The Odfjell Drilling-owned drilling rig Deepsea Stavanger has recently been mobilized from Norway to South Africa for a drilling gig with French Total.
The Deepsea Stavanger semi-sub rig has also been previously used by Total in South Africa to drill the Brulpadda well, which resulted in a discovery.
The Brulpadda discovery opened a new world-class oil and gas play with substantial follow-on potential.
The rig was initially expected to head to South Africa for another assignment with Total in the first quarter of 2020.
However, due to Total’s well delay and additional delays due to restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic , the mobilization had been postponed.
Following these delays, the rig mobilized from Bergen, Norway on 2 July 2020 to drill the Luiperd-1 well, which is expected to spud by September.
The well is located in the Total-operated Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa.
The drilling program is expected to last between 180-280 days.
The value of the contract for Odfjell was estimated at being between $145-$190 million, plus incentives.