Norwegian operator Det Norske has been boosted after revealing it has found hydrocarbon traces on a prospect in the Barents Sea.
The Langlitinden site, in arctic waters, is thought to contain up to 75million barrels of oil.
Det norske said it had identified hydrocarbon shows from the latest exploration well on the prospect, where it acts as operator.
Drilling work was still ongoing, with no final results available, but the firm has been looking to establish the presence of gas on the field, around 165km north-west of Hammerfest.