Green light for OMV to use Island Innovator rig in Norwegian Sea

Austrian oil and gas company OMV has received consent from the offshore safety body, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), for exploration drilling in the Norwegian Sea using the Island Innovator drilling rig.

The consent was given for two wells, designated 6506/11-12 S and 6506/11-12 A, located in production license 644 in the Norwegian Sea where OMV is the operator.

The prospect, located in block 6506/11, is named Hades and stands in a water depth of 433 metres.

OMV holds a 30 per cent stake while its partners in the license are Equinor, DNO, and Spirit Energy which hold 40, 20, and 10 per cent stakes respectively.

The safety body said on Monday that the work on the 6506/11-12 S well would last up to 99 days and 23 days for 6506/11-12 A.

As for the rig, the Island Innovator is a semi-submersible drilling rig of a Global Maritime GM4000 type, delivered by the COSCO Shipyard in China in 2012. It is owned by Island Drilling Company, operated by Odfjell Drilling and classified by DNV GL.

Island Innovator was issued with an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) by the PSA in August 2013.

It is worth reminding that OMV hired the Island Innovator in December 2019 for one well in License 644, close to the Aasgaard field.

The deal includes up to three option wells for OMV in other Norwegian Sea areas.

OMV said at the time that the drilling was scheduled to start in the second or third quarter of 2020 and Island Drilling Management will be responsible for the operation of Island Innovator rig.