The first wildcat on Statoil’s Ellida – or Grip High – prospect in the Norwegian Sea was spudded in about 1,200 metres of water on 20 June by the West Navigator drill ship.
Located in block 6405/7, allocated in May 2002 as part of Norway’s 17th offshore licensing round, it lies 60 kilometres north of Norsk Hydro’s Ormen Lange development.
“We’re looking for gas in this well,” explains Kent Høgseth, exploration manager for the deepwater part of the Norwegian Sea.
He adds that the wildcat is being drilled in a little-explored part of the continental shelf, and that the prospects of making a find are therefore a little uncertain.
The well is expected to take 2.5 months to complete.
Operator Statoil has a 30 per cent interest in production licence 281, with ConocoPhillips holding 10 per cent and Norske Shell, BP and Petoro 20 per cent apiece.