Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Nov. 1 -- StatoilHydro AS has not found any hydrocarbons in its deep offshore Orca well on Plataforma Deltana Block 4 off eastern Venezuela.
Orca was the third and last well to be drilled and completed on the block as part of the company's minimum exploration requirements.
StatoilHydro used TransOcean's Sovereign Explorer semisubmersible to carry out exploration. During drilling, the company found gas-bearing sands in the Cocuina and Ballena areas in previous wells.
StatoilHydro said it wants to keep acreage around Cocuina to assess commerciality in partnership with Total SA. They have informed the Venezuelan energy ministry of their plans.
Plataforma Deltana Block 4 is a license awarded to Statoil by the Venezuelan government in 2003. StatoilHydro, with a 51% interest, is operator of the license, while Total holds 49%.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
