Hydrocarbons were encountered while drilling the deepwater Mizzen prospect (EL 1049), located approximately 500 kilometres east-northeast of St John’s, Newfoundland. Further analysis of the well results will be undertaken to determine the potential, and an application for a Significant Discovery License (SDL) will be filed over the coming months. “The drilling operation, conducted at a water depth of 1,100 metres and during the heart of the North Atlantic winter storm season, was very challenging,” said Erik Abrahamsen, StatoilHydro Canada’s vice president of East Coast Operations.