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Norway Launches Expanded Licensing Round


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Norway Launches Expanded Licensing Round

Business

Category: Energy

Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has announced this year’s licensing round for the geologically well know areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf—Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2015.

The objective is to award new production licenses in these areas at the beginning of 2016; the application deadline is Sept. 2, 2015.

“History has shown us that the APA-rounds have been very important for value-creation and for the activity-level on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. I am therefore very pleased to be able to announce this year’s APA-round where a significant number of blocks have been added,” said Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tord Lien.

In APA 2015, there is an expansion of the predefined area by 35 blocks in the Norwegian Sea, including blocks close to Aasta Hansteen field and the Pil and Bue discoveries at Haltenbanken. In the Barents Sea, the area has been expanded with 11 blocks close to the Alta and Gohta-discoveries. The announcement has been subject to a public consultation process.

“The expansion of the APA-area in the Norwegian Sea and in the Barents Sea in APA 2015 opens up for effective exploration of the areas near several discoveries and close to Aasta Hansteen field. This is good resource management, and will be important for the activity-level and the value-creation, especially in the northern region,” Minister Lien continued.

A map of the blocks on offer may be viewed HERE.

Source: World Oil

Published: March 28, 2024