Offshore staff

(Stavanger) SemisubPolar Pioneer has started a 40-day appraisal well for Statoil in the Norwegian Barents Sea to estimate the extent of petroleum reserves in the Tornerose prospect. The location is 55-km east of Snohvit and 125-km north-west of Hammerfest, in water depths of just over 400 m. Statoil is particularly keen to prove up new gas which could be exploited via Snohvit's LNG plant on Melkoya Island.

The same rig recently completed drilling operations on Snohvit, reportedly without any harmful discharges to the sea. The program comprised nine producer wells and one for injecting carbon dioxide. To satisfy Norwegian environmental regulations, the near 20-year old rig had to undergo modifications, while the crew were given special training to ensure compliance with the requirements for work in this region.

08-11-2006