Statoil: Upgraded volumes in Brazilian pre-salt discoveries

Statoil (OSE: STL, NYSE:STO) together with operator Repsol Sinopec and partner Petrobras confirm the significant potential of the pre-salt block BM-C-33 in the Campos basin offshore Brazil.

The total estimated resources of the block amount to more than 700 million barrels of light crude and 3 Trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas. The estimate includes the Seat, Gávea and Pão de Açúcar discoveries.

"The updated volumes for the pre-salt discoveries confirm the high potential in
the Campos Basin and it also strengthens our confidence in our  position in the
pre-salt Kwanza basin in Angola", says executive vice president for Exploration
in Statoil, Tim Dodson.

"The development of BM-C-33, including the Pão discovery, in 2800 meters of
water will represent exciting new challenges for the partnership and the
industry. Statoil's exploration strategy focuses on high impact wells and the
deepening of core areas. The pre-salt success shows that we are delivering on
our strategy," says Dodson.

Statoil holds a 35 % interest in the consortium with Repsol Sinopec Brazil as
the operator (35%) and Petrobras (30%). The consortium is preparing an appraisal
plan to be presented to the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas
and Biofuels (ANP).

The high impact Pão de Açúcar well, as announced earlier this year, encountered
a hydrocarbon column of around 500 meters. The well is located 195 kilometers
from the coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

On 24 May at 13:00 CET Statoil hosts an Exploration seminar where an update will
be given on its exploration strategy and exploration activities worldwide. The
seminar will take place in Oslo and will be web-casted at statoil.com.

(*) "High-impact well" =  a total of more than 250 million barrels of oil
equivalent (boe), or 100 million boe net to Statoil.

For more information, please contact:

Investor relations
Lars Valdresbråten, investor relations officer
Tel: +47 402 81 789 (mobile)

Morten Sven Johannessen, vice president, investor relations North America,
Tel +1 203 570 2524 (mobile)

Media relations
Bård Glad Pedersen, press spokesperson,
Tel +47 91 80 17 91 (mobile)

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section
5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.






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Source: Statoil via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1614599]


Unternehmen: Statoil - ISIN: NO0010096985