Norway well approvals for BG, Total

June 16, 2011
Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway has authorized three new drilling programs on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway – Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway has authorized three new drilling programs on the Norwegian continental shelf.

BG Norge can drill exploration well 34/3-3S in the northern part of the Norwegian North Sea, using the semisubWest Alpha.

The target is in production license 373S, which BG operates in partnership with Idemitsu Petroleum Wintershall Norge, and RWE Dea Norge.

The site is 45 km (28 mi) northeast of the Snorre field and 250 km (155 mi) northwest of Bergen. Water depth is 400 m (1,312 ft): PSA expects drilling to last 75 days.

Total E&P Norge has consent to drill well 6607/12-2S in PL 127 in the northern Norwegian Sea, using the semisubSonga Delta.

This location is around 10 km (6.2 mi) from the Norne field, operated by Total’s partner Statoil, in a water depth of 383 m (1,256 ft). Planned duration for this program is 66 days.

Finally, Norske Shell has clearance to use the well intervention vesselIsland Constructorfor maintenance of subsea facilities on the Draugen field in the Norwegian Sea.

Shell gained consent for a program on the A55H and B2H wells last September, but the work was postponed.

The new consent is an expansion, also taking in well overhauls on B1 and B5. Maintenance work will now start with light well intervention on A55H.

In October, the Island Constructor should return for a series of tasks on B2H, B1, and B5, although the work on B2H could be brought forward depending on the facility’s availability of other relevant factors.

Island Constructor is operated by Iceland Offshore Management AS.

06/16/2011