By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 22 -- Statoil ASA said it completed exploratory drilling on its Uranus prospect in the Barents Sea without encountering producible hydrocarbons.

Uranus is in the North Cape basin 25 km from Pandora, a 2001 oil and gas discovery. The Uranus exploration well 7227/11-1, on Production License 202, is 125 km north-northeast of North Cape.

Statoil is moving the rig, Ocean Rig ASA's Erik Raude semisubmersible, to its Edvarda Prospect in the Norwegian Sea.

Statoil has 70% interest in the Uranus prospect, and Norsk Hydro ASA has 30%.