OREANDA-NEWS. Eni has made a new offshore oil and gas discovery in the Norwegian Barents Sea, approximately 240km from Hammerfest.

The well, which is located in the Skavl prospect in the PL532 license, has been drilled five kilometres south of the Johan Castberg area. It was drilled in approximately 349 metres of water and reached a target depth of 1,700 metres.

The well has confirmed good quality oil and gas in Jurassic and Triassic sandstone, with volumes of recoverable oil estimated at between 20 and 50 million barrels. The discovery is part of Eni’s joint venture exploration activity to develop the Johan Castberg field.

Following completion of Skavl, the drilling rig will move 16 kilometres north where it will continue its exploration campaign in the execution of an additional exploration well on the prospect of Kramsno.

Statoil is the operator of production license PL532 with a 50% stake; the remaining shares are held by Eni Norge AS (30%) and Petoro AS (20%).

Eni has been present in Norway since 1965, with current production standing at approximately 110,000 boe per day through its subsidiary Eni Norge AS. Eni is operator of the ongoing development of the first oil field in the Barents Sea, the important Goliat discovery, and of the Marulk gas field in the Norwegian Sea. Furthermore, in Norway Eni has interests in the country in a number of exploration licenses and fields under development and in operation, including Ekofisk, Norne, Asgard, Heidrun, Kristin, Mikkel and Urd.