Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway -- Hydro has spudded an appraisal well on its Astero prospect north of the Fram field in the North Sea.

TheTransocean Winner semisubmersible has begun well 35/11-14S to assess the oil discovery. The well is estimated to take two months to complete.

The Astero discovery was made in May 2005, and this well is aimed at appraising the size of the discovery and also determining information regarding reservoir quality.

8/23/06