The semisub West Alpha has started drilling the Zidane 2 appraisal well in production license PL435 in the Norwegian Sea, targeting further gas reserves.

In September 2010, operator RWE Dea made the original Zidane discovery in the license. That well encountered gas in a 150-m (492-ft) column in the Fangst group.

Zidane 2 will be drilled to a vertical depth of about 4,800 m (15,748 ft) below sea level, in a water depth of 399 m (1,309 ft). Drilling should last 81 days with a possible extension pending a discovery.

During the nine months phase of well planning, the focus has been on the HP/HT nature of the well.

PL435 is 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of the Statoil-operated Heidrun field and 35 km (21.7 mi) south of the BP-operated Skarv field.