Statoil has received consent from the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway to carry out exploration drilling of well 16/7-11, in the North Sea.

Statoil is the operator for exploration licences PL 072 B and PL 072 D in block 16/7 in the central North Sea. Statoil has applied for consent to drill exploration well 16/7-11 in a prospect named Knappen.

According to the PSA, drilling is scheduled to start in February 2015. In the event of a discovery, a sidetrack will also be drilled and the well will be production-tested. Water depth at the site is 80.5 metres.

The well will by drilled by Songa Trym semi-submersible drilling rig of the Aker H-3 type, built at Aker Verdal in 1976. Major improvements to the rig were made in 2012. Songa Trym is operated by Songa Management AS of Stavanger. It is registered in the Norwegian register of shipping and classified by DVN GL.

Due to its change of ownership, Songa Trym received a new Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) from the PSA in February 2013.

Statoil suspended Songa Trym contract in November last year. At the time, Songa Offshore informed that the rig is expected to resume operations for Statoil on or about January 1, 2015. However, the rig’s comeback was delayed due to weather conditions.

Source: www.offshoreenergytoday.com

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