Statoil reveals new finds

North Sea operator Statoil has made two new gas and oil finds close to its Oseberg field.

The company’s wildcat wells on the Askja West and Askja East prospects in the Norwegian North Sea turned up small finds, the country’s Petroleum Directorate confirmed.

A 90m gas column was found on the Askja East prospect, with a 40m oil column on the east field, producing an estimated total of up to 44million barrels of oil equivalent.

“We are pleased to start 2014 with a gas and oil find in theAskjaWest and East prospects, in the very heart of the North Sea,” said Statoil’s vice-president of exploration for the North Sea, May-Liss Hauknes.

The finds, drilled by the Ocean Vanguard rig, are sited between the Oseberg and Frigg fields.