An oil discovery made by Statoil and partners Eni and Petoro could boost volumes for the Johan Castberg development in the Barents Sea, Statoil said in a news release.

On July 3 the company said the Kayak well, which was drilled by the Songa Enabler in the Johan Castberg license, made a discovery totaling between an estimated 25 and 50 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalents.

“We are very pleased to have made a good discovery in our first completed well in the Barents Sea this year. We are particularly pleased to have proven resources in a type of play that has not been explored before. This opens interesting opportunities,” Jez Averty, senior vice president for exploration for Statoil’s Norway and U.K. operations, said in the release. “Efforts will be made to find a commercial solution for the Kayak discovery toward the Johan Castberg license, and to bring out other similar prospects in the Barents Sea.”

The next steps include analyzing acquired data and considering appraisal. The rig will now return to and complete the Blåmann well, Statoil said, adding Gemini North drilling will come next.