Esso Exploration and Production Norway AS (Esso), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, the operator of PL 001B and PL242, block 16/1, announced today that the company completed drilling exploration well 16/1-7 and encountered hydrocarbons in the Utsira High area. (27.05.04)

The well was drilled to test a prospect Southwest of the Esso operated Balder field. Hydrocarbons were found in reservoirs of mid Jurassic age.  The well was drilled to a total vertical depth of 3157 meters, in a water depth of approximately 112 meters.  Additional analyses and studies will be necessary to fully evaluate the size of the oil discovery.

This well is the next step in Esso’s continued strategy of both exploring for and developing resources close to producing fields, as well as drilling some more remote risk wildcats on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Esso had a busy and successful exploration program in the Utsira High area in 2003.

The result was two discoveries in the area close to Ringhorne: Ringhorne East (well 25/8-14S-T2) and Ringhorne West (25/8-C-18T2). The Utsira high area successes will allow Esso to utilize its own operated existing infrastructure and extend the field  life for these facilities.

Esso Norge is the operator of the Ringhorne, Balder and the Jotun fields, which are all located on the Utsira High area. Ringhorne is located 10 km northeast of the Balder field in blocks 25/8, 25/10 and 25/11. Esso Norge is the sole owner of Ringhorne and Balder, and owns 45 percent of Jotun. (Other Jotun owners are Shell/Enterprise 45%, DNO 7% and Petoro 3%). The fields are operated by the company’s upstream organization located at Forus outside Stavanger.  

Esso’s net total production for 2003 was 391.000 kbdoe of oil & gas, and Esso is currently the largest international producer on the NCS.

License owners of PL 001B and PL242 are:
Esso Exploration & Production Norway AS (operator)*: 50%
Statoil ASA 50%  

*An ExxonMobil Subsidiary