The license will be operated by Repsol with 33.34% stake while ExxonMobil Exploration Colombia will hold the remaining 33.33% interest.
Subject to the final approval of the National Hydrocarbons Agency of Colombia, the license award marks Statoil’s entry into Colombia with an early exploration phase.
Statoil senior vice-president for exploration activities in the Western Hemisphere Nick Maden said: "Deep-water offshore Colombia is virtually untested.
"The award of new acreage in this frontier area is in line with our exploration strategy of early access at scale."
Initial working commitments, including 2D and 3D seismic acquisition, will allow Statoil to further assess the potential of the basin, with no well commitments in the first exploration phase.
Statoil is seeking international opportunities in offshore and deep-water development projects.
Image: Statoil exploration activities senior vice president Nick Maden. Photo: © Statoil 2014.
