Results from a new appraisal well on Norway's giant Johan Sverdrup have confirmed a northerly extension of the discovery.

Drilled in Norwegian license PL265, the 16/2-19 well encountered 6 m (19.68 ft) of gross oil- bearing reservoir of medium to good quality which is thought to be part of the Statfjord group formation, one of the drilling partners, Det Norske, announced in a stock exchange statement.

A subsequent sidetrack, 16/2-19A, was drilled, extending 1,000 m (3280 ft) to the southwest to confirm the northerly extension and this encountered a 12 m (40 ft) gross oil bearing reservoir in a Draupne Formation, which is the main Sverdrup reservoir.

The well reached a vertical depth of 1,971 m (6,4564 ft) and terminated in basement rocks.

Statoil operates the P265 license, with 40%, partnered by Det Norske, Petoro and Lundin Petroleum.