Consent has been given for a new Barents Sea exploration well on a prospect called Caurus which is to be drilled by StatoilHydro.
Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority has given a green light for the 7222/11-1 well which is due to be drilled by the Polar Pioneer semi-submersible in PL228, northwest of the Nucula discover drilled earlier this year and south of the Obesum discovery and south west of the Ververis find.
Drilling is due to kick once the Polar Pioneer completes current operations on the Areneria well to the northeast, expected next month.
Drilling on Caurus is expected to take up to 45 days to complete, the PSA has indicated.
The well site is 120 km (75 miles) off Northern Norway in a water depth of 357 m (1,170 ft).