Norway’s offshore safety body has given Statoil permission to drill an exploration well on the Cape Vulture prospect.
Statoil will also have an option for a sidetrack well on licence 128, which it operates.
Drilling is slated to start in November and is expected to last up to 33 days, according to the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA).
Odfjell Drilling will carry out the programme using the Deepsea Bergen facility.
Deepsea Bergen was issued with an acknowledgement of compliance by the PSA in December 2001.