BG to Drill Jordbær Sørøst with Transocean Searcher (Norway)

BG Norge AS (BGN) has received consent to drill exploration well 34/3-4 S with the Transocean Searcher rig.

BGN is the operator of production licence 373 S in block 34/3 in the northern part of the North Sea, approx. 120 km west of Florø. The consent relates to drilling of exploration well 34/3-4 S in a prospect called Jordbær Sørøst. Water depth at the site is 409 metres.

The well will be drilled with the Transocean Searcher rig. BGN has entered into a two-year contract with Transocean for use of the rig. The exploration well will be drilled within this contract period, from mid-June 2013 at the earliest. The duration could be up to 170 days, depending on whether a discovery is made.

Transocean Searcher is a semi-submersible facility, type Bingo 3000, built in 1983. The facility is owned by Transocean Offshore and received an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) in December 2003. The facility is registered on the Marshall Islands and Det Norske Veritas is the classification society.

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Press Release, May 9, 2013