The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Total E&P Norge AS a drilling permit for well 25/5-8, cf. Section 8 of the Resource Management Regulations.

Well 25/5-8 will be drilled from the Leif Eiriksson drilling facility at position 59°37’05.65” north and 02°23’44.48” east.

The drilling programme for well 25/5-8 relates to drilling of a wildcat well in production licence 102 F. Total E&P Norge AS is the operator with a 50 per cent ownership interest. The other licensees are Petoro AS with 30 per cent, Centrica Resources (Norge) AS with 10 per cent and Det norske oljeselskap ASA with 10 per cent.

The area in this licence comprises part of block 25/5 in the central part of the North Sea. Production licence 102 F was awarded on 10 October 2013 (APA 2011). This is the first exploration well to be drilled in the licence, and within the licence area.

The permit is contingent upon the operator securing all other permits and consents required by other authorities before the drilling activity commences.