Statoil commences UK exploration drilling campaign

Statoil announced that it will soon commence a three-well exploration drilling campaign on the UK continental shelf (UKCS). In early July, the Transocean Spitsbergen semi-submersible rig will spud the first well in the campaign.

The campaign aims to test three different opportunities regarding the UKCS, making discoveries to add value to existing projects and to provide the resources necessary for new developments on the UKCS.

The drilling campaign is expected to last approximately 2-3 months. The first well, Mariner Segment 9, could prove additional resources and increase the extent of the Mariner Field.

After completing the well, expected to take between 15 and 25 days, the rig will move to Jock Scott, a prospect on the underexplored margins of the Viking Graben. The well is expected to be completed in 20-40 days.

The last well of the campaign will be the Verbier opportunity in the Moray Firth area. The well is assumed to take 30-70 days to complete.