Centrica Energi has been granted consent to conduct exploration drilling in the Norwegian Sea with the West Alpha mobile facility. The consent applies to drilling of well 6506/11-9S, which is part of production licence 477.
Water depth at the site is 249 metres. Drilling is scheduled to start in March 2012. The expected duration of the activity is 76 days, depending on whether any discoveries are made.
West Alpha is an Ultra Yatzy drilling facility, built in 1986. The facility has been modified several times and is registered in Panama with Det norske Veritas as the classification society. The rig is operated by Seadrill, which has an operations office in Stavanger. The facility received its Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) in December 2001.
[mappress] Source: Ptil, March 7, 2012; Image: Seadrill