Our Arctic Neighbors: Norwegian independent to drill new Arctic well

Trondheim-based oil company Det norske has been granted consent to drill an exploration well 27 miles east of the producing Norne gas field in the Norwegian Sea, Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority said in a release July 20. The well is located at a latitude of 66 degrees north, and the water depth at the site is 869 feet. The company will use the mobile facility Songa Delta to drill the well.

Det norske expects to start drilling immediately for a period of 35 days. Songa Delta (formerly Deepsea Delta) is owned by Oslo-based Songa Offshore and is operated by Bergen-based Odfjell Drilling. The facility was awarded an Acknowledgement of Compliance by the PSA on June 5, 2009.

Known as Pertra until November 2007, Det norske is the second-largest operating company on the Norwegian shelf with regard to number of license interests and operatorships. Det norske’s current portfolio consists of 28 operatorships and interests in a total of 50 licenses.

—Sarah Hurst