Wedoany.com Report on Mar 6th, The Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority has approved Aker BP to use the Noble Integrator jack-up rig for production drilling operations at the Valhall Flanke Vest field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in the North Sea. This rig, owned by the US-based Noble Corporation, will support oil and gas extraction activities in Norway.

The Noble Integrator rig was built in 2014, can accommodate 150 people, operates in water depths up to 492 feet, and has a maximum drilling depth of 40,000 feet. Aker BP leased this platform in 2017 through a framework agreement with Maersk Drilling and established a jack-up platform alliance including Halliburton. The framework agreement was renewed by both parties in December 2021.

In January 2023, Aker BP signed drilling and well alliance agreements with Noble Corporation, Odfjell Drilling, and Halliburton to conduct drilling activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, which brought more work opportunities for the Noble Integrator platform. As the operator of Valhall Flank Vest, Aker BP is advancing the project together with its partner Pandion.

The Valhall field has been in production since 1982 and is now entering a new phase, expected to sustain production for another 40 years. Aker BP plans to produce one billion barrels of oil during this period, continuing the field's output since its inception. To extend the field's lifespan, the Valhall PWP-Fenris development project entered the construction phase in September 2023, with a total estimated investment of $6.6 billion.