MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted a permit to Russia’s Lukoil subsidiary to drill on the Norwegian continental shelf in the Barents Sea, Norway’s government said in a statement Wednesday.
Norway’s Det Norske Oljeselskap ASA is the operator of Production License 858 with an ownership interest of 40 percent. Lukoil Group’s Overseas North Shelf AS, Statoil Petroleum AS and Petoro AS will participate with a 20-percent ownership interest each.
They will drill one firm exploration well in the Havert Formation. The drilling commitment is due to be fulfilled within three years of the award.
In March, Norway’s Petroleum and Energy Ministry offered 56 blocks – predefined drilling areas in the Norwegian and Barents seas – in addition to the regular licensing round. It will be open for bids until September 6. The results of the auction will be announced in the first quarter of 2017.
