 617 since it was awarded in February 2012.

12/07/2020