StatoilHydro has received consent to conduct exploration drilling using the mobile facility West Alpha in the northern part of the North Sea.

The consent applies to drilling of well 30/11-7, which belongs to Production License 035/362. The well is located about 11 nautical miles northeast of Frigg (map) and has the following geographical coordinates:

N 60° 00' 21.237", E 02° 22' 25.626". Water depth at the site is 111 metres.

West Alpha is an Ultra Yatzy drilling facility built in 1986. The facility has been modified several times and is registered in Panama with Det Norske Veritas as the classification society.

West Alpha is operated by Seadrill, with headquarters in Stavanger. The facility was awarded an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) in December 2001.

Drilling operations are planned to start as soon as the facility has completed drilling of well 6407/7-8, in August 2008 at the earliest.

Drilling is expected to take 82 days if the well is dry. The well will be permanently plugged.

Tags: StatoilHydro