Spain-based oil and gas company, Repsol Exploration has received a drilling permit from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) to spud a wellbore in the Norwegian Sea.
The company will drill well 7218/11-1 in the production license 513 about 80km southwest of the Skrugard discovery and 100km northeast of the Snøhvit field.
Repsol Exploration will spud the well from the Transocean Barents drilling facility after a wildcat well 6506/6-2 is completed for Maersk Oil Norway.
The PL513 awarded in 2009 during the 20 licensing round and 7218/11-1 is the first well to be drilled in the license.
Repsol Exploration is the operator of the license with 20% interest; Concedo owns 20%, RWE Dea holds 15%, Talisman Energy and Faroe Petroleum each own 12.5%, while Det Norske and Marathon Oil each have 10% interest.
The area in this licence consists of parts of the 7217/12, 7218/10 and 7218/11 blocks.
Drilling of the well is subject to securing all the permits and consents from the authorities.