OMV Hires Valaris Jack-Up Rig for New Zealand Drilling

Bartolomej Tomic
Monday, May 3, 2021

OMV New Zealand has confirmed for Offshore Engineer that the company has hired Valaris' Gorila VII jack-up rig for work offshore New Zealand.

Following a report last Friday by Bassoe Offshore that the two companies had struck an offshore drilling rig deal, Offshore Engineer reached out to OMV, seeking confirmation and more info.

"OMV New Zealand can confirm that a contract has been awarded to Valaris for the Gorilla VII jack-up rig to drill and complete a number of sidetrack wells from existing wells at the Māui B platform," OMV said in an email to Offshore Engineer.

"The contract represents a significant investment by OMV NZ to redevelop the mature Māui field and ensure continued supply for the NZ industrial and domestic market," the company added.

"Natural gas is a vital part of the energy mix and a key bridge in the transition to renewable energy sources. Investments like this enable us to extract the gas that industrial and residential users need to power their businesses and homes," OMV New Zealand said.

"The final investment decision is expected later this year. If positive, it is expected the rig would arrive in New Zealand in late 2021/early 2022 and would be at the Māui B platform for approximately one year. The first production is expected in 2022," OMV said.

According to OMV New Zealand, over 200 jobs will be created for the project the majority of which will be for local people making an important contribution to the local economy. In addition, OMV said, a number of onshore local suppliers will be required to provide specialist services to the rig generating further economic benefits.

"This project is one part of a NZ $500 million plan to redevelop the Māui and Pohokura fields. The Māui A Infill drilling program is already well underway drilling sidetrack wells at the Māui A platform. First gas from this project was produced in December 2020," OMV added.

According to Bassoe Offshore, the contract for the Valaris rig is for around 400 days with OMV having further options to extend.

The contract award was confirmed by Valaris itself later on Monday. Valaris, which on Monday said it had completed debt restructuring and emergence from chapter 11, said that the 2002 built jack-up rig - currently in the UK being reactivated - would go on a 400-day contract with OMV, starting December 2021.


Categories: Energy Drilling Activity Rigs Australia/NZ

Related Stories

Keppel, Seatrium in $53M Arbitration Case Over Brazil Corruption Scheme

Subsea7 Secures Work at Black Sea Field off Türkiye

CIP, Petrovietnam Team Up for Offshore Wind Project in Vietnam

Norwegian Oil Investment Will Peak in '25

Seatrium Engages Axess Group to Clear FPSOs for Brazil Deployment

Four Jack-Up Drilling Rig Deals Set to Bring In $129M for Borr Drilling

Chuditch Gas Field Drilling Ops Get Delayed to Next Year

BP Expands Oil and Gas Scope in Azerbaijan with New Projects and Exploration Rights

Turkey Discovers New Black Sea Gas Reserve

Chuditch Gas Field Up for Summer Drilling Ops as Sunda Reshapes Ownership Structure

Current News

Technip Energies Gets FEED Job for Inpex’ Abadi LNG Project in Indonesia

Keppel, Seatrium in $53M Arbitration Case Over Brazil Corruption Scheme

Subsea7 Secures Work at Black Sea Field off Türkiye

CIP, Petrovietnam Team Up for Offshore Wind Project in Vietnam

Seatrium Signs FLNG Vessel Upgrade Deal for Golar LNG

EnQuest Enters Indonesia with Operatorship PSCs for Two Exploration Blocks

PXGEO Nets First Seismic Survey off Malaysia

SPE Offshore Europe 2025 set to drive transformational change for the energy sector

Shipbuilder Delivers Fast Crew Boat Pair to Aesen

Norwegian Oil Investment Will Peak in '25

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com