OSLO–Norwegian oil company Statoil ASA said Friday it has secured a permit to explore for oil off the northwest coast of Australia, its third asset in the country.

Statoil said it would use the permit to collect seismic data for three years in the Northern Carnarvon Basin before deciding on its next step.

The offshore permit covers more than 13,000 square kilometres, and is situated 300 kilometres off Western Australia, at a water depth of between 1,500 meters and 2,000 meters.