Green light for Lundin to use Leiv Eiriksson rig in North Sea

Lundin has received consent from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) for exploration drilling in the North Sea offshore Norway, using the Ocean Rig-owned Leiv Eiriksson semi-submersible drilling rig. 

Leiv Eiriksson drilling rig. Source: Lundin
Leiv Eiriksson drilling rig. Source: Lundin

According to the PSA’s statement on Wednesday, Lundin received consent for exploration drilling and testing of wells 16/1-31 S and 16/1-31 A, located in production license 338 where Lundin is the operator.

The wells are in the central North Sea, east of the Edvard Grieg field. Water depth at the site is around 111 meters.

The safety watchdog said that the operation is planned to begin in February 2019 and to last 83 days, including the options of a sidetrack and formation tests.

The well is to be drilled by Leiv Eiriksson, which is a semi-submersible drilling rig of the SS Trosvik Bingo 9000 type, owned and operated by Ocean Rig.

Leiv Eiriksson was issued with an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) by the PSA in July 2008.