• Mining

Namibians man the Mira

• 20 Hours Ago - 2025-08-05 00:00:00

The Deepsea Mira is hard at work completing the drilling of the Volans-1X exploration well for Rhino Resources and partners. The drilling campaign is scheduled from late July to early August, with operations initially expected to last 55 days.
Volans-1X lies near the Capricornus and Sagittarius discoveries, which Rhino drilled between December 2024 and early May 2025. Rhino Resources operates exploration licence area PEL85, holding 42.5% of the joint venture. Partners include Azule Energy, NAMCOR, and Korres Investments.

Local crew and workers aboard
The Deepsea Mira is a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU), brought to life and driven by her crew of up to 180 people (115 when recently docked at the Port of Walvis Bay). There’s a rhythm onboard that the 41 Namibians on the crew have to step into.
Third-party employees are also onboard – like Andreas David, who says, “We want to make a difference, empower Namibians, develop Namibia, and one day run it ourselves.”
He’s worked on as a roughneck on rigs in Namibian waters since 2023, having previously served on the Hercules.
Helvi Mwapopi has been a third-party stewardess on the ship for two years. She discovered the opportunity through a friend and decided to take a course in South Africa. She applied, was accepted, and today she’s fully certified.
Certification is essential for offshore work – first aid, helicopter safety, lifeboat operation, and fire fighting are all required.
“The first time, I got goosebumps, but after a few days it felt normal. It feels like home, not scary. It’s like we’re family. We help each other – 24 days on, 24 days off,” she says.
Her family back home is proud. “Yesterday I spoke to my mum, who is praying I get more work.”
At 38, Helvi encourages young aspirants to take the leap: “Do the courses and apply. The opportunities are coming. We have oil in Namibia – take a chance. You have to take a chance.”

Local content and vendor standards
Tor Reidar Berge, Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) – effectively the ship’s captain – ensures the rig stays afloat, drills accurately, and operates efficiently.
He insists that all third-party services are sourced through approved vendors that are at least 51% Namibian-owned, and that payments are made into Namibian bank accounts.
One such service provider is 3CMetal Belmet, which meets offshore regulations, uses trusted brands, and ensures all staff wear proper personal protective equipment. All team members are BOSIET-certified (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training).
“This is the quality we expect in everything – from engineering to drawings, including pre-qualified vendors,” Berge says.

Odfjell’s 50 years of offshore experience
The Deepsea Mira is managed by Odfjell Drilling, a family-owned Norwegian company founded in 1973 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
“Here we are one team, like a football team,” says Chris Klees, Assistant Rig Manager.
Odfjell operates eight rigs globally, some owned and some managed. With a global footprint and robust technology, they are investing in new ocean, wind, and green innovations.
“We analyse data and implement new technologies, like using Excellium fuel additives from TotalEnergies and fitting CJC filters to engines. We’ve brought in young people with smart ideas. Us drillers, we want to be the best – it’s in our DNA.”
Currently, 97 Namibians are training offshore, with another 23 onshore, thanks to collaboration with local stakeholders.
“A smile and a laugh are never far away, but when it's time to be serious, we are,” says Berge.
The Norwegian Training Institute has contributed to skills development, drawing from Norway’s model where students study for three to four years before apprenticeships and junior rig roles.
“Namibia needs to invest in schools and training institutions, especially for junior levels in marine, technical, drilling, emergency response, and offshore rescue,” Klees adds.

Built for harsh conditions
The Deepsea Mira is a sixth-generation, dynamically moored semi-submersible drilling and service platform. It can operate in depths up to 3 000 m, with a 7 500 MT load capacity. Its Aker MH Derrick, equipped for off-line building, enables high-spec drilling in harsh environments.
Built in 2018 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, the rig was taken over by Odfjell in 2022.
During its recent campaign with TotalEnergies in the Orange Basin, the Mira re-entered the Venus-1X well, side-tracked, and drilled the top hole to Venus-2A, including drill-stem testing.
“We worked for a full year without disconnecting once,” Berge says proudly.
The Mira drilled five wells, including Venus-2X at a depth of 3,010 m, using 3D rotary steerable drill bits. It achieved surface positioning accuracy within 15 cm – crucial for placing the Lower Marine Riser Package and the 420-tonne, seven-valve blow-out preventer (BOP) with precision.
After the TotalEnergies campaign ended, Odfjell negotiated to remain in Namibian waters, hoping local exploration wouldn’t stall. The last remaining rig was later redeployed to support Rhino’s exploration efforts.

Planning for safety
Built for unpredictable seas, the Mira is designed to weather storms.
“A semi-submersible is the way to go. Fewer people, less equipment, and she can stay operational longer,” says Berge.
Her 7.8 m rig heave allows the Mira to withstand 13 to 15 metre waves. “She can handle the 100-year wave. We’ll ride out the storm,” he says.
Safety is all about planning: “We plan the day before, we meet and approve, which improves both safety and efficiency.”
Namibian waters are known for long swells and strong winds, making semi-submersibles ideal for their greater operational window.
“It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon,” says Berge. “We do exploration and development drilling; we don’t produce,” he emphasises.
Each well can cost up to US$100 million, with tight deadlines.
“Being on time and on budget is good, but under time and under budget is better,” Berge says.
A 500 m safety exclusion zone is enforced around the rig. A remote vehicle accesses the seabed before a large-diameter drill bit carves space for a steel pipe conductor. Cement is pumped in, and the BOP is installed to prevent fluid blow-outs.
Drilling fluid (or mud) is injected to keep the drill lead cool. “The geological data belongs to the oil company, but also to the country,” Berge notes. “In Norway, the government gets the same data. All data is handed over at the end of the licence.”
Scan the QR code or follow this link to a video of the visit: q.my.na/NRK9