Total Receives Consent for Drilling in Barents Sea, Norway

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted Total E&P Norge AS a drilling permit for well 7225/3-1, cf. Section 8 of the Resource Management Regulations.

Well 7225/3-1 will be drilled from the West Phoenix drilling facility at position 72o 54´ 58.35″ north and 25o 52´ 02.70″ east.

The drilling programme for well 7225/3-1 concerns the drilling of a wildcat well in production licence 535. Total E&P Norge AS is the operator with a 40 per cent ownership interest. The other licensees are North Energy ASA with 20 per cent, Rocksource ASA with 20 per cent and Det norske oljeselskap ASA with 20 per cent.

Well 7225/3-1 is located approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Hammerfest. The production licence consists of the blocks 7225/3 and 7226/1. The production licence was awarded in the 20th licensing round.

Wildcat well 7225/3-1 is the first exploration well in production licence 535.

The permit is contingent upon the operator having secured all other permits and consents required by other authorities before the drilling activity starts.

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Source: NPD, March 23, 2011; Image: Seadrill