Green light for Statoil to drill North Sea well using Deepsea Atlantic rig

Norwegian offshore safety watchdog, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has given consent to Statoil to use the Deepsea Atlantic drilling rig on a well in the North Sea.

The well, designated 30/8-5, is located in a Statoil-operated production license 190 in the North Sea off Norway.

The PSA said on Monday that Statoil’s drilling program for the exploration well was planned to begin in November 2017, with a duration of around 99 days, depending on whether a discovery is made.

According to the safety authority, the water depth at the site is around 92 meters.

Statoil will drill the well with the Deepsea Atlantic, a semi-submersible drilling rig of the MODU GVA 7500 type. The semi-sub, operated by Odfjell Drilling, was completed in 2009, registered in Norway, and classified by DNV GL.

Deepsea Atlantic was issued with an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) by the PSA in July 2009.