Det norske has received consent to conduct exploration drilling in the northern part of the North Sea using the Aker Barents semisub. The consent applies to exploration well 25/1-11, which belongs to production license 460.

The well is located 12 km south of the Frigg field and 10 km north of Vale. The shortest distance to the Norwegian coast (Austevoll) is about 160 km. The well has the following geographical coordinates: N 59 degrees 47' 25.1" N, E 2 degrees 13' 6.4". The water depth at the site is 107 m.

The licensees in the production license are Det norske (operator) and Aker Exploration ASA. Expected drilling start-up is October 1, 2009. The duration of the activities is estimated at about 40 days.

Aker Barents is a so-called sixth generation semisubmersible drilling facility designed according to the H-6e concept for drilling operations at water depths of up to 3000 m and in Arctic regions. The semisub was delivered as a new-build in the summer of 2009, and was built by Aker Solutions at Stord shipyard in Norway.

Tags: Det norske oljeselskap ASA, Petroleum Safety Authority