Go-ahead for North Sea Wildcat Clears Path for Equinor’s Drilling Ops With COSL Rig

October 27, 2026 · 9 hours ago

Norwegian authorities have approved a new hydrocarbon exploration well, continuing the country's active drilling program.

Norway’s energy giant Equinor has secured the green light to drill an exploration well in the North Sea, using one of COSL Drilling Europe’s semi-submersible rigs.

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor a drilling permit for the wellbore 33/9-F-4 DH in production license 1214.

This license, which was awarded on March 15, 2024, and is valid until the same date in 2030, is owned by Equinor (17%), Petoro (30%), OKEA (28%), and Vår Energi (25%).

The drilling of the wildcat well will be carried out using the 2012-built COSL Promoter semi-submersible rig designed to operate in water depths up to 750 meters.

This drilling permit comes months after the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) gave Equinor consent to use the same semi-submersible rig for permanent plugging and abandonment (P&A) on the Tordis field.

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