Equinor has obtained regulatory approval from the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) to carry out drilling operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf using the semi-submersible rig Transocean Encourage owned by Transocean.
The consent covers production drilling activities at the Åsgard field in the central Norwegian Sea, including plugging work and drilling operations related to wells 6506/12-K-2 AH and 6506/12-H-4 AH.
Equinor awarded the rig a nine-well contract in 2023 with options for six additional wells. More recently, Transocean Encourage secured a seven-well contract extension under a new agreement linked to operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Built in 2016, Transocean Encourage is a sixth-generation harsh-environment semi-submersible rig designed for operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The fully winterized unit can accommodate up to 130 people and is equipped with automated drilling control systems.
The Åsgard field lies in water depths of 240 m to 300 m in the Norwegian Sea. The field was discovered in 1981, while the plan for development and operation received approval in 1996.
The development includes subsea wells tied back to the FPSO Åsgard A, alongside the semi-submersible processing facility Åsgard B for gas and condensate handling. The project also includes the condensate storage vessel Åsgard C.
Production from Åsgard A started in 1999, followed by Åsgard B and Åsgard C in 2000.
