Aker BP granted drilling permit for appraisal wells southeast of Alvheim field

STAVANGER -- The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted Aker BP ASA a drilling permit for well 25/4-12 S and well 25/4-12 A, cf. Section 15 of the Resource Management Regulations.

Well 25/4-12 S and well 25/4-12 A will be drilled from the Deepsea Stavanger drilling facility in position 59°30'39.22" N and 2°4'27.28" E following completion of the drilling of wildcat well 7221/12-1 for Aker BP ASA in production license 659.

The drilling program for well 25/4-12 S and well 25/4-12 A relates to the drilling of appraisal wells in PL 203. Aker BP ASA is the operator with an ownership interest of 65%. The other licensees are ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS (20%) and Lundin Norway AS (15%). The area in this license consists of the southwestern part of block 25/4 and minor parts of blocks 24/6 and 25/7. The well will be drilled about 8 km southeast of Alvheim field.

PL 203 was awarded on Feb. 2, 1996, in the 15th licensing round on the Norwegian shelf. These are the eighth and ninth exploration wells to be drilled in the license.

The permit is contingent upon the operator securing all other permits and consents required by other authorities prior to commencing the drilling activity.