By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Mar. 22�Industry contractor Aker Maritime AS, Oslo, said Thursday it has won a stake in a production license on the Norwegian continental shelf, which Aker Maritime called an important first step towards expanding its operations.
Aker Maritime has a 49% stake in Block 35/3, which lies about 80 km west of Flor�. RWE-DEA, Hamburg, formerly Deutsche Texaco AG, is the operator with 51% interest.
Sverre Skogen, Aker Maritime's CEO, said, "With our background as a supplier to oil companies, we believe we can increase the diversity on the Norwegian shelf and contribute to an efficient overall exploitation of resources in smaller oil and gas fields."
Skogen said Aker Maritime "will not compete with established oil companies" but rather will offer its expertise through new forms of cooperation. Specifically, Aker Maritime wants to apply its technology in the development and operation of oil and gas fields.
Aker Maritime and RWE-DEA plan to establish a joint project organization to undertake work on the block. They plan to drill an exploration well by spring 2002. Additional plans will depend on the results of this well.
Block 35/3 was first licensed in 1975, with Norway's Saga Petroleum AS as the operator. Five wells were drilled and gas was found, but at that time the discovery was not considered commercial and the block was relinquished in 1989. The water depth in the area is 250-300 m.
