Shell Namibia has awarded the Deepsea Mira the contract to support its forthcoming offshore campaign in Petroleum Exploration Licence 39 (PEL 39), offshore Namibia.
The rig, operated by Odfjell Drilling and owned by Northern Ocean Ltd, is scheduled to begin drilling in April 2026.
Confirming the development, Eduardo Rodriguez, Shell Namibia Country Chair, said Shell, together with its partners QatarEnergy and NAMCOR, is preparing to launch a new drilling campaign in PEL 39.
“Drilling is set to commence in April 2026, marking an important milestone in our commitment to responsibly explore Namibia’s offshore potential and support the country’s energy ambitions,” he said.
Rodriguez said the contract underscores Shell’s emphasis on operational excellence, safety, environmental performance and local participation.
Local suppliers interested in subcontracting opportunities linked to the Deepsea Mira’s operations are encouraged to contact Northern Ocean Ltd, Shell added.
“Shell is proud to help unlock Namibia’s offshore potential. We look forward to working with QatarEnergy, NAMCOR and the Government of Namibia to deliver shared value for the country and its people,” Rodriguez said.
Shell stated that the Deepsea Mira contract forms a central part of its planned exploration activities, marking a significant step in advancing Namibia’s offshore energy development.
The company said this follows its continued focus on its operated exploration hub in PEL 39 in the Orange Basin, where it has already recorded a sizeable write-off while preparing for further drilling.
According to Shell, PEL 39 lies about 250 kilometres offshore, with the company holding a 45 percent stake alongside QatarEnergy and NAMCOR.
Shell noted that nine exploration and appraisal wells have been drilled over the past three years, including Graff, La Rona and Jonker. These wells yielded several oil discoveries, but low permeability and higher gas content have so far prevented the finds from being confirmed as commercially viable.
In early 2025, Shell booked an impairment of around 400 million US dollars on its PEL 39 investments, stating that the discoveries “cannot currently be confirmed for commercial development.”
