The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Equinor Energy AS a drilling permit for well 7324/6-1.
The well will be drilled from the West Hercules drilling facility, said a press release from NPD.
The drilling programme for well 7324/6-1 relates to the drilling of a wildcat well in production licence 855. Equinor Energy AS is the operator with an ownership interest of 55 per cent, and the licensees are OMV (Norge) AS with 25 per cent and Petoro AS with 20 per cent.
The area in this licence consists of blocks 7324/5, 7324/6, 7325/4 and 7325/5. The well will be drilled about six kilometres west of well 7325/4-1 Gemini Nord.
Production licence 855 was awarded on 10 June 2016 in the 23rd licensing round on the Norwegian shelf. This is the second exploration well 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.