Oil and gas company Neptune Energy has obtained permission to drill an exploration well in the Norwegian Sea.
The well 6507/8-10 S - the Grind prospect - is located in the production license 889, seven kilometers east of the Heidrun field. Neptune operates the offshore permit with a 60% stake.
According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, which has granted the drilling permit, this will be the first well in the PL 889 license. Water depth at the site is 322 meters.
The PL 889 license was awarded in 2017. Neptune's partners in the block are Equinor and Wellesley Petroleum, each with 20% interest.
Neptune Energy will use West Phoenix semi-submersible drilling rig for the drilling operation. The rig, a 6th generation drilling unit delivered in 2008, is operated by North Atlantic Drilling (formerly Seadrill Management AS).
Equinor is currently using the rig in production license 025, drilling the exploration well 15/3-12 S. Neptune will take over the rig following the conclusion of Equinor's drilling operation.
Worth noting, the Norwegian oil and gas safety body PSA Norway on Monday granted Neptune Energy its consent for the same operation. The PSA said drilling would begin in mid-January 2020. The Grind prospect drilling is expected to last for 67 days.