ConocoPhillips Skandinavia, a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips, has secured a drilling permit from the country’s authorities for a wildcat well located in the North Sea offshore Norway.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted ConocoPhillips a permit for the well 25/7-10located in production licence782 S, which was awarded on 6 February 2015 and is valid until 6 February 2025.
The licence, located in the North Sea, is operated by ConocoPhillips Skandinavia with a 40 per cent interest while its partners are Equinor (20 per cent), Wintershall Dea (20 per cent), and Aker BP (20 per cent).
Earlier this month, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) gave consent to ConocoPhillips for exploration drilling in block 25/7 using theTransocean Norge semi-submersible rig. The prospect, Lamba, is scheduled to be drilled in August 2022 and these drilling operations will be conducted in water depths of 125,5 meters.
Built by Sembcorp Marine at the Jurong Shipyard (JSPL) in Singapore between 2012 and 2016, the Transocean Norge rig is owned and operated by Transocean. It received anAcknowledgement of Compliance (AoC)fromthe PSA in July 2019.
Back in June 2021, Transocean revealed that theTransocean Norgerig was awarded afour-well contract plus five one-well optionsin Norway. The deal was expected to start in March 2022. Based on Transocean’s fleet status reportfrom April, the contract with ConocoPhillips is scheduled to end in September 2022.
When it comes to ConocoPhillips’ most recent activities in Norway, it is worth reminding that the energy giantmade a minor gas discovery this month southwest of the Skarv field in the Norwegian Sea. The well was drilled with the Transocean Norge rig.
