Marathon reports oil discovery off Norway

Marathon Oil Corp.'s wholly owned subsidiary Marathon Petroleum Norge AS Tuesday reported an oil discovery on its Kneler 25/4-7 well on production license (PL) 203, about 140 miles from Stavanger, Norway.

April 15, 2003

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Apr. 15 -- Marathon Oil Corp.'s wholly owned subsidiary Marathon Petroleum Norge AS Tuesday reported an oil discovery on its Kneler 25/4-7 well on production license (PL) 203, about 140 miles from Stavanger, Norway.

The Kneler well, in 390 ft of water 7.5 miles west of Heimdal platform, was drilled into the Heimdal formation to 7,425 ft TD below sea level. It encountered a 155 ft gross oil column. Marathon is analyzing downhole samples and wireline logs.

The discovery is the first part of a three-well program to evaluate the West Heimdal area, the company said. Marathon will drill the next exploration well on PL 088BS on the nearby Boa prospect into the same formation.

The PL203 group includes Marathon, operator with a 65% working interest, ConocoPhillips 20%, and Oslo-based DNO ASA15%.