StatoilHydro has drilled a dry well in the North Sea, according to a statement by the Norwegian oil directorate.
The well will be plugged permanently and abandoned.
StatoilHydro, the operator, holds a 49% interest in licence 079.
Other stakeholders in the licence include state-owned Petoro with 33.6%, Total with 10%, ExxonMobil with 4.7% and ConocoPhillips with 2.4%.