Vår Energi and Equinor have made a small gas and condensate discovery in production license 1002 in the Norwegian Sea.

The COSL Prospector semisubmersible rig drilled well 6407/5-3 S in 218 m of water on the Lakris prospect in the Gimsan Basin on the Halten Terrace, 170 km northwest of Kristiansund. 

Early analysis, according to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, indicates 1.3 to 5.5 MMboe recoverable.

The well found gas and condensate in the upper Tilje Formation in heterolithic reservoir rocks, with hydrocarbon shows in the lower Tilje Formation and elevated gas readings in the Nise Formation.

Odfjell secures new Norwegian drilling work

Equinor has taken up options with Odfjell Drilling for two additional wells for the semisub Deepsea Atlantic, in direct continuation of the rig’s present contract. This will keep the rig contracted through late 2027; Equinor retains priced options for two further wells.

Odfjell Drilling also has a Letter of Award (LoA) from Vår Energi for use of the Deepsea Bergen semisub over a three-year period, starting in early 2028, upon completion of the rig’s current contract. The estimated value is $518 million, excluding annual escalation, integrated services, performance bonuses and fuel incentives.

"The terms included in this LoA allow both Vår Energi and Odfjell Drilling to invest in a long-term partnership arrangement, which will enable Deepsea Bergen to deliver the safest and most efficient drilling possible…," Odfjell Drilling CEO Kjetil Gjersdal said. “We are also very pleased to have secured a long-term contract award for the Deepsea Bergen less than 12 months after our acquisition of the unit.”

Perenco advances North Sea decommissioning strategy

Perenco UK and Petrodec have completed decommissioning of the Leman South (53/02a-15Y) and Durango (48/21a-4z) subsea wells and infrastructure in the UK Southern North Sea (SNS).

Petrode is the decommissioning division of the Dixstone group. The company deployed its jackup vessel HAEVA for the program previously used for Perenco’s Gawain, Arthur and Davy subsea abandonment projects in the same region.

“The Leman South and Durango campaigns were not routine P&A projects," Perenco UK SNS managing director Jo White said. “They demonstrated Perenco's ability to deliver repeatable, large-scale, technically complex subsea well abandonment and infrastructure recovery using an innovative single campaign approach centered on Petrodec's HAEVA, rather than relying exclusively on high-cost drilling rigs and standalone offshore projects.”