STAVANGER, Norway, Sept. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Statoil (OSE:STL, NYSE:STO) Canada and co-venturer Husky Energy have announced
that the first Bay du Nord exploration well has discovered between 300 and 600
million barrels of oil recoverable.
The Bay du Nord discovery, located approximately 500 kilometres northeast of St.
John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, was announced in August. A sidetrack
well has been completed this week and confirms a high impact discovery.
Additional prospective resources have been identified which require further
delineation.
The Bay du Nord discovery is Statoil's third discovery in the Flemish Pass
Basin. The Mizzen discovery is estimated to hold a total of 100-200 million
barrels of oil recoverable. The Harpoon discovery, announced in June, is still
under evaluation and volumes cannot be confirmed at this stage.
The Bay du Nord well encountered light oil of 34 API and excellent Jurassic
reservoirs with high porosity and high permeability.
"It is exciting that Statoil is opening a new basin offshore Newfoundland," says
Tim Dodson, executive vice president of Statoil Exploration. "This brings us one
step closer to becoming a producing operator in the area."
"With only a few wells drilled in a large licenced area, totalling about 8,500
square kilometres, more work is required," adds Dodson. "This will involve new
seismic as well as additional exploration and appraisal drilling to confirm
these estimates before the partnership can decide on an optimal development
solution in this frontier basin."
The successful drilling results from the Flemish Pass Basin demonstrate how
Statoil's exploration strategy of early access at scale and focus on high-impact
opportunities is paying off. As an early player in the area, Statoil has
confirmed its understanding of the basin and has opened a new oil play offshore
Canada. The Flemish Pass has the potential to become a core producing area for
Statoil post-2020.
All three discoveries are in approximately 1,100 metres of water. Mizzen was
drilled by the semi-submersible rig Henry Goodrich (2009). The Bay du Nord and
Harpoon wells were drilled by the semi-submersible rig West Aquarius (2013).
Statoil is the operator of Mizzen, Harpoon and Bay du Nord with a 65% interest.
Husky Energy has a 35% interest.
(High impact discovery = > 100 mmboe net to Statoil or > 250 mmboe in total)
About Statoil:
Statoil is an international energy company with operations in 34 countries.
Building on 40 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian
continental shelf, we are committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in
a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business
solutions. We are headquartered in Stavanger, Norway with approx. 23,000
employees worldwide, and are listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.
More information on www.statoil.com
Further information from:
Investor relations:
Hilde Merete Nafstad, Senior vice president,
+47 957 83911 (mobile)
Morten Sven Johannessen, vice president, Investor Relations USA,
+1 2039786950 / +1 2035702524
Media:
Ola Morten Aanestad
Vice president, Communications North America
+1 7134980585 (mobile)
Bård Glad Pedersen, press spokesperson international, Statoil Norway
+47 918 01 791 (mobile)
Caron Hawco
Communications Leader, Statoil Canada, Offshore
+1 709-738-8471 (phone)
+1 709-749-0601 (mobile)
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section
5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
[HUG#1731496]
