Northern Ocean has signed a contract with a Shell subsidiary for the Deepsea Mira drilling rig, with operations expected to begin in April 2027.
The firm programme will cover Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean for an estimated 150 days. Northern Ocean said the contract is worth about US$70 million, including mobilisation and demobilisation costs. Shell also has an option for an additional one-year programme, which could increase the total contract value to about US$226 million.
Northern Ocean Chief Executive Arne Jacobsen said the award extends the company’s relationship with Shell beyond Namibia and will support Shell’s development plans in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. Odfjell Drilling is the operating partner for the rig.
The Deepsea Mira previously worked for Shell offshore Namibia in 2026. The contract began in April and was completed on July 2. Northern Ocean said the campaign generated about US$31 million in second-quarter revenue, compared with an initial firm backlog of about US$16 million for a programme originally estimated at 45 days. Shell did not exercise its option for a second well.
Shell later described the Namibia well as its most promising exploration well drilled in the country to date.