Equinor gets nod to use ‘Songa Endurance’ on Troll field

Norway’s Equinor has been given extended consent by the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to use the Songa Endurance drilling rig on the Troll field in the North Sea.

Equinor already has consent to use Songa Endurance for drilling, completion, well overhaul, well intervention and plug-back on the Troll field, but has now received extended consent to also cover use of the controlled mud level method, previously known as dual gradient grilling (DGD), the safety agency said on Tuesday.

This extension to the consent applies to one well and the expected start of the drilling activities is June 2018.

Songa Endurance is a semi-submersible drilling rig of the Cat D type. It was delivered by the Daewoo yard in South Korea in 2016, is registered in Norway and classified by DNV-GL.

Songa Endurance was issued with an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) by the PSA in January 2016.