Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway --Norway's Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has authorized the jackup Maersk Gallant to drill an exploratory well for ConocoPhillips in the Norwegian North Sea.
The location is 55 km (34 mi) north-northeast of the Ekofisk complex, in production license PL 331. Drilling should start mid-March, with the program expected to last around 176 days.
PSA has also approved the use of theMaersk Innovator to drill eight water injector wells on Ekofisk 2/4 VA, replacing the existing 2/4 W injectors which are due to be decommissioned by 2011. The new wells will be drilled via a subsea template, with operations likely under way in April.
In the far north of the North Sea, ExxonMobil has PSA's approval for exploration drilling in PL 027D, 15 km (9.3 mi) north of its Balder field. Det norske oljeselskap will drill the 34-day well on the company's behalf using the jackupBredford Dolphin.
3/5/2009