OilVoice - Norway - Awards in Predefined Areas 2009

Norway - Awards in Predefined Areas 2009

Monday, February 22, 2010

On 19 January 2010, the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy announced that it is offering a total of 38 production licences under the Awards in Predefined Areas 2009 (APA 2009). Of the licences offered, 25 are located in the North Sea, 10 in the Norwegian Sea and three in the Barents Sea.

Of the 44 companies that applied, 42 have been offered licences. Operatorships have been offered to 19 companies, of which Bridge and Repsol are the only companies which have not previously been an operator on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

Terje Riis-Johansen, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, commented on the awards: "Today I am offering production licences to 42 companies of which 19 companies are offered operatorships. APA 2009 is the seventh licensing round with focus on mature areas on the whole shelf. The industry's continuing interest for these areas indicates that the annual licensing rounds in mature areas work in accordance with the purpose of an efficient exploration of the mature areas. Offers are given to large, medium-sized and small companies. This illustrates the diversity of companies on the NCS."

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