PGNiG Cleared To Drill Off Norway

Polish oil and gas producer PGNiG has secured approval from Norwegian authorities to sink its first wildcat at Norwegian Sea production licence 838, awarded in 2016.

The well will be completed 4.5 km southeast of the Skarv gas field using the Deepsea Nordkapp drilling rig owned by local firm Odfjell Drilling, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) said on August 16.

PGNiG serves as the licence operator with a 40% interest, while Norway’s Aker BP and Germany’s Wintershall Dea each have 30% stakes.

PGNiG is looking to expand on Norway's continental shelf, in the hope of finding more gas resources that can be pumped back to Poland via the planned Baltic Pipe project. It recently boosted its footprint with the purchase of the Duva oil and gas field.