This represents an increase of 17 per cent in comparison with the same period of last year.
The company?s earnings per share were NOK 2.17 as against NOK 1.66 for the first quarter of 2003.
Net income came to NOK 4.7 billion compared with NOK 3.6 billion for the same period of last year.
Statoil CEO: "We have delivered a strong result for the first quarter, with our best-ever result from operations. We have had high and stable production, high gas sales and reduced unit costs. Combined with robust oil and gas prices, this yielded a solid result. We strengthened our financial position during the first quarter, and took important strategic steps both in Norway and internationally".
Average production of oil and gas rose to 1 184 000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) for the first quarter, compared with 1 159 000 boe/d in the same period of last year.
