Statoil has plans to begin a exploration drilling campaign on three wells on the UK Continental Shelf.
This month, the Transocean Spitsbergen semi-submersible rig will spud the first well.
Statoil vice-president for exploration in UK Jenny Morris said: "This is an exciting campaign testing three very different opportunities on the UKCS. We hope to make discoveries that can add value to existing projects and also provide the resources necessary for new developments on the UKCS."
The three wells will be drilled in continuous campaign, which will take around two to three months.
The first well, Mariner Segment 9, is expected to not only have additional resources but also increase the extent of the Mariner Field.
Following completion of the drilling of the first well, which is expected to take between 15 and 25 days, the rig will be moved to Jock Scott, a prospect on the underexplored area of the Viking Graben. The second well is expected to complete in 20 to 40 days.
The last well, Verbier, is located in the Moray Firth area. The drilling campaign of this well is expected to take 30 to 70 days to complete.
Morris added: "We have three exciting wells to test with a proven and efficient rig that will enable us to continue to develop our understanding of the full exploration potential of this mature basin and hopefully add new commercial reserves to our UK portfolio."
In the segment 9, Statoil owns 65.1111% stake, JX Nippon 20%, Siccar Point Energy 8.889%, and Dyas 6%. In Jock Scott, Statoil owns 75%, BP Exploration Operating Company has 25% equity. The Verbier partners are Statoil (70% stake), Jersey Oil and Gas (18%) and CIECO Exploration and Production (UK) (12%).
