Statoil begins offshore exploration campaign in Barents Sea

Norwegian oil giant Statoil has kicked off its offshore exploration campaign in the Barents Sea off Norway by starting a new exploration well. 

The oil firm informed through its social media channels on Monday that the Songa Enabler Cat D drilling rig started drilling the exploration well at 01:45 last night.

“Blåmann is the first of five wells that will give us an idea of the potential in the Barents Sea,” Statoil said briefly in the update.

The Blåmann drill site is in 376 meters of water, around 113 kilometers north-west of Hammerfest and 25 kilometers from Goliat.

The exploration well designated 7121/8-1 is located in production license 849 where Statoil is the operator with an ownership interest of 50 percent. Other licensees are Eni Norge with 30 percent and Petoro with 20 percent.

Statoil gained consent from the offshore safety watchdog, the Petroleum Safety Authority, to drill the well with the Songa Enabler in late March and a drilling permit from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) in April.

Earlier this year, while on its way to the Snøhvit field, the Songa Enabler rig was intercepted by Greenpeace activists protesting against Statoil and the Norwegian government for opening up a new oil frontier in the Arctic.

Offshore Energy Today Staff