The first exploration well on Statoil’s Tulipan prospect in the Norwegian Sea has been spudded by the Eirik Raude drilling rig.
Located in block 6302/6 west of Hydro’s Ormen Lange gas field, this operation is being conducted in 1,250 metres of water and should last for two-three months.
Plans call for the wildcat to be drilled to a total measured depth of just over 3,000 metres beneath the seabed.
“Only 10 deepwater wells have been drilled off Norway until now, so the area is little explored,” says Knut Chr Grindstad, exploration manager for the Norwegian Sea.
Statoil intends to drill two more exploration wells in this part of the Norwegian continental shelf during 2005.