Statoil and Aker Solutions are canceling their contract for development of a new type of well-intervention and drilling rig, called Category B, designed to boost oil and gas recovery in fields on the Norwegian continental shelf (OGJ Online, Apr. 17, 2012).
Statoil said “further technology qualification still remains” in development of the rig’s subsea systems.
“Unfortunately, we have to declare that it is impossible to achieve this important, major industrial project within the scope of the current contract,” said Jon Arnt Jacobsen, Statoil’s chief procurement officer.
The rig was to have been able to perform different types of well intervention with cable and coiled-tubing operations and to conduct through-tubing rotary drilling.
Statoil said it will consider alternative approaches to the concept.