Statoil has started drilling its 100million barrels oil equivalent King Lear prospect on Norwegian North Sea block 2/4. According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the jack-up drilling rig Maersk Gallant is expected to take about 166 days to drill the 2/4-21 wildcat well approximately 18km (11 miles) north of the Ekofisk field in some 67m of water.
Should a side-track well be required, this would require another 51 days. Statoil has rated the King Lear high impact as the 100million barrels figure is regarded as minimum potential.