Equinor has secured approvals from the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) for multiple drilling/development programs.
One covers three appraisal wells in blocks 32/4 and 32/7 in the North Sea connected to the Smeaheia carbon capture and storage development.
Wells 32/7-1 (Gamma), 32/7-U-1 (Gamma Pilot) and 32/4-4 (Alpha) will all be drilled in a water depth: around 300 m.
Another consent applies to use of the semisub COSLPromoter for production drilling on the Eirin field, 9 km northwest of the Gina Krog field center in the central Norwegian North Sea.
Plans call for a two-well subsea tieback to the Gina Krog platform, with production set to start in 2025.
Finally, Equinor has authorization to start using the living quarters, helicopter decks, safety systems and cranes on the new Johan Castberg FPSO in the Barents Sea, 100 km northwest of the Snøhvit field in 370 m of water.
The vessel will receive production from the Skrugard, Havis and Drivis discoveries via a network of 18 horizontal production wells and 12 injectors. Equinor expects first oil later in the year.
