A strike by workers in the Norwegian sector has led to a number of rigs in the basin having to halt operations and staff being put on temporary dismissal.
Songa Offshore says three of its four newbuild Cat D rigs are out of operation and on force majeure rate, as of dates between 22 and 27 September. The fourth is still in operation but it expected to be impacted in 1H October. All four are working for Statoil on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Some 65 offshore employees have to date received notice of temporarily dismissal, with another 365 planned, in total 430 employees, said Songa.
Songa's staff shedding comes on top of hundreds of lay-offs already attributed to the strike. On 28 September, the Norwegian Oil & Gas Association said the number of workers laid off as a result of the strike had already exceeded the 300 who had laid down tools, at 350.
The strike started 21 September, after mediation talks between worker's organization Industry Energy and the Norwegian Oil & Gas Association were said to have broken down.
The strike is over a claimed pay gap between operator, drilling, catering and oil services staff on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Walk outs, involving about 300 of Industry Energy's members, were reported at Schlumberger Norway, Baker Hughes Norway, Halliburton Norway, Oceaneering and Oceaneering Asset Integrity. Most of the lay-offs have been at Baker Hughes, with some also at Schlumberger and Halliburton, says the Norwegian Oil & Gas Association.
The association says it has made a pay offer to Industry Energy’s members covered by Norway's oil service agreement, which gives them a rise in line with that received by the lead sector.
Industry Energy said it was primarily environmental management of drilling waste that would be impacted by the action, computer engineers who work with well monitoring and people who govern remotely operated vehicles on Songa's Cat D rigs.
Songa says the Songa Endurance has been out of operations since 22 September, Songa Equinox since 26 September, and Songa Enabler since 27 September. Songa Encourage is still in operation but is expected to be impacted by the dispute in 1H October.
As a consequence of the rigs going out of operations, Songa Offshore said it has reduced offshore manning to the Safety Crew Level, resulting in the 65 offshore staff having been temporarily dismissed, with another 365 planned. This figure excludes any potential effects from Songa Encourage operations.
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