Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has granted Eni Norge AS consent for exploration drilling in two blocks in the Barents Sea.
Eni will investigate a prospect it calls Goliat West—a downthrown fault compartment compared to the proved hydrocarbon accumulations of Goliat the oilfield—with appraisal well 7122/7-7 S in production license 229 in block 7122/7 and block 7122/10 (OGJ Online, Mar. 14, 2016).
Drilling will begin in November/December and is estimated to last 30 days. The well will be drilled by the semi-submersible West Hercules mobile drilling facility operated by North Atlantic Drilling.
West Hercules was issued with an Acknowledgement of Compliance by the PSA in December 2012.
