Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway --Exploration drilling activity is picking up across the Norwegian shelf, according to a survey by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD).
By end-November, NPD had identified 31 exploration and appraisal well spuds, compared with just 26 for the whole of 2006.
So far this year, there have been 12 reported discoveries, comprising eight in the North Sea – most in the Sleipner area – three in the Norwegian Sea, and one in the Barents Sea.
NPD says that in the short term, there is no available rig capacity, with most rigs active on the Norwegian shelf under contract through 2009. However, eight newbuild rigs are committed to Norwegian programs, the first of these due to arrive in spring 2008, with a jackup also on its way from the UK.
All but one of these rigs has been taken on long-term contracts, and NPD believes that more could follow as a result of new contract awards. Rig pool schemes operated by the new intake of independents have also boosted activity on the shelf.
12/11/2007
