The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Statoil a drilling permit for well 16/7-11, in the North Sea.
The drilling programme for well 16/7-11 relates to the drilling of a wildcat well in production licence 072 B.
The area in this licence consists of parts of block 16/7. The well will be drilled east of the Sleipner Øst field in the central sector of the North Sea.
Well 16/7-11 will be drilled from the Songa Trym semi-submersible drilling rig.
Songa Trym is a self-propelled type Aker H-3 modified semi-submersible drilling rig, capable of operating in water depths up to 1,312 feet using 18-3/4″, 10 ksi BOP and 21″ OD riser.
Production licence 072 B was awarded on September 24, 2001. This is the second exploration well to be drilled in the licence.
Statoil is the operator with a 50% ownership interest. The other licensee is ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS with 50%.