Aker BP Takes Odfjell Rig
Thursday 10 August 2017
Odfjell Drilling has landed a contract with Aker BP for its semi-submersible rig Deepsea Stavanger at a relatively strong dayrate despite a drilling market slump.
The 2010-built sixth-generation unit has been contracted by the Anglo-Norwegian operator for work in the Norwegian and Barents seas under an approximate nine-month charter valued at up to $68 million, the Oslo-listed rig contractor said in a statement.
This would yield a dayrate of around $252,000, based on a 270-day contract duration, which compares favourably with rates that have sunk below $200,000 for comparable, if older, floaters in the Norwegian market.
However, it is still below the dayrate of around $305,000 currently being earned by the unit under its existing contract with Wintershall, which is using the rig for production drilling at its under-development Maria field in the Norwegian Sea.
The new contract with Aker BP is due to start in February 2018 on completion of the Wintershall charter and run until October before the rig starts work on a one-well job for Total off South Africa.
Odfjell chief executive Simen Lieungh said the latest deal was particularly exciting due to Aker BP’s focus on digitalisation of its drilling operations given the contractor is keen to work with operators developing future technology.