Norway: Det Norske Gets Drilling Permit for Storebjorn

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate approved yesterday Det norske’s drilling program for the drilling of the Storebjørn prospect. Storebjørn is located in production license 450 in the southern North Sea. The prospect is located near existing infrastructure on the Ula and Gyda fields.

The wellbore is given the number 7/12-13 S. The license was awarded Det norske in the APA Round 2007. This is the first well in the license.

The well will be drilled with the drilling rig Maersk Guardian. The rig has drilled a well for Centrica Resources Norway, 13 kilometers east of the Ula field, and is now ready to sail to Storebjørn. Startup for the drilling operation is scheduled for the middle of January.

Det norske is the operator with a 60 percent interest in PL 450. Dana Petroleum and North Energy are partners, with respectively 25 and 15 percent stakes. An agreement between Det norske and North Energy on a transfer of 15 percent was signed in 2011, and is approved by Norwegian authorities.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, January 11, 2012; Image: Ptil