Norway grants drilling permit to Spirit Energy Norge AS

STAVANGER -- The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted Spirit Energy Norge AS a drilling permit for wellbore 35/9-14, cf. Section 15 of the Resource Management Regulations.

Wellbore 35/9-14 will be drilled from the Songa Enabler drilling facility, at position 61⁰25' 19.8727’’ North, 03⁰49’ 41.92’’ East after completing the drilling of wildcat well 35/9-13 in production licence 682.

The drilling program for wellbore 35/9-14 relates to the drilling of a wildcat well in production licence 682. Spirit Energy AS is the operator with an ownership interest of 30 per cent. The other licensees are Capricorn Norge AS (30%), Petoro (20%) and Wellesley Petroleum AS (20%). The area in this licence consists of the central and northwestern parts of block 35/9. The well will be drilled about 6 km northwest of the Gjøa field.

Production licence 682 was awarded on Feb. 8, 2013 in APA 2012 on the Norwegian shelf. This is the second well to be drilled within the licence. Well 35/9-13 was terminated for technical reasons. 35/9-14 is a replacement of this. 35/9-13 was previously operated by Bayerngas Norge AS. The permit is contingent upon the operator securing all other permits and consents required by other authorities prior to commencing drilling activities.