Awilco Drilling have claimed that Apache North Sea is preventing their drilling rig WilPhoenix from resuming work.
The WilPhoenix is currently on a three year contract to Apache North Sea, a contract it commenced back in the second half of 2014. The rig entered Hartlepool shipyard in November 2015, for a planned yard stay of 60 days. So far, the rig has stayed at the yard for nearly 160 days.
Awilco Drilling said the yard stay for WilPhoenix is now complete and Awilco Drilling considers the rig to be ready to drill awaiting Apache North Sea’s instructions to resume operations and that WilPhoenix is on standby rate from the completion of the yard stay.
However, Apache North Sea does not agree that the rig is ready to drill nor that Awilco Drilling is entitled to standby rate at this point.