The Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) has granted Equinor consent to deploy the Deepsea Bollsta semi-submersible unit on decommissioning work on the Troll field in the North Sea. This action marks a further step in the plug and abandonment of two wells in the Troll field in the North Sea. (plug and abandonment) of two specific wells, 3/31-Q-21 and 2/31-X-23.
Deepsea Bollsta ready for new operations in the Troll field
The rig in question, operated by Odfjell Drilling and owned by Northern Ocean, is a sixth-generation Moss CS60E type unit, designed for extreme conditions and capable of operating down to 3,000 meters. Capable of accommodating up to 140 people, the Deepsea Bollsta had already secured work on the Norwegian continental shelf since last year.
The Troll fieldfield, discovered in 1979, is located in water depths between 300 and 330 meters. Its development has been carried out in phases: Phase I aimed at the extraction of gas. gas extraction from Troll Øst, Phase II focused on crude oil from Troll Vest and Phase III, active since 2021, which extends gas production from the west of the field.
Security, experience and institutional support
The planned closure of the wells represents a critical step in the responsible management of resources and environmental safety in the region. In addition to consolidating Equinor’s expertise in offshore operationsoperations, it reinforces Equinor’s commitment to safe and controlled energy exploitation.
Since its initial approval in 1986, Troll has been one of the most relevant fields in the North Sea. It has been operated with various infrastructures such as Troll AB and C, ranging from fixed installations to semi-submersible floating units.
The Havtil-sanctioned breakthrough also reflects institutional confidence in Odfjell Drilling’s technological capabilities and Equinor’s planning for operations in complex environments.
Source: Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority
Photo: Odfjell Drilling
