Statoil Secures AGR's RMR for GOM Rigs

AGR and Statoil have joined forces to push the limits of Riserless Mud Recovery technology even further.

The international energy company has signed an agreement for AGR's RMR for two deep-water rigs it has under contract in the Gulf of Mexico. AGR Drilling Services' Houston team will handle RMR operations.

Statoil has already successfully used the RMR in the GoM. That particular operation, conducted from the Discoverer Americas drillship, was on the Krakatoa well in the Mississippi Canyon block at a depth of more than 620m (2,000ft).

This latest deal with Statoil will see AGR's existing technology further enhanced to cope with the ever increasing water depths faced by Statoil in the GoM.

RMR® has made an indelible impact on the offshore industry since it was introduced. More than 140 wells have been drilled with the system. It allows the top-hole section of a well to be drilled more safely and more quickly yet with less impact on the environment.

Terry Scanlon, Senior Vice President AGR Drilling Services Americas, said, "We are continuing to further develop our RMR® technology and systems capability to be able to support Statoil in deeper water depths in the Gulf of Mexico.

"Signing this agreement with Statoil in Houston, coupled with our new strategic agreement with Statoil in Norway, gives us even stronger confidence that we are investing in our technology with a partner for the future, as we prepare to further support Statoil's deep-water GoM programmes."