Noble Corporation has secured significant drilling contracts for two of its high-specification CJ70 jack-up rigs—Noble Intrepid and Noble Innovator—to support the Northern Endurance Partnership’s (NEP) carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative in the UK.
The Noble Intrepid is scheduled to commence operations in Q2 2026, drilling two dedicated CCS wells. The contract is valued at a dayrate of $150,000 for a firm duration of 168 days, with options for two additional wells that could extend the campaign into mid-2027.
Before beginning this CCS assignment, the Noble Intrepid will execute a one-well job for DNO in Norway, following the completion of its previous contract with Harbour Energy in the UK North Sea.
Simultaneously, Noble confirmed that the Noble Innovator—another CJ70 jack-up—is also set to drill six wells on the same CCS project beginning in Q3 2026. The Innovator will operate under a matching dayrate of $150,000, with optional wells available that may extend the rig’s work into 2027.
These contracts mark a pivotal moment in offshore CCS development in the UK and highlight Noble’s growing role in supporting the energy transition through technically advanced offshore drilling.
