Equinor takes Deepsea Bollsta rig for offshore Norway drilling operations

Northern Ocean will provide its Deepsea Bollsta semisubmersible rig to Equinor for a two-year firm campaign offshore Norway, starting in late 2025.

The $335 million contract includes five one-year extension options.

Odfjell Drilling will operate the rig, which has been drilling offshore Namibia. Odfjell also operates the Deepsea Aberdeen, Deepsea Atlantic and Deepsea Stavanger for Equinor in Norway.

“This will add flexible capacity to our drilling portfolio. On average we have 25 active drilling operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf," said Erik Kirkemo, Equinor's senior vice president for Drilling and Well. “Rig capacity is important for us, we plan to deliver 50-70 increased recovery wells and 20-30 exploration wells annually going forward."

Deepsea Bollsta is a sixth-generation harsh environment, winterized rig.