Neptune Energy and partners have announced that they started drilling the Hamlet exploration well in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

The Hamlet well is located 7 km north of the Gjøa field within the Neptune-operated PL153 Licence. It is considered a key prospect, being in line with the company’s exploration strategy that focuses on core areas close to existing infrastructure.

The company added that the prospect could be tied back to the Neptune-operated Gjøa platform and produced with less than half the average CO2 emissions on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

In this regard, Neptune Energy’s Director of Subsurface in Norway, Steinar Meland, said: “Hamlet is an interesting prospect and it is in keeping with our exploration strategy of focusing on opportunities within core areas near existing infrastructure. This can offer a short lead time from discovery to production, reduce costs and carbon emissions and help mature and replenish our current licenses.”

Neptune stated that the well (35/9-16S) is being drilled by the Deepsea Yantai, a semi-submersible rig, operated by Odfjell Drilling and owned by CIMC. It added that the drilling program comprises a main-bore (35/9-16S) with an optional side-track (35/9-16A) based on the outcome of the exploration well.

It should be noted that the prospect is owned by Neptune Energy which is the operator and holds a share of 30%, Petoro which holds a share of 30%,  Wintershall Dea which owns 28%, and OKEA which has a 12% share.