Second Parker rig goes to work on Slope

The second of two new rigs Parker Drilling Co. built to work for BP on Alaska’s North Slope is finally swinging into action.

BP accepted Parker rig 272 on Feb. 21, and it has been mobilized to F-pad in Prudhoe’s western operating area, said Dawn Patience, spokeswoman for field operator BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.

Parker rig 273 commenced Prudhoe drilling operations for BP in December.

The two rigs are operating under a five-year contract with BP. They will focus on light oil development, and bring BP’s Alaska rig count to seven, Patience said.

Parker touted 272 and 273 as a new and highly advanced class of drilling rig.

But for reasons that still remain largely unexplained, it took an extended period of time for the rigs to get to work following their arrival on the North Slope in August 2011.

At one point, Parker disclosed that BP had held it in contractual default for failure to supply “operationally ready” rigs by Dec. 31, 2011. Parker disagreed that a default had occurred.

Whatever the problems were, BP has now accepted both rigs and they’re working.

Parker is a Houston-based global drilling company.

—Wesley Loy