Norwegian oil and gas major Statoil ASA (STO) Thursday
announced its exploration plans for the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) in
2014, saying it plans to drill 20-25 exploration wells, of which around
two-thirds will be Statoil-operated.
MAIN FACTS:
-Will
continue the exploration campaign in the
Barents Sea
in
2014 with 5-7 new wells. Will test the potential in the Hoop area and continue
exploration drilling around the Johan Castberg discoveries.
-During 2Q-3Q 2014 Statoil will drill the Atlantis and Apollo prospects in
production licence PL615.
-In the Johan Castberg area the Skavl prospect is currently being drilled,
followed by the Kramsno and Drivis prospects late 2013/early 2014.
-"We still believe we can find more oil in the Johan Castberg area to make
the field development project more robust. Currently we are evaluating several
prospects around Johan Castberg for drilling in 2014," says Gro G.
Haatvedt, senior vice president for NCS exploration in Statoil.
-"In the North Sea our plan is to further explore around the King Lear
discovery and continue our hunt for barrels in the greater Utsira High
area."
-"We will also pursue our exploration effort around existing
infrastructure in order to discover timely high-value barrels for the new
fast-track developments."
-In the Johan Sverdrup/greater Utsira High area, the Geitungen appraisal will
be drilled in PL265 at the turn of the year and Statoil will also drill the
Tastaveden prospect in PL628.
-In 2014-2015 two new wells will be drilled in PL146/PL333 in the King Lear
prospect.
-The Romeo prospect will test the potential north of King Lear, while the
Julius prospect will both appraise the King Lear discovery and test additional
potential south of the find.
-In the
Norwegian Sea
the focus next year will be to mature the
deep-water exploration campaign in the Aasta Hansteen area which is planned to
start in 2015.
-At 1400
GMT shares traded 0.2% lower at NOK141.90.