Operator Statoil has on behalf of Mariner partners JX Nippon Exploration and Production (U.K.) Limited and Cairn Energy PLC, awarded the contract for drilling services on the Mariner project based on Cat J design to Noble Corporation.

The new Category J rig will be able to operate at water depths from 70 to 150 metres and drill wells down to10,000 metres.

It is a tailor-made jack-up rig for operations in harsh environment on both surface- and subsea wells in the shallow-water segments.

"Statoil is continuously working to secure a rig fleet with the right capacities and capabilities to suit our needs. We are looking forward to working with Noble Corporation, who will use a new built jack-up rig based on the Cat J design.

"Noble Corporation has per today four operations in the UK, and this new jackup operation will be handled equivalent to other operations in the UK. This will give Statoil and the license group a fit-for-purpose rig which is important in order to develop the Mariner project in a safe and efficient manner", says Jon Arnt Jacobsen, chief procurement officer in Statoil.

The contract is for four years with a one or two years' option.

Tags: Noble Corporation, Statoil