Faroe Snaps Up Second License in Barents Sea

Faroe Snaps Up Second License in Barents Sea

Friday, April 15, 2011
Faroe Petroleum plc
by SubseaIQ

Faroe announced the 21st Norwegian License Round award of its second license in the Norwegian Barents Sea, as announced by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

The new license covers an area of approximately 2100 square kilometers and is located within blocks 7223/3, 6 and 7224/1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. This is the largest single license awarded within the Barents Sea in this round. The main Kvalross Prospect consists of a wedge of clinoforms contained within a large structural closure. This new license area is located to the east of the recent significant Statoil discovery, Skrugard, and immediately adjacent to Faroe Petroleum's Samson Dome license, which has now completed the acquisition and processing of an extensive 3D seismic survey.

The new license partners are Faroe Petroleum (40%), together with Wintershall (40% and operator) and Petoro (20%). The license work program involves the acquisition of 3D seismic data, with a decision to drill to be taken within three years.

Graham Stewart, Chief Executive of Faroe, commented, "Faroe was awarded its first license in the Barents Sea in the 20th Norwegian Licensing Round. Since then, our team has continued its efforts to identify new high quality exploration prospects in the Barents Sea, and we are therefore delighted to have been awarded our second prestigious license in the highly competitive 21st Licensing Round. Our team has considerable experience in the Barents Sea, which is becoming an increasingly important oil province, with the Goliat oil field development now underway, and recently, a new large oil discovery by Statoil on the Skrugard prospect. The Barents Sea is an area which complements our strategic position in the Atlantic margin area of West of Shetlands and the Faroe Islands and secures further highly prospective exploration acreage for the Company. Of the 17 wells in the Company's exciting, fully funded 2011 to 2013 drilling program, 13 are planned to be drilled in Norway, clearly demonstrating Faroe's continuing commitment to create further value in Norway."