Statoil’s appraisal well 16/2-19 on the northern margin of the Johan Sverdrup field in production license (PL) 265 encountered a gross oil column of 4.5 m (15 ft) in sandstones believed to represent the Statfjord Formation, according to a press release from partner Det norske oljeselskap ASA.

The partnership will drill a sidetrack well about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) to the southwest with the objective of clarifying the northern extent of the Johan Sverdrup main reservoir of the Draupne Formation sandstones.

Licensees in PL 265 are Statoil (operator, 40%), Petoro AS (30%), Det norske (20%) and Lundin Norway AS (10%).