Noble and BP have struck a deal worth $50 million (£40.5m) for drilling and, plugging and abandonment services in the UK sector of the North Sea.
The deal for the provision of the ultra-harsh environment jack-up rig Noble Innovator is expected to commence in May next year.
With a year-long duration, the contract contains a one-year option with a potential contract value of approximately $58 million.
The Noble Innovator is currently under contract in the UK North Sea and following the completion of its current agreement, the rig is scheduled to undergo a special periodic survey before commencing the contract with BP.
It was built in 2003 by Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan in South Korea and has a drilling depth of 30,000 ft.
Senior vice president of marketing and contracts at Noble, Blake Denton, said: “We are grateful for BP entrusting us with this campaign and the opportunity it presents to continue building our relationship.”
This week it was reported that the Noble Intrepid, the vessel formerly known as Maersk Intrepid, had arrived at the port of Kishorn.
The vessel, renamed following the merger between Noble and Maersk Drilling, is moored up in Kishorn for a maintenance scope.
While there it will be given a face-lift, and repainted Noble’s ‘Surf Grey’ colour scheme.
The Intrepid will be the first of the legacy Maersk Drilling rigs to be fully repainted in the Noble brand’s colours.
A Noble spokesman said: “In total, we expect work on the rig to be ongoing for a couple of months.”
Maersk was bought over by Noble Drilling earlier this year and soon after the firm listed as one entity, Noble, on the Nasdaq Copenhagen and New York Stock Exchange, with a contract backlog of more than $4bn.
The merger was announced last November, with shareholders of Maersk and Noble each owning 50% of the combined entity.
Noble said in its completion announcement that annual cost synergies of at least $125m are expected to be realised within two years.
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