Noble Corporation has officially confirmed a 3-year, $473 million contract with Aker BP for the harsh-environment semi-submersible rig Noble GreatWhite (formerly the Ocean GreatWhite). This agreement marks Noble’s strategic entry into the Norwegian floater market.
Expected to start in the second quarter of 2027.
Total Value: Approximately $473 million, which includes the mobilisation fee but excludes integrated services and potential performance bonuses.
Noble plans to invest roughly $160 million in capital expenditure for reactivation, upgrades, and contract preparation to meet Norway’s stringent standards.
Fleet Impact: This award is part of a broader $1.3 billion backlog addition across nine rigs, increasing Noble’s marketed floater utilisation to 92%.
The Noble GreatWhite is a 6th-generation ultra-harsh environment rig, originally built at Hyundai Heavy Industries. Its deployment represents a major milestone for Noble on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), a region known for high technical and regulatory barriers to entry.
Note by Alessandro Bazzoni