Norway's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has set out proposed exploration blocks to be offered in the 24th licensing round, including a large tranche in the Barents Sea.
The move follows an invitation to oil companies to nominate blocks for inclusion in the 24th Licensing Round.
It is reported that, if they are all included, it would be the largest release of blocks in the Barents Sea, with many of those offered north of the Wisting discovery - the northern most oil discovery offshore Norway to date.
The details of the proposed blocks to be offered have been released as part of a public consultation. The proposal includes a total of 102 blocks in nine blocks in the Norwegian Sea and 93 blocks in the Barents Sea.
The ministry says it aims to announce the blocks on offer in Q2 with a deadline for applications in Q4. The move has drawn criticism from environmental groups.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate says total undiscovered resources offshore Norway are estimated at 2.9 billion cu m oil equivalent, with about half of that expected to be found in the Barents Sea.