Statoil Gets Nod to Use ‘Polar Pioneer’ Rig (Norway)

Norwegian oil company Statoil Petroleum AS (Statoil) has received consent to use the Polar Pioneer semi-submersible drilling rig.

The consent, given by the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority, applies to permanent plugback of well 31/5-J-41 and sidetrack drilling of well 31/5-H-2 in the Troll field in the North Sea in production licence 085.

Water depth at the site varies from 313 to 318 metres.

The expected start-up is September 2013. The duration of the activity is estimated at some 4 months.

Polar Pioneer is operated by Transocean Offshore. The rig was built by Hitachi Zosen, Ariake, Japan.