Equinor, the Norwegian state-owned energy company, has received authorization from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) to conduct exploration drilling in the North Sea off the coast of Norway using one of Odfjell Drilling's rigs, the Deepsea Aberdeen.

The consent covers production drilling, completion, and exploration drilling at the Svalin field, focusing on wells 25/11-H-2 YH and 25/11-H-1 H/AH. The Svalin field, situated in the central part of the North Sea about six kilometers southwest of the Grane field in a water depth of 120 meters, has been in production since 2014.

Equinor extended the Deepsea Aberdeen rig's backlog in May 2023, building on the contract established in November 2020 between Odfjell and Equinor, following a preliminary agreement in October 2020. The additional wells to be drilled at the Svalin field, set to commence in the fourth quarter of 2023, are anticipated to take approximately 174 days, extending the rig's firm backlog until the second quarter of 2025.

The Deepsea Aberdeen, a harsh environment semi-submersible rig constructed in 2014, is equipped with dual derricks and an enhanced GVA 7500 design. It is capable of operating at water depths of up to 3,000 meters, with a drilling depth capacity of 10,670 meters and the ability to accommodate 157 personnel. The rig's 7,500 metric ton loading capacity enables it to handle various challenging operating conditions.