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related - BP makes ninth discovery in Angola's Block 31
Fri Oct 21, 2005 06:45 AM ET

LONDON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Oil major BP Plc (BP.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it had made its ninth discovery in the deep water Block 31 off Angola.

The well was tested at a maximum rate of 5,956 barrels of oil a day (b/d) through a two-inch choke, BP said.

BP's partners on the block are U.S. oil firms Exxon Mobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Marathon Oil (MRO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , France's Total (TOTF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) , Angolan state oil company Sonangol and Norway's Statoil (STL.OL: Quote, Profile, Research) .

Block 31, which covers an area of 5,349 kilometres and lies in water depths of between 1,500 and 2,500 metres, is one of the British giant's big hopes of major oil exploration development in West Africa, although its potential is unknown.

BP, the operator of the Block with a 26.67 percent stake, said it was evaluating options for the development of the southeast region of the Block where Hebe-1 is located. (Additional reporting by Karen Iley)