Equinor Secures Regulatory Approval for North Sea P&A Campaign Using COSL Semi-Submersible

## Equinor Cleared for North Sea Plugging and Abandonment Campaign Norway's state-owned energy company Equinor has obtained approval from Norwegian authorities to commence plugging and abandonment (P&A) operations in the North Sea, according to Offshore Energy. The work will be carried out using a semi-submersible drilling rig owned by COSL Drilling Europe, a subsidiary of China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL). The 2012-built semi-submersible has been cleared for action following the regulatory sign-off, marking another step in the ongoing decommissioning activity that continues to gather pace across the mature North Sea basin. ### Growing Importance of P&A Activity Plugging and abandonment operations represent a significant and growing segment of the North Sea offshore services market. As fields across the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) reach the end of their productive lives, operators face substantial obligations to safely decommission wells and infrastructure in accordance with Norwegian and international regulations. P&A work is technically demanding and capital-intensive, requiring specialist rigs and crews capable of isolating subsurface formations and removing or securing wellbore infrastructure to prevent future leaks or environmental hazards. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) maintains strict oversight of such activities, making regulatory clearance a critical prerequisite before any campaign can begin. ### COSL's Role in the North Sea COSL Drilling Europe has maintained a notable presence in the North Sea drilling market, offering semi-submersible rigs suited to the region's challenging environmental conditions. The deployment of the company's 2012-built unit on Equinor's P&A programme underscores the continued demand for capable mid-generation rigs in the decommissioning sector, even as newer assets compete for exploration and production drilling contracts. For Equinor, managing its decommissioning liability across a large and ageing portfolio of NCS assets remains a strategic priority, with P&A campaigns forming a core part of the company's long-term field lifecycle management. *Source: Offshore Energy*