Maersk Drilling has won a nine-month contract worth around $33.4 million from Aker BP for the use of its Maersk Reacher jack-up rig at the Valhall oil field, offshore Norway.

The ultra-harsh environment jack-up rig will be used for well intervention, stimulation, and also accommodation at the oil field in the North Sea.

The contract has been signed under the terms of the frame agreement that Maersk Drilling and Aker BP forged in 2017.

Tommy Sigmundstad – Aker BP SVP Drilling & Wells said: “This is a strong example of how our supplier ecosystem enables cross-alliances collaboration. We will play to the strengths of the Intervention & Stimulation Alliance and the Jack-up Alliance to jointly bring well interventions’ efficiency to the next level.”

The contract, which is likely to begin in July 2021, has options for add up to 90 days for carrying out additional intervention work at the Valhall oil field.

Morten Kelstrup – COO of Maersk Drilling said: “We’re delighted to get this contract which will see Maersk Reacher return to Valhall where it was last in service as an accommodation rig.

“This new contract to assist with well intervention, stimulation and accommodation will not utilise the full drilling capabilities of the rig, but we’re confident that we can build on our experience with the Aker BP Jack-up Alliance and work to deliver increased efficiency also in this context.”

Maersk Drilling said that the Maersk Reacher rig will be reactivated with its drilling equipment reduced. The rig will be specifically focused on providing the most efficient well intervention and stimulation set-up, which would include a reduced crew level when compared to standard drilling mode, said the company.

Currently, the 350ft, Gusto-engineered MSC CJ50 jack-up rig is warm-stacked in Frederikshavn, Denmark having wrapped up its previous contract in Norwegian waters in April 2020.

  Aker BP, Maersk Drilling, Maersk Reacher rig, Morten Kelstrup, Oil and gas industry news, Oil and gas news, Tommy Sigmundstad, Valhall field