Odfjell Drilling has suspended activity on the Deepsea Atlantic semi-submersible after a blowout preventer dropped to the seabed, with recovery work and repairs now underway.
The Scotland-headquartered contractor said the incident occurred on 18 April 2026 during the running of the blowout preventer on the 2009-built rig. The equipment fell to the seabed at an approximate depth of 1,100 m.
Odfjell Drilling confirmed that no personnel were injured and that the rig remains secure. Operations will stay suspended while the blowout preventer is recovered and any required repair work is completed.
The company also said an investigation is in progress to determine the cause of the incident.
Deepsea Atlantic is a sixth-generation deepwater and harsh-environment semi-submersible of enhanced GVA 7500 design. The unit is equipped with dual derricks and dynamic positioning, and is currently working for Equinor on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The rig is part of Odfjell Drilling’s owned and managed fleet. The contractor secured additional work for that fleet last year, including a contract for another semi-submersible through the first quarter of 2029.
