Statoil ASA (NYSE: STO) has been awarded the Bajo del Toro Este exploration license as operator in the Neuquén Basin, the company said on Nov. 30.
Statoil will operate the license with a 90 % working interest, with Gas y Petróleo del Neuquén retaining a 10 % interest.
“With the Bajo del Toro Este license award we are building our light oil position in a world-class unconventional resource play, the Vaca Muerta Formation”, Tim Dodson, Statoil’s executive vice president for exploration, said.
The Bajo del Toro Este license borders the Bajo del Toro license to the west. Statoil and Argentina’s energy company YPF (NYSE: YPF) entered an agreement to jointly explore the Vaca Muerta Formation in the Bajo del Toro block in August 2017.
“With increased ownership interests, and Statoil now becoming an operator, we are positioned to test the extent of the play and optimize with respect to materiality. We will also leverage our U.S. onshore experience,” Dodson said.
The opportunities have an excellent fit with Statoil’s sharpened strategy, and are in line with the company’s exploration strategy of delivering profitable, high-quality resources.
The Bajo del Toro Este exploration license permit covers an area of more than 133 sq km (51 sq miles). The license is located in the Neuquén Basin in the western part of Argentina. Statoil has committed to one exploration well within the four-year exploration period, which starts in 2018.
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