Idemitsu Kosan Co. announced Friday that Idemitsu Snorre Oil Development Co., its joint venture with Osaka Gas Co., has struck oil in the North Sea off Norway.
The oil concession, close to the Fram oil field now in commercial operation, will begin commercial production around 2010, Idemitsu said.
Idemitsu Snorre will get up to 3,000 barrels of oil per day there, the company said.
Rising crude oil prices have prompted Idemitsu to increase oil exploration operations in Southeast Asia and the North Sea off Norway.