By the OGJ Online Stafff
HOUSTON, Nov. 28 -- Statoil AS is forming a global exploration team of about 100 geologists by the end of the year to focus on high quality prospects.
The unit will be responsible for accessing and proving new high potential acreage worldwide, based on the best possible utilization of the group's exploration resources.
Richard Hubbard, executive vice-president for international exploration and production, said, "Statoil has a very experienced team of geo-personnel. By bringing the various teams together in one organization we will lay the basis for increased efficiency and enhanced creativity.
"Our targets in the exploration area are very ambitious. Consequently we have to create an organization where we as a group make the most out of our total expertise. Thus our exploration personnel will work as an integrated team, regardless of whether they are evaluating the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) or areas elsewhere," Hubbard said.
Around 100 exploration geologists will remain within the various areas on the NCS. The reason for this is to maximize focus on enhanced recovery in the core areas, and to develop the best solutions for the awarded areas.
"The new organization model will allow us to focus even better on exploration and enhanced oil recovery in our core areas and awarded acreage on the NCS," said Henrik Carlsen, executive vice-president for Norwegian exploration and production.
The exploration team will be organized by projects. Initially the projects will be the 17th round, the Barents Sea (except the Tromsø Patch core area), global and regional screening, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Brazil.
