The story of the Norwegian rig industry began in the early 1970s. After the discovery of Ekofisk in the North Sea in 1969, there was great interest in oil exploration in the North Sea and a growing need for mobile drilling rigs that could cope with the demanding conditions in these waters.

Many shipping companies that had established themselves within international shipping began to take an interest in rig activities at this time. These were often family-owned companies, such as Smedvig, Odfjell, Fred. Olsen, Wilh. Wilhelmsen and others. The shipowners had a willingness to take risks, capital and a maritime expertise that came in handy in the new investment in drilling rigs.

The shipping company Smedvig in Stavanger was the first among the Norwegian shipowners to order a rig. In the autumn of 1971, they placed the order for a semi-submersible drilling rig which was named “West Venture”. It was delivered from a French shipyard in May 1973. A scale model of the rig is the first object that meets the public in the new exhibition.

The drilling rig Deepsea Driller broke down at Fedje in 1976 and was repaired and put into operation again with a new name, Byford Dolphin. (Photo: Rune Egenes, NOM)

At the same time, a number of other shipowners also invested in drilling rigs that were suitable for North Sea conditions and eventually also drilling in waters further north such as the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. The Norwegian rig design Aker H-3 proved to be a success story. Over the years, close to 30 rigs were built in versions of this type. However, the market for drilling rigs was very unpredictable, something shipowners experienced several times.

The exhibition “Once upon a time a shipowner…” tells about changing times in the rig industry. It also shows models of drilling rigs from various generations up to today’s state-of-the-art rigs that can drill at ultra deep ocean depths in various areas around the world.

The exhibition is design by Simon A Kjær og Goedele Teirlinck, SAK Design.

This is also a story about a rig industry that started out as Norwegian, but which over the years has become a global, high-tech industry owned by international companies operating in global markets. Today, only Odfjell Drilling remains among the family-owned companies with headquarters in Norway, specifically in Bergen – with an owner living abroad.

In the exhibition’s “shipping office”, visitors can also find an archive with information about shipping companies that have helped shape the industry and about a number of shipowners and managers throughout the ages. Descriptions of rig accidents and various rig facts are also available.

The exhibition will be shown until 17 November 2024. A book about the history of the rig industry will also be published later this year.

From the exhibition’s shipowner’s office where there is also an additional information archive to delve into. (Photo: Rune Egenes, NOM)