North-south spread for Statoil’s 2014 well campaign offshore Norway

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway – Statoil plans to drill 20-25 exploration wells offshore Norway next year. It will operate around two-thirds of them.

The company plans five to seven wells in the Barents Sea. It is currently drilling in theJohan Castberg (Skrugard/Havis fields) area on the Skavl prospect, and this will be followed by wells on the Kramsnø and Drivis prospects in late 2013/early 2014. The aim is to find more oil to tie into the Johan Castberg development.

Statoil was a partner in the OMV-operatedWisting Central discovery in PL537 announced in September, which opened a new oil play in the Hoop area. During 2Q-3Q 2014 Statoil aims to drill the Atlantis and Apollo prospects in PL615, 50 km (31 mi) north of PL537. The Apollo well will target the same geological formation as Wisting Central.

In the Norwegian Sea, the company will focus on preparations for a deepwater exploration campaign in theAasta Hansteen area, planned to start in 2015.

To the south in theJohan Sverdrup/greater Utsira High area of the North Sea Statoil will drill an appraisal well on the Geitungen discovery in PL265 at the turn of the year and later the Tastaveden prospect in PL628.

In 2012, the company discovered gas and condensate while drilling the high-pressure/high-temperatureKing Lear prospect in the southern Norwegian North Sea. During 2014-2015 it plans two wells on PL146/PL333. One on the Romeo prospect will test potential north of King Lear, while the Julius well will appraise King Lear and test additional potential to the south of the find.

11/8/2013