The UK's Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) has invited companies to apply for new licenses to drill at 14 blocks in the supplementary round to the 29th oil and gas licensing round.
The 14 blocks on offer in the supplementary round are outside of the 29th oil and gas licensing round offer area, which closed last month. Locations vary across the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), from the Southern North Sea to East of Shetland. The round offers the “innovate license” concept which was launched for the first time in the 29th Round. The supplementary round opened earlier today (6 December).
“The UKCS has both frontier and mature basins and this Supplementary Round is an important part of our approach to facilitate exploration across the whole of the UKCS,” Andy Samuel, OGA chief executive said. “We are encouraged by the nominations from industry for licensing in these areas. The application of modern seismic techniques, improved collective understanding of the basin’s geology and a fresh perspective are vital to unlocking the remaining reserves in the UKCS’ mature areas.”
Companies have until 16:00 on 7 March 2017 to apply for the blocks on offer in this supplementary round.
The 29th offshore licensing round, launched on 27 July 2016 and closed on 26 October 2016, attracted 29 applications covering 113 blocks.
Read more: