OSLO: Norwegian oil and gas producer Statoil has drilled a dry well in Angola's pre-salt formations and failed to find commercially viable resources in a well in the Martin prospect in the US Gulf of Mexico, the company said on Thursday.
Both wells will be abandoned, it added.
The Angola Dilolo 1 well, drilled in Block 39 in the Kwanza Basin, was the first of eight attempts Statoil plans to make in order to strike oil in the country's pre-salt geology.
Similar formations offshore Brazil, on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean, have yielded large oil discoveries.
"In this first well hydrocarbons were not encountered, but the operation did provide a valuable calibration for other prospects in the area. Further studies are needed in order to fully understand the well results," Statoil said.
It will now move the Stena Carron drillship to the neighboring Block 38 to drill a new well. Statoil holds a stake of 37.5 percent in Block 39 and 45 percent in Block 38. In Block 39, it partners with Total, WRG, Ecopetrol and state firm Sonangol, while WRG, Ecopetrol and Sonangol are part of Block 38.
Statoil did make a small discovery in the Martin prospect in the US Gulf, but said it was not considered commercially viable and that the Maersk Developer rig would move on to a new location.
The Norwegian company holds a 42.5 percent stake in Martin, with Nexen and LLOG as partners.
In its update, Statoil also said it now plans for an 18 month drilling campaign on the east coast of Canada following its earlier Bay du Nord oil discovery.
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