Statoil: Doubling of Aldous volumes

Statoil ASA (OSE: STL, NYSE: STO), together with partners Petoro AS, Det norske
oljeselskap ASA and Lundin Norway AS, has confirmed significant additional
volumes in its appraisal well in the Aldous Major South discovery (PL265) in the
North Sea.
 
The results of appraisal well 16/2-10 have increased production license PL265
estimates to between 900 million and 1.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil
equivalent.
 
This is a doubling of the previously announced PL265 volumes of between 400 and
800 million barrels of oil equivalent.
 
It has previously been confirmed that there is communication between Aldous in
PL265 and Avaldsnes in PL501, and that this is one large oil discovery.
 
"Aldous/Avaldsnes is a giant, and one of the largest finds ever on the Norwegian
continental shelf. Volume estimates have now increased further because the
appraisal well confirms a continuous, very good and thick reservoir in Aldous
Major South," says Tim Dodson, executive vice president for Exploration in
Statoil.
 
Final data show that the oil column in appraisal well 16/2-10 is approximately
60 metres. These data also confirm that the reservoir is of the same, excellent
quality as in the Aldous Major South discovery well 16/2-8. This is the main
reason for the substantial upward revision of PL265 volumes.
 
The Aldous/Avaldsnes discovery extends over a large area of approximately 180
square kilometres, and there is considerable variation in both reservoir
thickness and oil column height in the structure. Additional appraisal wells
will be drilled in both licenses.
 
Statoil will await the results from these wells before providing updated and
more accurate volume estimates for the combined discovery.
 
After completion of the appraisal well, the Transocean Leader drilling rig will
move to the Troll field in the North Sea.
 
Aldous Major South is situated in production license PL265 in the North Sea, and
appraisal well 16/2-10 was drilled 4.2 kilometres north of the 16/2-8 discovery
well.
 
Statoil is the operator and has a 40% interest in PL265. The partners are Petoro
AS (30%), Det norske oljeselskap ASA (20%) and Lundin Norway AS (10%). Well
16/2-10 is the seventh exploration well in PL265. The license was awarded in the
North Sea Awards 2000.
 
Avaldsnes is located in production licence PL501. Lundin Norway AS is the
operator with a 40% interest, while partners Statoil and Maersk have 40% and
20% interests, respectively.
 
Further information:
 
Investor Relations
Hilde Merete Nafstad, senior vice president IR, +47 957 83 911 (mobile)
Morten Sven Johannessen, vice president, US IR, + 1 203 570 2524 (mobile)
 
Press
Ola Anders Skauby, media relations, +47 905 98 519 (mobile)
 
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl
(Norwegian Securities Trading Act)
 
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Source: Statoil via Thomson Reuters ONE
 
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