Operator Statoil and its partners in PL169 have proved new oil resources in the D-structure in the vicinity of the Grane Field in the North Sea, the company said in a press release.

Well 25/8-18 S proved an oil column of 25 m (82 ft) in the Heimdal Formation. The estimated volume of the discovery is in the range of 30 MMbbl to 80 MMbbl of recoverable oil.

The D-structure is located on the Utsira High, just 7 km (4.3 miles) north of the Grane Field and in the immediate proximity of the Grane F oil discovery made by Statoil in 2013. The D-structure was originally penetrated in 1992 by well 25/8-4, which encountered just 1 m (3.3 ft) of oil corresponding to about 6 MMbbl.

Exploration well 25/8-18 S is located in PL169 in the North Sea. Statoil is operator with an interest of 57%. The partners are Petoro AS (30%) and ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS (13%).