UK-based energy company Shell has entered into a new drilling contract offshore Namibia, taking the semi-submersible rig Deepsea Mira on charter. The harsh-environment unit is owned by Northern Ocean (NOL) and operated by Odfjell Drilling. Northern Ocean reported that the latest award for Deepsea Mira has been signed with a subsidiary of Shell.
The rig is scheduled to commence drilling operations off Namibia in April 2026. The agreement covers one firm well and provides an option for one additional well.
The firm well is expected to last about 45 days and is estimated to contribute around $16 million to the firm backlog. With this award, NOL’s total firm backlog rises to approximately $387 million.
Managed by Odfjell Drilling, Deepsea Mira is a sixth-generation CS 60 E harsh-environment semi-submersible in an enhanced and extended configuration. Hyundai Heavy delivered the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU), which is capable of working in water depths of up to 3,000 m.
The rig has already worked in Namibian waters on previous campaigns for TotalEnergies and Rhino Resources. Rhino Resources has recently extended its programme with the unit.
