Norway’s ocean safety regulator, the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil), has granted Aker BP consent to use the Noble Integrator jack-up rig for production drilling on Valhall Flanke Vest on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The approval supports ongoing drilling activity at Valhall Flanke Vest, where Aker BP serves as operator with Pandion as partner.
Built in 2014, the Noble Integrator can accommodate up to 150 people and is capable of operating in water depths of up to 150.0 m. The jack-up’s maximum drilling depth is 12,192 m.
The rig was originally contracted under a framework agreement signed with Maersk Drilling in 2017, when the Aker BP Jack-up Alliance—covering Halliburton—was established. In December 2021, the operator disclosed an agreement to renew the framework arrangement.
Further work followed after Aker BP entered drilling and wells alliance agreements in January 2023 with Noble Corporation, Odfjell Drilling, and Halliburton to undertake drilling activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Valhall has been producing since 1982, and Aker BP has taken multiple steps intended to extend operations beyond 2028. The field is described as entering a new phase that is expected to enable around 40 additional years of production.
Across that period, the operator targets production of one billion barrels, matching the volume produced since Valhall first came onstream.
To support the extended field life, the Valhall PWP-Fenris development moved into the construction stage in September 2023. Total investments in the development are estimated at $6.6 billion.
