State-owned Ecopetrol of Colombia has snapped up BP’s stake in the Noble Energy-operated deepwater Gunflint discovery in the Gulf of Mexico for an undisclosed amount.

The company said it had purchased the UK major’s interest in the oil find, giving it a total stake of 31.5% in the discovery. Gunflint was confirmed as a find in October 2008 and has more than 168 m (550 net feet) of hydrocarbon-bearing sands.

An appraisal well was drilled in the second half of last year, with another currently underway, said the Colombian company.