The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) conducted an audit of how Wintershall Norge ASA (Wintershall) is planning for exploration drilling in production licence 378 and for bringing in a mobile facility. We did not identify any nonconformities in relation to regulatory requirements.

The audit has helped verify the basis for our consideration of the application for consent to conduct exploration drilling of well 35/12-2 using the mobile drilling facility Songa Delta.

Background for the audit This operator is new to the Norwegian shelf and is therefore being followed up as regards its recently established management system, including obligations related to development, competence and capacity for implementing these types of operations.

Wintershall has carried out a merger process with Revus Energy Norge ASA (Revus), which has not previously conducted exploration drilling on the Norwegian shelf. Nor does Wintershall have experience as operator of exploration drilling on the Norwegian shelf.

Purpose of the audit The purpose of the audit was to examine Wintershall's compliance with obligations and requirements linked to the management of health, safety and environment (HSE) in connection with planning and implementing the activity.

The audit comprised consideration and review of the application for consent, presentations of the organisation's robustness, well design, emergency preparedness analysis and a review of the company's management system. Another key topic was the management's assessment of its own organisation's competence and capacity to handle the duties of an operator.

Tags: Petroleum Safety Authority, Wintershall Norge ASA