Norwegian Offshore Directorate grants Vår Energi drilling permit for well 36/7-6 S in production license PL 636

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Vår Energi a drilling permit for well 36/7-6 S in production license PL 636, under Section 13 of the Resource Management Regulations. The operator has a planned spud date of September 2026.

Permit issued for well 36/7-6 S in PL 636

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) officially gave Vår Energi the green light to drill well 36/7-6 S, located within production license PL 636 on the Norwegian continental shelf. The permit came through under Section 13 of Norway’s Resource Management Regulations — the standard legal mechanism for authorizing offshore drilling in the country.

Vår Energi is the operator on this well, meaning the company owns the day-to-day responsibility for planning, running, and managing the drilling operation on behalf of all license partners involved.

That gives the partnership roughly a year and a half to lock down preparations, secure equipment, and sort out logistics before breaking ground on the seabed.

The planned spud date — when drilling formally kicks off — is set for September 2026. That gives the partnership roughly a year and a half to lock down preparations, secure equipment, and sort out logistics before breaking ground on the seabed.

License ownership and operator roles

Production license PL 636 is a shared venture split among four companies with distinct ownership stakes. Vår Energi holds a 30% interest and serves as operator, giving it both the largest coordinating role and an equal share alongside two other partners.

INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS also holds a 30% stake. It’s a Norway-based subsidiary operating within the broader INPEX and Idemitsu group structure—a clear example of the international character of investment on the Norwegian continental shelf.

ORLEN Upstream Norway AS rounds out the three-way 30% split. ORLEN’s presence fits into the Polish energy giant’s broader push into Norwegian offshore exploration and production, a strategy the company has been pursuing through its upstream subsidiary for several years.

DNO Norge AS holds the remaining 10%. The smallest share in the license, but DNO’s participation still adds something to the mix—the company is a Norwegian-listed operator with a track record across multiple international upstream markets. Together, the four partners account for 100% of PL 636, with Vår Energi leading on execution while major decisions typically require alignment across the full group of licensees.

Regulatory framework governing the permit

Every drilling permit on the Norwegian Continental Shelf has to comply with the country’s resource management regulations. The NOD granted this particular permit under Section 13, the provision that sets out the legal basis for approving individual wellbores.

That’s not unusual. Section 13 is the standard regulatory pathway for all offshore drilling approvals in Norway, designed to ensure operators meet defined technical, safety, and environmental criteria before any drilling starts. The NOD reviews applications, checks compliance, and issues permits once all conditions are satisfied. It’s a structured system built to maintain oversight across a busy and economically significant continental shelf.

For Vår Energi, securing this permit means the company has cleared the regulatory hurdle needed to move forward with well 36/7-6S. September 2026 is now the operational target the partnership is working toward.

Background on PL 636 and Norway’s offshore sector

Production license PL 636 sits on the Norwegian continental shelf—the broad underwater territory where Norway manages one of Europe’s most active offshore oil and gas industries. The shelf is divided into numbered blocks, and licenses like PL 636 define who has the right to explore and produce within specific areas.

Norway runs its licensing system through a mix of competitive license rounds and pre-qualification processes. Companies seeking to operate or participate must meet strict financial and technical standards set by Norwegian authorities — an approach that’s helped the country maintain consistent production levels over decades.

The NOD maintains publicly accessible FactPages for all registered wellbores on the shelf, including well 36/7-6 S. These pages carry technical data, license details, and status updates, making it straightforward for industry participants, researchers, and the public to track drilling activity.

Norway remains one of Europe’s largest oil and gas producers. The country’s offshore sector generates substantial export revenue and keeps drawing international investment—as the partner mix in PL 636 itself illustrates, with companies from Japan, Poland, and Norway all holding stakes in a single license.

Drilling set for September

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Vår Energi a drilling permit for well 36/7-6 S under production license PL 636. The permit was issued under Section 13 of Norway’s Resource Management Regulations, with drilling planned to start in September 2026.

Vår Energi operates the license with a 30% stake. The remaining interests are held by INPEX Idemitsu Norge (30%), ORLEN Upstream Norway AS (30%), and DNO Norge AS (10%). All four companies are now working toward the planned spud date under NOD oversight.

Full wellbore details for 36/7-6 S are available through the NOD’s FactPages for anyone who wants to follow the well’s progress as the 2026 drilling window approaches.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.