A ninth oil discovery has been made by ExxonMobil in the 10th exploration well drilled on block 15 off Angola, where Statoil has a 13.33 per cent interest.
This Batuque-1 well flowed 5,200 barrels of oil per day during a simple production test.
Located between the Mondo-1 and Saxi-1 wells on the central trend in block 15, this discovery is the third on the acreage this year.
A successful appraisal well has also been drilled on the Kissanje field in the same area.
Further studies will confirm whether the Batuque reserves, combined with those in Mondo and Saxi, justify an independent development. Another option could be a satellite tie-back to Kizomba A or B.
Batuque-1 was drilled by the Reading & Bates rig M G Hulme, which worked for Statoil off Nigeria last year.