Equinor gets regulatory nod for Barents Sea exploration drilling

July 12, 2018
Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has granted Equinor consent for exploration drilling in two blocks in the Barents Sea.

Norway's Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has granted Equinor consent for exploration drilling in two blocks in the Barents Sea.

Equinor will investigate a prospect it calls Skruis with exploration well 7220/5-3 in production license 532. The site is 215 km northwest of Sørøya in Finnmark and 150 km northwest of the Goliat field in water depth of 409 m. Drilling activity estimated to last 27 days is scheduled to begin in August. The well will be drilled by the semi-submersible Songa Enabler mobile drilling facility.

The company also will investigate a prospect it calls Gjøkåsen with exploration well 7132/2-1 in production license 857 in the eastern Barents Sea. Water depth is 293 m. Drilling activity estimated to last 28.5 days will begin in early August. The well will be drilled by semi-submersible West Hercules mobile drilling facility operated by North Atlantic Drilling.