Transocean-Enabler Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On Friday, Greenpeace activists staged a significant protest near the Songa Enabler oil rig, which is contracted by Statoil, in the pristine Arctic waters of Norway. This demonstration comes as Norway intensifies its search for oil and gas reserves in its northern territories to compensate for diminishing production levels in the south. The oil and gas sector remains pivotal to Norway’s economy, contributing approximately 20 percent of its GDP. From aboard the Greenpeace ship, Arctic Sunrise, a group of 11 activists embarked on inflatable boats, positioning themselves in the Arctic Barents Sea, around 275 kilometers (170 miles) from Norway’s coastline. Their banners prominently displayed messages such as "The People Vs. Arctic Oil," highlighting their stance against Statoil's explorations. Protest leader Sune Scheller expressed his concerns, stating, "We are doing this because the Norwegian government fails to understand what they are supposed to do according to the Paris agreement. The vast majority of the oil and gas has to remain in the ground if we are going to protect our homes from the consequences of climate change." His remarks were made before the protest launched. The protest united 29 activists from 19 nations, including representatives from the Philippines, South Africa, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Spain, Finland, and Sweden. Among these voices was Joanna Sustento, a 25-year-old writer from the Philippines, who shared her personal connection to climate change. Sustento, who lost family members during the catastrophic Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, warned, "What happened to my community in Tacloban is an example of things to come for other people if we continue to focus on short-term gain." Recent developments revealed that the Songa Enabler rig discovered a small gas deposit, which Statoil described as disappointing. Despite mounting concerns over environmental risks, Oslo has continued to offer a record number of blocks for oil licensing, signaling its intent to push forward with exploration efforts in sensitive Arctic regions.

Statoil, the prominent oil and gas company, has secured the green light from the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to embark on exploration drilling in block 7325 / 4 of the Barents Sea. The drilling target, well 7325 / 4-1, known as Gemini Nord, lies within the Hoop area at a significant depth of approximately 447 meters. Situated around 275 kilometers from Nordkapp and 200 kilometers from Bjørnøya (Bear Island), this exploratory endeavor marks a critical step for the firm. Scheduled to commence this month, the drilling operation will be carried out using the Songa Offshore rig, which is anticipated to operate for roughly 19 days. The semi-submersible mobile drilling unit, classified as CAT D, was constructed at the Daewoo yard in South Korea last year and is currently managed by SONGA ENABLER. Earlier in July, the PSA granted an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) to Songa Enabler, which is now registered in Norway and holds DNV GL classification. In addition to this upcoming operation, the PSA recently conducted an audit of Statoil’s management processes related to improvement under Phase 2 of the Johan Sverdrup development, located in the North Sea. This audit primarily focused on Statoil's ability to identify health, safety, and environmental (HSE) risks associated with the project and the various strategic decisions made throughout its development. The Johan Sverdrup field is being developed in multiple phases, with the first phase currently in progress. This includes the establishment of a field center equipped with processing facilities, drilling rigs, risers, and accommodation units. Meanwhile, the front-end engineering design for the project's second phase is in its initial stages, with plans for the field to become operational by the end of 2019.

Statoil has made the decision to temporarily halt operations of the Songa Enabler mobile rig, which was initially slated for drilling activities related to the Johan Castberg licence. According to the company's announcement, this suspension is set to commence after the completion of the production drilling campaign at the Snøhvit field, anticipated to wrap up by the end of November. The mobile rig will remain inactive for approximately four months while preparations are made for an upcoming exploration campaign in the Barents Sea. Statoil has outlined plans to drill between 5 to 7 exploration wells in this region during 2017. Additionally, efforts are underway to identify and develop other potential tasks that could utilize the rig in the future.