led ▁joint ▁vent ure ▁for ▁N OK ▁ 1 7 . 3 5 ▁billion ▁($ 3 . 2 5 ▁billion ) ▁to ▁Sol ve ig ▁Gas ▁Norway ▁AS ▁and ▁still ▁has ▁ 5 % ▁shares ▁in ▁the ▁partners hip . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁Stato il ▁sold ▁the ▁Le is mer ▁oil ▁sand ▁operation ▁in ▁Canada ▁to ▁Ath ab as ca ▁O il . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 1 – 2 0 1 2 , ▁Stato il ▁announced ▁a ▁new ▁discovery ▁in ▁the ▁North ▁Sea ▁of ▁, ▁a ▁large ▁new ▁find ▁at ▁its ▁Ald ous ▁Major ▁South ▁prospect ▁on ▁the ▁Norwegian ▁contin ental ▁sh elf ▁with ▁recover able ▁oil ▁between ▁, ▁a ▁large ▁new ▁find ▁at ▁the ▁Sk rug ard ▁prospect ▁in ▁the ▁northern ▁Norwegian ▁Sea ▁( Bar ents ▁Sea ▁in ▁Stato il ▁termin ology ) ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁Sn ø h v it ▁field ▁off ▁Ham mer fest , ▁and ▁a ▁find ▁in ▁the ▁Hav is ▁Pro spect ▁of ▁the ▁Bar ents ▁Sea ▁of ▁ ▁of ▁oil . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁Stato il ▁bought ▁Br igh am ▁Ex pl oration ▁for ▁$ 4 . 4 ▁Bill ion ▁to ▁gain ▁access ▁to ▁its ▁oil ▁sh ale ▁operations ▁in ▁North ▁Dak ota ' s ▁Bak ken ▁formation . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁Stato il ▁sent ▁ 4 5 , 0 0 0 ▁bar rel s ▁of ▁oil ▁per ▁day ▁by ▁rail road ▁cars ▁from ▁North ▁Dak ota . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁