Norwegian state-controlled player Equinor is due to shortly start its three-well drilling programme off the UK, which includes the Bigfoot and the Verbier prospects in the North Sea .

The semi-submersible West Phoenix is being moved to the UK continental shelf to drill the Equinor-operated Bigfoot prospect, located south of the Mariner field on license P2314.

The rig will then move on to the nearby Pip prospect, located in the Fladen Ground Spur area in license P2318.

These licences were awarded in the 29 licensing round in 2017, with Equinor (50%) as operator and UK supermajor BP (50%) as partner.

In addition, West Phoenix will then move to work on appraisal of the Verbier discovery, the third well in the programme.

Initial estimates of gross recoverable resources associated with the Verbier discovery on license P2170 are between 25 million and 130 million barrels of oil equivalent, with an estimated mean of 69 million boe.

The purpose of the planned appraisal well is to determine the potential volume range in the discovery.

Equinor operates the licence with a 70% share, with Jersey Oil & Gas holding 18% and Cieco Exploration & Production on 12%. The area also contains the Cortina prospect.

In addition, Jersey has started working to interpret the 3D seismic survey shot by P etroleum Geo-Services over the P2170 licence area, it said.

“We are pleased to note the Equinor operated UKCS drilling operations have now commenced and look forward to the safe and successful drilling of the upcoming Verbier appraisal well programme,” Jersey chief executive Andrew Benitz said.

“We are now interpreting the new 3D seismic dataset and look forward to furthering our knowledge of Verbier and the additional prospectivity in and around P2170.”