Polish firm to use Deepsea Nordkapp rig for its first offshore well in Norway

Polish oil company PGNiG will drill its first operated exploration well on the Norwegian Continental Shelf using the Odfjell Deepsea Nordkapp semi-submersible drilling rig.

PGNiG on Tuesday said that it had signed an agreement with Aker BP for the lease of the Odfjell Deepsea Norkapp for the drilling on the Shrek prospect within the PGNiG operated PL838 license in the Norwegian Sea.

The Polish oil firm operates the block PL838 with a 40 percent share, with partners being Aker BP and DEA Norge, with a 30 percent of stake each.

PGNiG plans to start drilling the Shrek well between September 1 and November 30, 2019, following the completion of the drilling of the production wells at Aker BP-operated Skogul and Ærfugl fields. PGNiG Upstream Norway owns 35 percent of share in Skogul and 11.92 percent of share in Ærfugl.

The Odfjell Deepsea Nordkapp rig, delivered to Odfjell Drilling in January, is a VI generation semi-submersible unit capable of work in extreme offshore conditions. Aker BP has hired the rig on a two-year firm contract, and it has two one-year options to extend.

According to PGNiG, the rig will reach the Norwegian port of Bergen in April, where it will undergo the last tests before being allowed to work offshore. Drilling on the Skogul and Ærfugl fields will begin in May this year.

PGNiG owns interests in 24 exploration and production licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and plans to increase gas production from fields in Norway to 2.5 bcm a year after 2022.

Offshore Energy Today Staff