Yet more oil has been found in block 31 off Angola, which is operated by BP and Angolan state oil company Sonangol and where Statoil holds a 13.33 per cent interest.
This eighth discovery in the acreage was made with the Astraea-1 wildcat drilled from the Jack Ryan drill ship to a total measured depth of 3,511 metres in 1,496 metres of water.
Astraea lies 10 kilometres south-east of the Palas field, found earlier this year. Other discoveries in block 31 are Plutão, Saturno, Marte, Venus, Ceres and Juno.
The well was tested at a rate of 6,513 barrels of oil per day.
In addition to the block 31 acreage, Statoil has a 13.33 per cent interest in nearby Angolan blocks 15 and 17.
The other licensees in block 31 are BP with 26.67 per cent, ExxonMobil 25 per cent, Sonangol 20 per cent, Marathon Petroleum 10 per cent and Total five per cent.