Statoil has successfully bid on 14 leases in the Gulf of Mexico region.
The company was the highest bidder on the leases in the US Department of the Interior’s sale which took place in New Orleans.
Jez Averty, Statoil’s senior vice president of exploration in North America, said: “The acreage high bid today, completes our ownership of the Monument prospect, brings additional prospects in to our portfolio and strengthens our position in prioritised areas of the US Gulf of Mexico.”
The bids are subject to review and final approval by the authorities.
Earlier this week the Norwegian operator said it had made a gas discovery in the Snefrid Nord prospect in the Norwegian Sea.
The discovery well 6706/12-2 was drilled by Transocean Spitsbergen and proved a 105-metre gas column in the Nise Formation.
Statoil has estimated the volumes discovered to be in the range of 31-57million barrels of oil equivalent.
The company said the discovery is an important contribution to the Aasta Hansteen field development project and Polarled pipeline utilisation.