The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS a drilling permit for well 7132/2-1. 

Well 7132/2-1 will be drilled from the West Hercules drilling facility after concluding the drilling of appraisal well 7122/7-7 S for Eni Norge AS in production licence 229.

The drilling programme for well 7132/2-1 relates to the drilling of wildcat wells in production licence 857. Equinor Energy AS is the operator with an ownership interest of 40 per cent. The other licensees are Aker BP ASA (20 per cent), Lundin Norway AS (20 per cent) and Petoro (20 per cent).

The area in this licence consists of blocks 7232/10, 7132/1,2,6 and 7133/4 and the southern part of blocks 7132/3 and 7133/1. The well will be drilled about 175 kilometres north of Vardø.

Production licence 857 was awarded on 10 June 2016 in the 23rd licensing round on the Norwegian Shelf. This is the first well to be drilled in the licence.

The permit is contingent on the operator securing all other permits and consents required by other authorities prior to commencing the drilling activity.