The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has issued a drilling permit to VNG Norge AS for a wildcat well in the Norwegian Sea.
VNG will use the Transocean Arctic semi-submersible drilling rig for the 6406/12-4 A exploration well in the Production licence 586. The well will be drilled after drilling of the wildcat well 6406/12-4 S in the same production licence.
VNG is the operator of the block with an ownership interest of 30 percent. The other licensees are Spike Exploration Holding AS (30 per cent), Faroe Petroleum Norge AS (25 per cent) and Rocksource Exploration Norway AS (15 per cent).
The area in this permit consists of part of block 6406/11 and part of block 6406/12. The well will be drilled about 33 km south-west of the Njord field.
Production licence 586 was awarded on February 4, 2011 (APA 2010). This is the fifth exploration well to be drilled in the licence.