The supermajor is not satisfied with the economics of the project, and has opened a data room for potential buyers of its 33% interest, according to an industry source.

Dagny and the neighbouring Eirin discovery are likely to cost between Nkr25 billion ($4.2 billion) and Nkr30 billion to develop, Statoil estimated earlier this year.

Together the two deposits contain about 300 million barrels of oil equivalent.