Aker BP cleared to drill Gekko in the North Sea

Aker BP has approval from the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to drill the Gekko prospect in the North Sea.

The semi-submersible Deepsea Stavanger will soon spud well 25/4-12 S and A in block 25/4 close to the Alvheim field.

Water depth at the site is 121 metres (397 feet): drilling should take 26 days to complete.

In addition, the PSA has authorised Statoil to use a replacement pipeline between the Heidrun field complex and subsea structure E in the Norwegian Sea.

Replacement of the Heidrun P-E pipeline is part of a project to develop and extend the life of Heidrun Nordflanken by 20 years.

The new pipeline is due to be installed soon with start-up to follow sometime this summer.

Heidrun is on the Haltenbanken, 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) north-east of Åsgard.

The northern part of the field has been developed using subsea facilities.

Source: Offshore Magazine