Norwegian offshore safety watchdog, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has given Lundin Norway AS the consent to use the Leiv Eiriksson semi-submersible drilling rig for exploration drilling on the Neiden prospect in the Barents Sea, offshore Norway.
The approval by the PSA comes two days after the safety body cleared the Leiv Eiriksson for exploratory drilling of exploration well 7219/12-1 in a prospect named Filicudi.
PSA said on Friday that it has given Lundin consent to use the Leiv Eiriksson rig for the well 7220/6-2 R in a prospect named Neiden following an application submitted on August 15.
Drilling is planned to begin this month, with a duration of 22 days, depending on whether or not a discovery is made.
Lundin was granted a drilling permit by the NPD for the well back in July. The drilling program for well 7220/6-2 R relates to an extension of a previous wildcat well 7220/6-2, drilled in 2015. The Neiden prospect, production license 609, is operated by Lundin Norway with a 40% ownership interest, and the licensees are Idemitsu Petroleum Norge, with 30%, and DEA Norge with 30%.
To remind, Lundin suspended drilling of the exploration well 7220/6-2 on the Neiden prospect in November last year due to winter restrictions on the use of the Island Innovator rig in the Barents Sea.
The well will be drilled using the Leiv Eiriksson deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig, which is owned and operated by Ocean Rig. The semi-sub is a BINGO 9000 type, built in 2001.
The hull was constructed at Dalian New Shipyard China and outfitted at Friede Goldman Offshore USA. It is classified by DNV GL and registered in the Bahamas. Ocean Rig received Acknowledgement of Compliance for the Leiv Eiriksson from the PSA in July 2008.
Offshore Energy Today Staff
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