The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Equinor Energy AS, the Norwegian multinational energy company, a drilling permit for wells 16/1-30 S and 16/1-30.
The drilling programme for 16/1-30 S and 16/1-30 A relates to drilling of appraisal wells in production licence 167. Equinor Energy AS is the operator with an ownership interest of 60 per cent. The other licensees are Lundin Norway AS with 20 per cent and Spirit Energy Norway AS with 20 per cent.
The area in this licence consists of a part of block 16/1. The wells will be drilled about 25 kilometres northwest of the Johan Sverdrup field.
Production licence 167 was awarded on 1 March 1991 in the 13th licensing round on the Norwegian shelf. These are the seventh and eighth exploration wells to be drilled in the licence.
The permit is contingent on the operator securing all other permits and consents required by other authorities prior to commencing the drilling activity.