NPD grants drilling permit to Statoil in production license 230

NPD grants drilling permit to Statoil in production license 230

STAVANGER, Norway -- The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Statoil Petroleum a drilling permit for well 7227/10-1. The well will be drilled from the Transocean Spitsbergen drilling facility at position 72°09’ 48.72" north and 70° 14´ 18.14" east.

The drilling program for well 7227/10-1 relates to the drilling of a wildcat well in production license 230. Statoil Petroleum is the operator with a 35% ownership interest and the licensees are Spike Exploration Holding with 30%, Explora Petroleum with 20% and GDF SUEZ E&P Norge with 15%.

The production license consists of parts of blocks 7227/8, 7227/9 and 7227/10. The license was awarded in the Barents Sea project in 1997.

Wildcat well 7227/10-1 will be the first exploration well in production license 230.

The permit is contingent upon the operator securing all other permits and consents required by other authorities prior to commencing the drilling activity.