Rhino Resources partners with Northern Ocean for deepwater drilling on PEL85 in Namibia’s Orange Basin

Norwegian drilling contractor Northern Ocean Ltd. (NOL) has signed a contract with Africa-focused private explorer Rhino Resources (Rhino) to deploy its semi-submersible rig Deepsea Mira for deepwater operations offshore Namibia.

The Deepsea Mira, managed by Norwegian operator Odfjell Drilling, will start the drilling of the Volans- 1X exploration well in mid-July 2025, according to NOL press statement on July 8. The contract includes one firm well for Rhino, one firm well for another operator and three optional wells, with an estimated duration of 112 days and a projected value of about $40mn.

Rhino, through its subsidiary Rhino Resources Namibia, holds a 42.5% interest and operatorship in Petroleum Exploration Licence 85 (PEL85), which covers Block 2914A in Namibia’s highly prospective Orange Basin. Other partners in PEL 85 include Azule Energy, a 50:50 joint venture of BP and Eni with 42.5%, Namibia’s state oil company NAMCOR with 10%, and Namibian private investor Korres with a 5% stake.

Rhino Resources CEO Travis Smithard said the Volans-1X exploration well would be the third successive well to be drilled on PEL85 by Rhino and its partners. As previously reported by NewsBase, US-headquartered global oilfield services company Halliburton helped Rhino Resources in May this year, using the Noble Venturer drillship to deliver two exploration wells in Block 2914 (PEL 85), which led to an oil discovery.

“We look forward to collaborating with our service company partners, Northern Ocean, Exceed [well-management specialist], and Halliburton, to ensure the safe and successful execution of this exciting exploration well,” Smithard noted. “The strategic contracting of the Deepsea Mira, an in-country rig of opportunity with high local content, further demonstrates our commitment to Namibian upliftment and our continued investment in the development of Namibia’s upstream capabilities.”

Halliburton’s vice president for Sub-Saharan Africa, Antoine Berel, noted the shared commitment to Namibia’s in-country value development and capacity building. “We are excited to collaborate with Rhino and NOL and Odfjell Drilling to support the upcoming campaign,” he said.

NOL CEO Arne Jacobsen commented: “This agreement will ensure Deepsea Mira continues its operations in Namibia, following its successful campaign with Total. It also serves as a testament to the substantial local content NOL has built over time – an effort strongly supported by the Namibian government. Most notably, NOL together with its operator Odfjell Drilling Ltd., remain the only drilling contractor with ongoing operations and a continuous presence in Namibia over the past two years.”

The Deepsea Mira is a sixth-generation semi-submersible drilling rig of the CS 60 E design, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries for use in harsh offshore environments and capable of operating in water depths of up to 3,000 metres. It started work for TotalEnergies in December 2022 under a multi-country drilling agreement and was deployed offshore Namibia to evaluate the Venus light oil discovery.