On 8 December, Statoil was abandoning its Bay de Verde F-76 probe in Exploration Licence 1112 after about five weeks on location.

Sources previously told Upstream the probe drilled by the semi-submersible West Hercules would take only a month.

A Statoil spokesman declined to comment on the well results or future drilling plans.

“We do not disclose any details from the different phases in the drilling programme.