OMV exploration drilling marks Odfjell rig’s return to Norwegian waters

OMV Norge, a subsidiary of the Austria-based oil and gas company OMV, has begun drilling an exploration well in the Norwegian Sea using a semi-submersible rig managed by Odfjell Drilling. The drilling of the Hoffmann exploration well in the Norwegian Sea has started, located near the Hansteen field in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea at a water depth of 883 meters. The Deepsea Bollsta rig managed by Odfjell Drilling was chosen for the job, with the drilling operation potentially lasting up to 105 days if a discovery is made. Jone Hess, General Manager of OMV Norway, stated that this exploration well follows last year’s Haydn gas discovery and is part of their strategy to increase the use of gas as a transition fuel in their production portfolio. OMV Norge holds a 40% working interest in the license PL 1194, with INPEX, Idemitsu Norge, and Vår Energi holding the remaining interests. The Deepsea Bollsta rig’s return to the Norwegian Continental Shelf marks a new chapter, following its previous campaigns in Namibia and a forthcoming contract with Equinor. The rig, built in 2020, is a Moss CS60E design capable of accommodating 140 people and operating in water depths of up to 3,000 meters.