Solstad Offshore Bags Oz Ironbark Contract

Norway’s Solstad Offshore on August 3 announced that BP has chartered its three offshore support vessels for the Ironbark drilling campaign offshore Western Australia.

Anchor handlers Normand Saracen and Far Senator as well as a platform supply vessel Normand Leader will support BP’s Ironbark campaign in the Carnarvon Basin. The vessels will be working with the semi-submersible drilling rig Ocean Apex throughout the one well campaign, estimated at approximately 90 days duration, Solstad said.

The start of the contract will take place during Q4 2020, and the vessels will operate from Dampier. “This represents BP’s first drilling campaign in Australia for several years and Solstad are pleased to be the vessel partner of choice to support BP’s activities,” the company said.

Last month, the environment plan for the Ironbark-1 exploration well in permit WA-359-P was approved by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority. The WA-359-P JV interests are: BP (operator) 42.5%; Cue Energy 21.5%; Beach Energy 21%; and New Zealand Oil & Gas 15%.