Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has granted consent for ConocoPhillips Skandinavia to undertake exploration drilling in Block 25/7 in the Norwegian part of the North Sea.

With the approval, ConocoPhillips Skandinavia can now move ahead with the drilling of Well 25/7-9 S in production licence PL 917 where it will evaluate the Hasselbaink prospect.

Well 25/7-9 S is located in the center of the Norwegian portion of the North Sea, slightly west of the Balder/Ringhorne fields. Water depth of the site is 127 metres.

ConocoPhillips Skandinavia is slated to start drilling this month with the campaign to last more than 35 days. The consent from the Petroleum Safety Authority also allows the company to drill an optional sidetrack well.

The Leiv Eiriksson mobile drilling facility will be used for drilling Well 25/7-9 S. The semi-submersible drilling facility is of the SS Trosvik Bingo 9000 type.

The Leiv Eiriksson semi-submersible drilling rig, which is owned and operated by Ocean Rig, secured an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) in July 2008 from the Petroleum Safety Authority.

  ConocoPhillips Skandinavia, Leiv Eiriksson semi-submersible drilling rig, North Sea, Norway, Ocean Rig, Petroleum Safety Authority, Ringhorne field