UPDATE 1-Talisman finds oil near Varg field off Norway

* Talisman finds oil in North Sea appraisal well

* Energy officials say discovery is probably commercial

* Discovery estimated at 38-132 mln barrels oil equivalent

(Adds details, quotes)

OSLO, June 18 (Reuters) - Canadian producer Talisman Energy (TLM.TO) has struck oil in an appraisal well near the Varg field it operates off Norway, Norwegian energy officials and a partner in the prospect said on Thursday.

"The discovery, which is probably commercial, lies 16 kilometres north of the Varg field in the North Sea," the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) said in a statement.

The discovery is probably between 6 million and 21 million standard cubic metres of oil equivalents, the NPD said. That is equal to 38 million to 132 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Talisman is the operator and has a 40 percent interest in production licence 038 D. Its partners in the licence are Norwegian Det norske oljeselskap (DETNOR.OL) with a 30 percent interest and Norway's state-owned Petoro with 30 percent.

Det norske said separately the discovery at the Grevling prospect was larger than indicated by a first well and estimated at between 40 million and 130 million barrels of oil.

Det norske said the discovery was commercially viable and would be considered for development either as a tie-back to Varg or as an independent project.

It added its share of the discovery could match volumes it sold in the Goliat prospect last autumn for 1.1 billion Norwegian crowns ($172.8 million).

"This is an important discovery for Det norske," it said.

The well was drilled at a sea depth of 86 metres by the Maersk Guardian rig, the NPD said. (Reporting by John Acher; editing by James Jukwey)