GDF SUEZ Norge has been granted approval to undertake exploration drilling of well 7124/4-1S&A, in production license PL530, off Barents Sea with the Aker Barents mobile facility. The well comes under the Heilo prospect which is reportedly laden with unrisked gross reserves of 308 mmboe with a 39% success rate.

GDF SUEZ, which is the operator, has 40% stake in the project and will work along side three other stakeholders which include North energy 20%, Front Exploration 20% and Rocksource 10%.

The prospect is situated in between the Goliat and Nucula discoveries and the well is 53 nautical miles north of Hammerfest and approx. 95 nautical miles north-northwest of Banak. The well has the following coordinates: N 71° 35' 16.159", E 24° 5' 56.842". The water depth at the site is approximately 302 metres and the drilling is scheduled to start in August 2011. The duration of the activity is estimated at approximately 55 days (plus another 22 days in the event of a sidetrack).

Tags: GDF SUEZ