Energy technology company SLB has been selected by Vår Energi as the main supplier of integrated drilling services for the Transocean Barents and Deepsea Bergen rigs operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
The agreement covers an initial term of four years, with the option to extend the arrangement annually for up to four additional years, potentially lasting until 2034.
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Under the contract, two harsh-environment semi-submersible rigs will be used to drill exploration and development wells across the period.
The arrangement is designed to integrate technical capabilities, digital workflows, and operational processes throughout well planning and delivery.
SLB Europe and Africa president ND Maduemezia said: “We value the trust Vår Energi has placed in us.
“Our focus now is on differentiated execution, combining technology, technical expertise, operating discipline and digital capabilities to deliver consistently high performance at scale.”
Transocean Barents is a semi-submersible drilling rig that was built to the Aker H-6e design and entered service in 2009.
Constructed at the Aker Kvaerner Stord shipyard, it is flagged under the Marshall Islands and can accommodate up to 140 people.
The rig is designed for operations in water depths of up to 3,048m and is capable of drilling to a depth of 9,144m.
It measures 90m in length and 70m in width, with an operating displacement of 64,500mt.
The unit holds DNV classification as a column-stabilised drilling platform.
The Deepsea Bergen is a semi-submersible drilling rig delivered in 2019 and flagged in Norway.
Built to the Moss CS60E design, it is suited for harsh, Arctic conditions, featuring winterisation and environmental enhancements such as NOx-reducing SCR power units.
The rig supports operations in water depths of up to 3,000m and is designed for efficient drilling with a high-capacity system and 7,500mt loading capability across all conditions.
It offers accommodation for 180 people, a full mooring spread, and has performed winter operations in the Barents Sea.
The unit was constructed by HHI in South Korea and is classed by DNV.
SLB will work in co-ordination with Vår Energi and other appointed service and technology partners to streamline planning and execution and simplify operational interfaces. It will also leverage data to enable faster decision-making and deliver consistent well outcomes.
This award broadens SLB’s scope in Vår Energi’s offshore activities by introducing integrated drilling services to a long-standing collaboration.
The collaboration already includes digital well and field development planning and subsea production systems delivered via SLB’s OneSubsea joint venture.
Vår Energi chief operating officer Torger Rød said: “Creating greater value on the Norwegian Continental Shelf requires us to challenge traditional ways of working.
“By connecting planning and execution and bringing together expertise, technology and data, we can work across traditional boundaries to deliver wells faster, more predictably and with greater value.”
Last month, SLB signed a 15-year agreement with TotalEnergies to provide its DrillPlan coherent well planning and engineering solutions.
