Statoil has been given the go-ahead to drill a wildcat well south of the Grane field in the central part of the North Sea.
The Norwegian producer has a 57% interest in the licence, with Petro AS and ExxonMobil & Production ownership picking up the remaining shares.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Wintershall Norge a drilling permit for well 35/12-5 S.
The well will be drilled from the Borgland Dolphin drilling facility after concluding the drilling of wildcat well 6507/3-11 for E.ON E & P.
The area in the permit consists of parts of blocks 35/8 and 35/11.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted Statoil a drilling for well 16/7-11.
The well will be drilled from the Songa Trym drilling facility and relates to the drilling of a wildcat well in production licence 072 B.
Statoil is the operator with a 50% ownership interest.
Lundin Petroleum said a wildcat well off Norway has come up dry.
Well 10/4-1 had been drilled in PL734 around 35km from the Yme field in the southern North Sea.
The exploration well, which is operated by Wintershall, had been targeting the Zeppelin prospect.
