Extending drilling contracts on the Norwegian continental shelf

February 17, 2022

The Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea. (Photo: Arne Reidar Mortensen / Equinor ASA)

On behalf of the partnerships Equinor is exercising options worth NOK 8 billion with Archer, KCA Deutag and Odfjell Drilling. The contracts include drilling, completion, intervention services, plugging, maintenance and modifications on 19 of Equinor’s permanent installations, maintaining strong ripple effects.

The four-year agreements were signed in 2018. Exercised for two years from the end of 2022, the options cover the same scope of work as previously regulated by contract. The contracts provide jobs for around 2000 people each year.

Mette Ottøy (left) and Erik G. Kirkemo - portraits — Mette Halvorsen Ottøy (left), chief procurement officer, and Erik Gustav Kirkemo, senior vice president for drilling and well operations. (Photos: Kjetil Eide / Equinor ASA)

“We have had a long-term and good cooperation with the suppliers, with safe and efficient operations as our top priority. These contract extensions will help ensure predictability for the parties and safe and efficient well deliveries. Together with our suppliers we want to develop these services further to ensure long-term value creation from our installations,” says Erik Gustav Kirkemo, senior vice president for drilling and well operations.

“The contracts and services have been developed in close cooperation with our suppliers over several years and will help ensure common competitiveness and sustainable activity level. We appreciate suppliers who, in addition to being competitive, help develop our industry further,” says Mette Halvorsen Ottøy, chief procurement officer.

The drilling contracts cover the following installations:

FIELD	AWARDED TO
Grane	Archer
Gullfaks A, B & C	Archer
Heidrun	Odfjell
Johan Sverdrup	Odfjell
Kvitebjørn	KCAD
Njord	Archer
Oseberg B, C, South & East	KCAD
Sleipner A	Archer
Snorre A & B	Archer
Statfjord A, B & C	Archer
Visund	Archer