NPD Gives E.ON Ruhrgas Go-Ahead for North Sea Drilling

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted E.ON Ruhrgas Norge AS a  drilling permit for wellbore 31/8-1, cf. Section 8 of the Resource  Management Regulations.

Wellbore 31/8-1 will be drilled from the Borgland Dolphin drilling facility at position 60°22’11.23″ N and 3°34’04.94″E after it  has completed drilling development well 6507/5-A-1 H on the Skarv field in the Norwegian Sea where BP Norge AS is the operator.

The drilling program for wellbore 31/8-1 relates to the drilling of a  wildcat well in production license 416 in the North Sea. E.ON Ruhrgas  Norge AS is operator with a 50 percent ownership interest. The other  licensees are Rocksource ASA (35 percent) and Det norske oljeselskap ASA (15 percent). The area in this license consists of block 31/8. The well will be drilled approx. 15 kilometers southwest of Troll and approx. 30 km southeast of Brage.

Production license 416 was awarded on February 16, 2007 (APA 2006). This is the first well drilled in the license.

This permit is contingent upon the operator having secured all other  permits and consents required by other authorities before the drilling  activity starts.