Aker BP gets go-ahead for North Sea wildcat

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Aker BP a drilling permit for a wildcat well located in the North Sea.

The drilling program for well 24/9-11 S relates to the drilling of a wildcat well in production license 150 B.

The well will be drilled from the Transocean Arctic semi-submersible drilling rig.

The area in this production license is located in the central part of the North Sea, and consists of parts of block 24/9, which borders on the UK shelf. The well will be drilled southwest of the 24/9-5 Volund field. This is the first well to be drilled within the production license.

Aker BP is the operator of the license with an ownership interest of 65 percent, while Lundin Norway is a licensee with an ownership interest of 35 percent. Production license 150 B was awarded in 2011 as part of APA 2010 awards.

The permit is contingent upon the operator securing all other permits and consents required by other authorities prior to starting drilling activities.