BP cleared for Skarv/Idun drilling program

Nov. 20, 2009
Petroleum Safety Authority has approved BP Norge’s request to use the semisubmersible Borgland Dolphin for production/drilling on the Skarv field.

Offshore staff 

OSLO -- Petroleum Safety Authority has approved BP Norge’s request to use the semisubmersible Borgland Dolphin for production/drilling on the Skarv field.

Skarv is in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea, about 35 km (21.7 mi) southwest of the Statoil-operated Norne field and 210 km (130 mi) west of Sandnessjøen. The project involves a unitization of the 6507/5-1 Skarv and 6507/3-3 Idun deposits. Water depth in the area is 350-450 m (1,148-1,476 ft).

Development is based around an FPSO connected to five well templates on the seabed. BP Norge plans to drill 11 production wells and one exploration well from now until end-April 2011.

The Borgland Dolphin, owned by Dolphin AS, is an Aker H3-type rig built originally as a flotel at Bergen Mekaniske Verksted in 1976. In 1999, it was modified into a mobile drilling facility at the Harlan and Wolff Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries yard in Belfast. 

11/19/2009