Energy group Equinor and its partner Orlen have made a small discovery of gas and condensate in the North Sea, Norway's Offshore Directorate (NOD) said in a statement on Tuesday.
The drilling at the "Sissel" prospect some five kilometres (three miles) southeast of Norway's Utgard field revealed estimated resources of between 6.3 million and 28.3 million barrels of oil equivalent, the regulator added. The well was drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic rig.
According to the NOD, Well 15/8-3 S encountered condensate-rich gas in sandstone layers in the Hugin Formation with an overall thickness of 148 metres, proving a hydrocarbon column of about 95 metres. Extensive data and samples were collected before the well reached a vertical depth of 4282 metres below sea level.
Water depth at the site is 110 metres, and the well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.
"Moving forward, the licensees will consider the opportunities to develop the discovery as a tie-back to existing infrastructure in the area," NOD said.
Norway's Equinor and Poland's Orlen each hold a 50 per cent stake in the operating licence.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Stine Jacobsen)