Equinor, the Norwegian state-owned oil and gas company, has received authorization from Norwegian authorities to proceed with an exploration well in the North Sea offshore Norway. The drilling operations will utilize one of Transocean's rigs.

On August 14, 2023, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) announced the issuance of a drilling permit for Equinor's wildcat well 30/4-4 within production licence 043 FS. This licence was awarded on February 17, 2023, and remains valid until February 17, 2028.

Equinor is the operator of the licence and holds a majority ownership interest of 51 percent. The remaining stakes are held by its partners: Petoro with 30 percent and Sval Energi with 19 percent. The commencement of drilling for well 30/4-4 is anticipated in September 2023.

The drilling campaign will be executed using the Transocean Spitsbergen semi-submersible rig. Originally named Aker Spitsbergen, the rig received the Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) from the PSA (Petroleum Safety Authority) in July 2009. A subsequent change in ownership prompted Transocean to reapply for a new AoC and rename the rig to Transocean Spitsbergen. This updated AoC was granted in 2012. The rig has been in service for Equinor for several years.

According to Transocean's fleet status report of July 2023, the rig is currently under contract at a daily rate of £227,000, which is set to increase to £244,000 per day starting in September 2023. This rate will remain in effect until March 2025.

The Transocean Spitsbergen, built in 2010, is a sixth-generation dual-derrick winterized semi-submersible rig engineered for drilling in high-pressure/high-temperature formations. It is equipped with an automatic drilling control system and was constructed at Aker Stord shipyard.