Wintershall is due to start drilling its latest exploration well on production license 248 in the North Sea, starting in March.
The firm has been given consent to drill two wells, 35/8-6S and 35/8-6A, taking around 85 days, depending on whether a discovery is made.
The wells will be drilled by Borgland Dolphin semisubmersible drilling rig of the Aker H-3 type.
It was built at Harland & Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1977 and underwent an extensive upgrade in 1999.