05-08-08 StatoilHydro has, together with its partner Sonatrach, made a fifth discovery in the Hassi Mouina licence in the Sahara desert in Algeria. The existence of gas was confirmed in exploration well TNKW-1 in the southern part of the licence.
"This is an interesting discovery and shows that there is a resource potential in the Hassi Mouina licence", says Alf Henry Meland, the head of exploration in Algeria.

The Hassi Mouina licence was awarded in June 2004. It includes four blocks within an area of 23 000 sq km in the Gourara basin. Some 30 % has now been relinquished to the Algerian government in accordance with the licence agreement.
The area is located in the western part of the Sahara in Algeria, northwest of the In Salah gas field, where StatoilHydro has a 31,85 % interest.

StatoilHydro has a 75 % interest in Hassi Mouina, whereas the partner Sonatrach has an interest of 25 %.