UK explorer Centrica Resources has said preliminary results from its Cooper well in the Norwegian Sea have confirmed the presence of oil.

The UK explorer is working to assess the size and commercial potential of the find, wit hthe results of further evaluation of the reservoir are expected in the coming weeks, according to Centrica regional director Dag Omre.

Located on the Halten Terrace, the Cooper well was drilled by Seadrill’s West Alpha semi-submersible in the middle Jurassic reservoirs in the Garn and Ile formations.

The block 6506/11, licence PL477 prospect sits between the Smorbukk oil, gas and condensate field immediately east and the Morvin oil field to the west, both operated by Statoil.

Centrica’s Norwegian arm Centrica Energi holds a 40% operating interest in Cooper, with partners PetroCanada (30%) and Faroe Petroleum (30%).

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