Equinor cleared for Norwegian wells

Norway’s Equinor has received consent from the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to use the Deepsea Atlantic drilling rig for three wells in the Barents Sea and another consent to drill a sidetrack in the North Sea. 

The PSA said on Wednesday that Equinor had received consent to use the Deepsea Atlantic rig for drilling and completion of three wells on the Askeladd field in production license 064 in the Barents Sea.

The well activities are scheduled to begin in mid-October 2019 and are expected to last around 204 days, according to the safety authority.

Furthermore, Equinor has been granted consent to drill a sidetrack in exploration well 35/11-23 in the North Sea. The well 35/11-23 belongs to production license 090, for which Equinor is the operator. The well has been given the prospect name of “Echino Sør”. Water depth at the site is 352 metres.

This well will also be drilled using the Deepsea Atlantic drilling rig, which is owned and operated by Odfjell Drilling.

It is worth reminding that Equinor was given consent for exploration drilling in block 35/11 in the North Sea back in September. However, at the time, the oil company was not given consent for the sidetrack well.

Deepsea Atlantic is a semi-submersible drilling rig of the MODU GVA 7500 type. Deepsea Atlantic was completed in 2009. It is registered in Norway and classified by DNV GL. It received an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) from the PSA in July 2009.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

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