Statoil has made another natural gas discovery in Block 2 offshore Tanzania, boosting gas volumes by 1.0-1.8 trillion cubic feet of gas (28.5-51.3 billion cubic meters) in place, the company said on Monday.

The Mdalasini-1 discovery, made in Tertiary and Cretaceous sandstones, is located at a 2,296-m (7,533-ft) water depth at the southernmost edge of Block 2. The discovery brings the total discovered gas volumes in Block 2 to approximately 22 trillion cubic feet, Statoil added.

Statoil operates the license on Block 2 on behalf of Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. and has a 65% working interest.

The company believes more discoveries can be made in the area, but said it will now concentrate on appraising one of its previous seven discoveries. Following this, there will be a pause in drilling "to evaluate next steps and to mature new prospects", Statoil said.

The company has said it may build a liquefaction plant with Britain's BG Group, which operates neighbouring exploration blocks.

Unlike the previous discoveries in the block, where ExxonMobil participated with a 35 percent stake, Statoil said it had paid 100 percent of the cost for the latest well.