Rowan Norway Ltd. has been awarded a contract for drilling two wells at the Gudrun Field by use of the Rowan Stavanger jackup rig, the company said on Oct. 22. The rig has furthermore been awarded five options for drilling of single wells.

Equinor (NYSE: EQNR) has signed a framework agreement with Rowan Norway Ltd., based on terms that will also apply to future rig contracts with the company.

The contract with Rowan Stavanger is based on the framework format and gives Equinor exclusive right to use the rig up to 2025 if the rig is kept in continuous operation.

The value of the fixed part of the contract is estimated at $23 million. In addition to drilling services, the rig owner is responsible for casing running, slop treatment and cuttings handling.

“We are pleased to establish an agreement with a rig supplier that is new to us as operator on the Norwegian continental shelf. Rowan is a large worldwide supplier of jackup rigs. We want to have a long-term cooperation with Rowan and have therefore signed a framework agreement with them,” Geir Tungesvik, senior vice president for Equinor’s drilling and well cluster, said.