Statoil set to drill Cape Vulture exploration well

Norwegian offshore safety body, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has given Statoil its consent to use the Deepsea Bergen rig for exploration well drilling in block 6608/10 in the Norwegian Sea.

PSA said on Thursday that the exploration well would be drilled in a prospect named Cape Vulture, with the designation 6608/10-17 S. The consent also has an option for a sidetrack well.

The Cape Vulture prospect was awarded as an extension of the Norne license (Production License 128) operated by Statoil with a 39.1% interest. Partners in the license are Petoro with 54% and Eni with 6.9% interest. Norne lies in a license which was awarded in 1986 and embraces blocks 6608/10 and 6608/11.

The safety agency added that drilling operations would begin in November and are estimated to last up to 33 days. The estimated duration of an optional sidetrack is 16 days.

The drilling will be performed with the Deepsea Bergen Aker H3 semi-submersible drilling rig built in 1983 and owned by Odfjell Drilling. The Deepsea Bergen was issued with an Acknowledgment of Compliance (AoC) by the PSA in December 2001.