Statoil ASA has terminated its contract with COSL Offshore Management AS for the COSL Innovator mobile drilling rig, which has been operating in Troll field west of Bergen in the North Sea.
Statoil also has decided to halt drilling with sister rig COSL Promoter once it is safe to discontinue operations.
The firm says the decision may have short-term consequences for planned drilling, but will not impact long-term production from Troll field. Plans for gas and fluid production from the oil zone “remain firm,” Statoil adds.
In December, Statoil reported a “breaking wave” collided with the COSL Innovator, causing one fatality and two injuries (OGJ Online, Dec. 31, 2015).
Last month, Statoil canceled its contract for the Maersk Gallant jack up rig, which is now under a new contract with Total E&P Norge AS spanning from Feb. 14 to Aug. 21 (OGJ Online, Feb. 17, 2016).
Over the past year, the firm also has terminated contracts with Transocean Ltd. for the Discoverer Americas ultradeepwater drillship (OGJ Online, Dec. 17, 2015); Songa Offshore for the Songa Trym semisubmersible drilling rig (OGJ Online, Nov. 2, 2015); and COSL Drilling Europe AS for the COSL Pioneer drilling rig (OGJ Online, June 24, 2015).
