Spain's Repsol has been given the green light to drill a well on the Napoleon North license in the Norwegian Sea using the Transocean Spitsbergen Drilling rig.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate says well 6705/7-1, targeting the Stordal prospect, will be drilled in 1400m water depth, 330km west of Bodø in license, 705 after the Transocean Spitsbergen completes a well for Hurricane Energy in the UK sector.
The license is close to Statoil's Aasta Hansteen development, into which a discovery could be tied back. Repsol holds 40% in PL705, with partners DEA Norge (30%) and M Vest Energy (30%). M Vest Energy had bought its stake from Atlantic Petroleum, which had named the license Napoleon North.
It is the first well to be drilled in the license area.