Offshore staff

STAVANGER -- The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted StatoilHydro consent to conduct exploration drilling of wells 34/8-13 S and A using the Scarabeo 5.

The drilling activity will start in January 2009 and has an estimated duration of 130 days.

StatoilHydro has also been granted consent to conduct exploration drilling in the southern North Sea with the vesselWest Epsilon. Start-up is planned for January 2009 as soon as rig has finished the drilling of well 2/5-13. The activity is expected to last from 66 to 100 days, depending on discoveries.

01/19/2009