Discovery at Eitri

Det norske oljeselskap ASA (DETNOR) has made a minor discovery on the Eitri prospect close to the Jotun field in the North Sea. Det norske drilled the well in license 027D on behalf of ExxonMobil as operator of the license.

The target of the exploration wells 25/8-16A and 25/8-16 S was to prove hydrocarbons in reservoirs of Paleocene age. A secondary objective was to prove hydrocarbon in reservoirs of Lower Jurassic age. A limited amount of oil was found in the primary target. An appraisal well was drilled to prove the oil-water contact, but a reservoir rock was not proven. The well has not been production-tested, but significant data collection and sampling has been completed.

Det norske Senior Vice President for reserves- and area developments Odd Ragnar Heum states that the result at Eitri is disappointing.
– We did find oil, but it is too small to be regarded as commercial. We are still optimistic for this license, and look forward to drill the well at the Jetta prospect later this year.

The well is the first exploration well on PL027D after this was carved out from PL027B in 2007. The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 2107 meters sub-sea, in the Lower Jurassic Statfjord Formation. The water depth is 126 m. The well and the sidetrack are currently being permanently plugged and abandoned.

Wells 25/8-16, 16A were drilled using the Bredford Dolphin, which is next going to license PL383 in the Norwegian Sea to drill well 6507/3-6 (Struten prospect) where Det norske is the operator.

After the drilling is completed the partners in license PL027D are: ExxonMobil (operator) 25 percent, Det norske 35 percent and Dana Petroleum 40 percent.

Investor contacts:
Chief financial officer Finn Øistein Nordam; +47 98 28 93 82
Vice President Investor Relations Knut Evensen; +47 950 77 622

Media contact:
Senior Vice President for reserves- and area developments Odd Ragnar Heum; +47 93 22 40 76