Danish explorer Dong E&P has been given the green light by Norway’s safety agency to drill an exploration well at the Trym South prospect in the southern North Sea.

The 3/7-8S probe is scheduled to be drilled later this month by jack-up Maersk Giant in a water depth of 65 metres south of the producing Trym field, with an expected duration of 60 days.

Dong is operator with a 50% stake in production licence 147, where the well will be drilled, with partner Bayerngas holding the remainder.

Meanwhile, Talisman Energy has come up dry with a probe drilled by the same rig at its Isbjorn (Polar Bear) prospect in its operated PL568 in the North Sea.

The Canadian explorer said the 16/10-5 well, drilled in a water depth of 83 metres about 16 kilometres south-east of the Varg field, “hit good-quality reservoir rocks as expected but they were water-bearing”.

Talisman operates the licence with a 40%, with partners Petoro and Det norske on 20% each, and Edison and Skagen 44 each with 10%.

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