The well was drilled about 145 km East of Aberdeen to verify the extension of the original Culzean discovery well announced in 2008, Maersk Oil said in a statement.

“The production test shows that the Culzean discovery has the potential to be one of the most promising HPHT (high pressure, high temperature) discoveries in the UK sector in recent years,” Maersk Oil said.

Maersk Oil and its partners have agreed to a further appraisal program to assess the full extent of the field, and the results of a sidetrack well are expected in summer 2011 after which a further appraisal well will be drilled, it said.

Maersk Oil is operator and has a 49.99 percent stake in Culzean. Its partners are JX Nippon with 17.06 percent, Eni with 16.95 percent and BP with 16.0 percent, Maersk said.