Johan Sverdrup oil find 'thinner than expected'

OSLO, Norway, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said Monday the latest appraisal well from the Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea showed less oil than anticipated.

Swedish energy company Lundin Petroleum said its Norwegian subsidiary Statoil discovered oil while drilling the well and found an oil column that was about 19.5 feet thick, but the directorate said that was "somewhat thinner than expected."

Lundin says its appraisal program in the Johan Sverdrup field is "extensive."

Chief Executive Officer Ashley Heppenstall has said three planned projects could double production rates to more than 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent by 2015.