Odfjell Drilling Ltd. announced that Equinor has exercised an option for a batch of eight wells to extend the use of the Deepsea Aberdeen on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The exercised options are planned to start in fourth quarter 2025 in direct continuation of the current firm period and extend the firm backlog on the Deepsea Aberdeen to third quarter 2026. The options have a value of approximately USD 121 million, excluding integrated services, annual cost escalations, performance and fuel incentives.

The contract maintains further optional periods which, if exercised, could keep the Deepsea Aberdeen contracted to 2029. Such optional periods consist of three optional periods of eight wells each, or approximately three times one-year. The rates for all such optional periods are to be mutually agreed prior to exercising.