The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted Talisman Energy Norge AS a drilling permit for wellbore 15/12-20 S in the North Sea.
The drilling program for wellbore 15/12-20 S relates to the drilling of a wildcat well in production licence (PL) 038. Talisman is the operator (65 per cent), with Petoro (30 per cent) and Det norske oljeselskap ASA (5 per cent) as the other licensees. The area in this licence is located in the southern part of block 15/12, and the drilling target is south-west of Varg, which in turn is located south of the Sleipner area in the North Sea.
Production licence 038 was awarded as a supplement to the 3rd licensing round in 1975. A total of 19 wells have previously been drilled on the block. The wellbore will be drilled from the Mærsk Giant drilling facility, which is currently concluding the drilling of well 7/1-2 in PL 271.
The permit is contingent upon the issuance of all other permits and consents required by other authorities before the drilling activity commences.