02/15/2008
E.ON Ruhrgas Norge (ERN) has, as operator of license PL416, informed the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of the licensees decision to enter into phase 2 of the initial period in the license. The next decision point in the license is drill or drop which is due in February 2010. In the meantime the licensees are obliged to acquire a minimum of 250 km2 of 3D seismic data. This is scheduled to take place early summer 2008 with contractor PGS.
PL416 is located in Block 31/8 in the North Sea, and was awarded in APA2006 in February 2006. Phase 1 consisted of acquisition and analysis of electromagnetic data. This has been completed successfully with encouraging results. License holders are E.ON Ruhrgas Norge (operator, 50%), Rocksource ASA (35%) and Aker Exploration (15%).
E.ON Ruhrgas is among Europe's leading gas companies and has since 2003 been part of E.ON AG. The group has over 80.000 employees worldwide, and is one of the worlds leading power and gas companies.