Rig delay stalls Lupin for Statoil

Stuck at the lights: Statoil on Lupin well

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Steve Marshall

 05 February 2013 10:38 GMT

Statoil has been given the go-ahead by authorities to drill a wildcat on the prospective Utsira High structure off Norway but it has been stalled by upgrade work on the rig lined up for the well.

The state-run explorer has now been granted a drilling permit by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate for the 16/8-3 S well at the Lupin prospect in Statoil-operated production licence 360, seen as a high-risk, high-reward wildcat that could open a new sub-salt play in the North Sea.

Drilling at the gas prospect was originally due to start in November but it is now not likely to get under way before the end of February at the earliest due to a further one-month delay on the costly overhaul of 1976-built semi-submersible Songa Trym being carried out by rig owner Songa Offshore.

The cash-strapped contractor…

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