Offshore drilling contractor Dolphin Drilling has reportedly announced a round of layoffs that will affect over 150 employees.
According to Offshore.no, a Norwegian-language website covering the country’s offshore oil and gas industry, the reduction will affect just under 140 offshore and 25 onshore employees.
The news website further said this is related to Borgland Dolphin drilling rig that is currently under the 19 well drilling contract with Rig Management Norway, a consortium of four oil companies. Consortium members include Wintershall, DEA, Tullow Oil and Suncor Energy.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, the rig was inshore for a period of time due to lack of drilling program and it continued operations in the first quarter of 2016. The rig’s contract is set to expire in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Offshore Energy Today reached out to Dolphin Drilling’s parent company, Fred. Olsen Energy, seeking confirmation and further details about the downsizing round. The company was not immediately available for comment.
In related news, Norwegian oil company Statoil recently suspended a contract it had for one of Dolphin’s drilling rigs, the 1975-built Bideford Dolphin drilling rig.
Dolphin informed the rig would be suspended upon completion of current well, estimated for the end of June 2016, and that the work was expected to resume in the beginning of October 2016.
Offshore Energy Today Staff