17 December 2013, News Wires – Total is reported to have finally kicked off drilling of a delayed exploration well at its Trell prospect off Norway.
Ocean Rig semi-submersible Leiv Eiriksson has sunk the drillbit at the 25/5-8 well in Total-operated production licence 102F in the North Sea, Petro Media News reported.
The probe being drilled in 120 metres of water is targeting the Heimdal formation, with an expected duration of 40 days that could increase to 72 days in the event of a discovery.
It was originally scheduled for drilling in mid-September but has been stalled by work at the Wisting Central discovery in the Barents Sea for Austrian explorer OMV, as well as weather-related delays during transit and a quick job at the Martin Linge field also operated by Total.
The well was further delayed by an anchor-line breakage during testing at the Trell site.
Total operates the licence with a 50% stake, with partners Petoro (30%), Centrica (10%) and Det Norske Oljeselskap (10%).
– Upstream
