Statoil has secured approval from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway to begin exploration drilling of well 16/7-11 at the Knappen prospect in the central North Sea.
The company operates exploration licences PL 072 B and PL 072 D in block 16/7 in the North Sea.
Drilling of the 16/7-11 well is due to commence in February in a water depth of 80.5m.
Statoil will also drill a sidetrack and production-test the well if a discovery is made.
The well will be by drilled by the Songa Trym semi-submersible drilling rig of the Aker H-3 type, built at Aker Verdal in 1976. Several enhancements were made to the rig in 2012.
Following suspension of the Songa Trym contract by Statoil in November 2014, Songa Offshore announced that the rig would restart operations for the Norwegian firm around 1 January; however, due to weather conditions, the rig’s return was delayed.
Statoil has business operations in 36 countries worldwide, with its largest activities located in Norway.
The company, which is the largest operator on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, holds licences in several oil and gas fields.
Image: Drilling of the 16/7-11 well is due to commence in February. Photo: courtesy of suwatpo/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
