Northern Ocean's Deepsea Mira to begin operations offshore Namibia

The Deepsea Mira by Northern Ocean will be deployed starting this month for Rhino Resources' operations offshore Namibia

Besides one firm well for Rhino, the rig will also be working for one firm well for another operator and three optional wells. The estimated firm duration adds up to 112 days at a projected value of approximately US$40mn.

High demand for the rig will generate nearly US$395-412mn in backlog for Northern Ocean. 

Through its collaboration with Rhino and Halliburton, which have a long-standing presence in Namibia, the company aims to leverage its impact in advancing local content in the region. 

“This agreement will ensure Deepsea Mira continues its operations in Namibia, following its successful campaign with Total. It also serves as a testament to the substantial local content NOL has built over time – an effort strongly supported by the Namibian government. Most notably, NOL together with its operator Odfjell Drilling Ltd., remain the only drilling contractor with ongoing operations and a continuous presence in Namibia over the past two years,” said Arne Jacobsen, chief executive officer of NOL.

Rhino's chief executive officer, Travis Smithard, calls the Deepsea Mira a rig of opportunity with high local content, and it remains a strategic contract for the company to advance its upstream ambitions in Namibia. “We are pleased to partner with Northern Ocean and utilise the Deepsea Mira rig for the drilling of the Volans-1X exploration well – the third successive well to be drilled on PEL85 by Rhino and its partners NAMCOR, Korres Investments, and Azule Energy. We look forward to collaborating with our service company partners, Northern Ocean, Exceed, and Halliburton, to ensure the safe and successful execution of this exciting exploration well,” he said. 

Antoine Berel, vice president in Halliburton for sub-Saharan Africa, said, “We are excited to collaborate with Rhino and NOL and Odfjell Drilling to support the upcoming campaign, as we share the same value and commitment toward Namibia’s in-country value development and capacity building.”