Equinor gets regulatory nod for exploration drilling near Huldra field

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has given its consent to Equinor Energy to undertake exploration drilling in block 30/2 north-west of the defunct Huldra gas and condensate field in the North Sea.

Block 30/2 is located in production licence 878 where Equinor as the operator will drill pilot hole 30/2-U-1 in 142 metres water depth with the West Hercules semi-submersible drilling facility.

Owned and operated by Seadrill, the West Hercules is a semi-submersible drilling facility that was constructed in 2008 at the Daewoo Shipyard located in South Korea. The semi-submersible drilling vessel was granted an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway in 2012.