Norwegian oil and gas giant Equinor has awarded a contract worth around $51 million to Noble Drilling Norway for the use of its Noble Lloyd Noble drilling rig for a three-well campaign at the Valemon field in the Norwegian North Sea.

The contract for which work will begin from 2021 summer includes an option for drilling an extra well at the gas and condensate field, and 11 wells that are not included in the same licence.

Noble Drilling Norway also entered into a master frame agreement with Equinor.

The rig contractor will also be covered by Equinor for additional cost on integrated services like managed pressure drilling, treatment of cuttings and wastewater and also running casing and tubing, further rig modifications, mobilization and demobilization.

Erik G. Kirkemo – Equinor senior vice president of drilling and well operations said: “We are very pleased with the job this rig has done for us at the Mariner field off the coast of Scotland, in particular the safety culture.

“With strong on-board leadership they have embedded best practice for safety and have not had any incidents so far in 2020. Through good planning and collaboration, they have achieved strong operational results close to what we define as a perfect well. We look forward to continuing the collaboration on the Norwegian continental shelf as well.”

Considered to be the tallest jack-up rig in the world, Noble Lloyd Noble can stay put on the seabed in up to 150 metres of water under difficult weather conditions.

According to Equinor, the drilling campaign at the Valemon field is expected to take nearly 230 days.

Peggy Krantz-Underland – Equinor chief procurement officer said: “Equinor is exploring new ways of working with suppliers to increase efficiency and create value together. Long-term collaboration with suppliers who deliver on our expectations is an important element in that respect.

“This way we reward safe and efficient deliveries and keep building on experience and improvement results achieved in past projects.”

Equinor said that the contract is subject to the Noble Lloyd Noble rig securing an Acknowledgement of Compliance from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway.

The Norwegian oil and gas giant holds an operating stake of 66.78% in the Valemon field and is partnered by Petoro (30%) and Royal Dutch Shell (3.22%). The gas and condensate field has been producing since early 2015.

  Equinor, Erik G. Kirkemo, Noble Drilling Norway, Noble Lloyd Noble drilling rig, North Sea, Norway, Peggy Krantz-Underland, Valemon field