Statoil has been awarded four new exploration licences in New Zealand.
The permits have been awarded by the government through the country’s 2014 block offer.
The Norwegian company will participate in three blocks on the East coast and in the Pegasus basins as a partner.
It will also take on operatorship for one new permit next to existing acreage in the Reinga basin.
Erling Vågnes, Statoil’s senior vice president for exploration in the Eastern hemisphere, said: “The East Coast acreage adds another high-impact opportunity to our long-term portfolio, while the expansion in the Reinga basin secures access to potential upsides from our existing position.
“This is in line with our exploration strategy of early access at scale and deepening existing positions.”
Blocks 57083, 57085 and 57087 have been awarded with Chevron as operator and both companies holding a 50% working interest.
The permits are located in the East Coast and Pegasus basins, southeast off New Zealand’s North Island.
The permits cover more than 25,000 square kilometres and sit in water depths between 800 and 3,000 metres.
Statoil said the initial phase of the project will consist of data collection.
Block 57057 has been awarded to Statoil with a 100% working interest.
It is located in the Reinga basin offshore Northland, adjacent to Statoil’s existing exploration acreage.
The permit covers sits approximately 100 kilometres offshore and covers an area of 1,670 square kilometres in water depths of around 1,500 metres.
Statoil has committed to acquire 200 line kilometres of 2D seismic data within the permit.
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