JX Nippon E&P is gearing up to drill an exploration well on the Loanan prospect west of Shetland.
The Japanese exploration firm has awarded Norway's Odfjell Drilling a contract to use the semisubmersible Deepsea Stavanger for the well, on the UK Continental Shelf. The contract is for 60-75 days and is expected to start in Q2.
For Odfjell, the contract secures utilization of Deepsea Stavanger before start up of a drilling contract with Wintershall contract in 2017.
"We have a fleet of high performing rigs with a strong track record that gives us confidence in our market position even if the competition is tougher than ever. We look forward to demonstrating our capabilities for JX Nippon and its partners in the UK.” says Simen Lieungh, CEO of Odfjell Drilling.
Deepsea Stavanger finished a contract with BP in Angola in November 2015 and has since completed a 5‐year special periodic survey.
The rig is now underway to Norway before mobilizing to the UK for the JX Nippon contract.
Deepsea Stavanger has a contract with Wintershall on the Maria field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf starting early 2017.