Lundin receives green light to drill Barents Sea well
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Lundin Energy a drilling permit for the 7219/11-1 well in the Barents Sea offshore Norway. Under the terms of the permit, the well will be drilled in production license 533 B by Seadrill’s West Bollsta semisubmersible, which is capable of operating in harsh environments.
Lundin contracted West Bollsta for 10 wells in February 2019, with four additional one-well options that could keep the rig operational until Q3 2022, if exercised.
Lundin holds a 40% ownership interest in license 533 B, with Aker BP holding a 35% ownership stake and Wintershall Dea owning the remaining 25%. The well will be drilled approximately 21.7 mi (35 km) northwest of the Alta discovery.
The NPD’s announcement comes one day after it issued a drilling permit to Equinor for the 30/2-5 S well in the North Sea. That well will be drilled in production license 878, approximately 10.6 mi (17 km) south of the Kvitebjørn gas field, by Seadrill’s West Hercules semisubmersible. The well will be the first drilled in the license.
