The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted GDF SUEZ E&P Norge AS a drilling permit for wellbore 7218/8-1, in the Barents Sea.
GDF SUEZ E&P Norge AS is the operator with an ownership interest of 60 per cent. The other licensees are Concedo ASA (20 per cent) and OMV (Norge) AS (20 per cent). The area in this licence consists of parts of the blocks 7218/8, 7218/9 and 7219/7. The well be drilled about 65 kilometres west of the Johan Castberg area.
Production licence 607 was awarded on 13 May 2011 (the 21st licensing round on the Norwegian shelf). This is the first well to be drilled in the licence.