Equinor has been granted approval by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate to drill a new exploration well in the Norwegian part of the North Sea, strengthening ongoing activity in one of the country’s mature offshore areas.
The permit relates to the 34/8-A-37 H wildcat well within production licence 120, a licence originally awarded on 23 August 1985 and currently valid through to 2034. Equinor operates the licence with a 53.2% interest. The remaining stakes are held by Petoro, which owns 30%, ConocoPhillips Skandinavia with 9.1%, and Repsol Norge with 7.7%.
Drilling of the well is planned to take place from the Visund field, with operations expected to commence in January 2026. The Visund field is situated in the northern North Sea, northeast of the Gullfaks field, in waters measuring around 335 m in depth.
Discovered in 1986, Visund moved into the development phase following approval of its plan for development and operation in 1996. First oil was achieved three years later, in 1999, and the field has remained an active production hub since then.
The development comprises the Visund A platform, a semi-submersible installation that combines accommodation, drilling and processing functions. This surface infrastructure is supported by a subsea production facility located in the northern part of the field, enabling continued operations in the area.
