Maersk Interceptor rig gets nod for Ivar Aasen drilling

Norwegian oil firm Det norske oljeselskap has obtained approval to use the Maersk Interceptor jack-up for drilling at the Ivar Aasen field in the North Sea.

The field is an oil and gas field in the North Sea, around 175 kilometers west-south-west of Karmøy in Rogaland county. Water depth in the area is approximately 110 meters. Det norske is the field’s operator.

The field has been developed using a Production/Drilling/Quarters (PDQ) platform with a steel jacket. Drilling of the wells for the PDQ is being done from a jack-up facility with a cantilever drilling rig.

Wells have previously been drilled using another rig. It is provisionally planned for Maersk Interceptor to drill a further three wells.

Drilling is scheduled to start in late November and estimated to last until 1 July 2017.

Maersk Interceptor was delivered by the Keppel Shipyard of Singapore in 2014. The rig is owned by Maersk AS and operated by Maersk Drilling Norge AS. Maersk Interceptor was issued with an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) by the PSA in December 2014.