Total Starts Drilling Operations at Norvarg Prospect in Barents Sea, Off Norway

Drilling operation at the Norvarg prospect in production license 535 in the Barents Sea has commenced.

The well 7225/3-1 is the first well in the license, which was awarded in the 20th Licensing Round in 2009.

Norvarg is a large gas prospect. The operation is carried out with the submersible drilling facility West Phoenix. The well will be drilled to a depth of 4 200 meters. The operation will take 100 to 140 days.

Total E&P Norge is the operator with a 40 percent stake. Det norske is together with Rocksource, and North Energy partners with a 20 percent stake each.

About Det norske:

Det norske is the second-largest operating company on the Norwegian Continental Shelf both considering number of operatorships, exploration- and drilling activity. The aggressive exploration program is the largest an independent Norwegian company has ever conducted on the NCS. Det norske runs its activities in a safe and responsible manner in close cooperation with the authorities. Det norske will in 2011 participate in over 10 drilling operations as partner or as operator.

Det norske currently employs a staff of around 200. The company`s registered office is located in Trondheim.

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Source:Det Norske , May 2, 2011;