Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway --Statoil has completed drilling Ballena I block 4 of Plataforma Deltana offshore eastern Venezuela in 350 m (1,148 ft) of water. One of the two intervals tested flowed "gas at significant rates."

"We are satisfied with the completion of the challenging Ballena well where hydrocarbons have been found, but it is too early to say if these are commercially viable volumes," says Thore E. Kristiansen, Statoil Venezuela president. "Further evaluation of the results will be done in the coming months with a decision dependent on the outcome of the last well."

The rig,Sovereign Explorer will move to the third and last well of the exploration campaign in the block.

07/09/2007