Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Akihiko Tembo) announces that its subsidiary, Idemitsu Snorre Oil Development Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Osamu Kamimae)* has discovered, through Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS (Managing Director: Kosuke Tsuji), an accumulation of oil by exploration well in the "Vigdis North East" structure in the production license PL089, in which the company owns a 9.6% interest.

* Shareholders: Idemitsu Oil and Gas Co., Ltd. (50.5%), Osaka Gas Summit Resources (49.5%)

The discovery structure is located at a water depth of 290m, approximately 2,350m below sea level and north-east of the Vigdis oil field where production is already underway.

Exploration results have confirmed estimated reserves of about 25 million barrels, and a detailed evaluation and assessment of reserves will be undertaken in the near future.

As for the production license PL089, production is already underway in a total of five oil fields including the Snorre and Vigdis oil fields.

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Overview of Block

License name PL089
Participating interests
(* Operator)
Idemitsu Petroleum Norge (IPN) 9.6%
* StatoilHydro 41.5%
Petoro 30.0%
ExxonMobil 10.5%
Total 5.6%
RWE-Dea 2.8%
Size of license Approximate 320km2

New Window Open<Reference> Locational map of PL089 (PDF: 335KB)

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For inquiries regarding this press release, please contact

Mr. Yamada
PR Section IR&PR Office
Idemitsu Kosan, Co., Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-3213-3115