Another field has been found by operator Elf in the oil-rich block 17 off Angola, in which Statoil has a 13.33 per cent holding.
Located close to the existing Rosa find, this Orchidea discovery is the sixth in a block which also includes the Girassol, Dalia, Lirio and Tulipa fields.
Proven reserves in this area could be developed jointly in a future project, says Jon Bakken, manager for western Africa in Statoil.
Girassol is already under development, with plans calling for a production ship and subsea templates to start flowing in 2001.