Trondheim, 25.03.2010

Oil- and gas discovery confirmed in the North Sea

Det norske oljeselskap ASA ("DETNOR") is operator for North Sea license
001 B, where appraisal well 16/1-11 is currently being drilled in order
to delineate the Draupne oil and gas discovery made by well 16/1-9 in
2008.

The well has been drilled to planned total depth of 2,625 meters. A 57
meter hydrocarbon column has been identified in the same reservoir
interval as found in discovery well 16/1-9. The appraisal well also
found non movable oil in the deeper formations of Trassic age.

The license partners have decided to carry out a production test in the
oil zone. This test is expected to take between two and three weeks to
complete.

As the oil-water contact has not been identified, neither in the
discovery well 16/1-9, nor in the current appraisal well 16/1-11, the
license partners will consider a sidetrack to the current well.

Water depth in the area is 111 meters and the well is being drilled by
semi submersible drilling rig Songa Delta.

Det norske oljeselskap is operator in 001 B with a 35 percent ownership
interest. Other partners include Statoil with 50 percent ownership
interest and Bayerngas with 15 percent.

Investor contacts:
Chief Financial Officer Finn Øistein Nordam: +47 98 28 93 82
Vice President Investor Relations Knut Evensen: +47 950 77 622

Media contact:
Head of Corporate Communications Torgeir Anda ; +47 99 11 22 03

About Det norske:
Det norske oljeselskap ASA has interests in a total of 77 licenses, with
40 operatorships.

Det norske is the second-largest operating company on the Norwegian
Continental Shelf both considering number of operatotships and
exploration activity. I 2009 the company operated nine exploration
wells, and the high activity will continue in 2010. Det norske runs its
activities in a safe and responsible manner in close cooperation with
the authorities.

Det norske currently employs a staff of 180. The company`s registered
office is located in Trondheim. The company also has offices in
Oslo,Harstad, and Stavanger. Det norske is listed on the Oslo Stock
Exchange (DETNOR).