Norway launches 24th licensing round

Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy today (21 June) announced it will offer 102 Norwegian Continental Shelf blocks for bidding in the 24^th licensing round.

Nine blocks in the Norwegian Sea and 93 blocks in the Barents Sea will be offered. The ministry plans to award new production licenses in 1H 2018. The application deadline for companies is 12 p.m. on 30 November 2017.

“New exploration acreage promotes long-term activity, value creation and profitable employment in the petroleum industry across the country. Profitable activity on the Norwegian continental shelf provides employment, as well as revenues to the state. Thus, awarding prospective acreage to the petroleum industry is a central pillar in the Norwegian government's petroleum policy,” said Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Søviknes in a 21 June press statement.

The blocks or partial blocks being offered include:

• 6201/6
• 6202/4
• 6408/4, 7
• 6503/8, 11, 12
• 6504/10, 11
• 7018/1, 4, 5
• 7116/6
• 7117/4, 5
• 7130/6, 9, 12
• 7131/1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11,12
• 7218/1, 2, 3
• 7225/2, 3
• 7226/1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
• 7227/4, 7, 12
• 7228/10
• 7233/3
• 7234/1
• 7318/4, 5, 6, 7
• 7319/4, 5, 6
• 7320/1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• 7321/1, 2, 3, 6
• 7322/1, 2, 4, 5, 8
• 7323/5, 6
• 7324/4
• 7325/2, 3, 6, 8, 9
• 7326/4, 7, 8, 9
• 7327/7, 8
• 7329/2, 3
• 7330/1, 2
• 7332/9
• 7333/7
• 7334/10, 11
• 7335/4, 5, 6
• 7420/12
• 7421/10, 11, 12
• 7422/10, 11, 12
• 7423/10
• 7426/10, 11

The blocks being offered are based on nominations made by oil and gas companies and evaluation by government authorities.

Last month, the Norwegian Petroleum Ministry announced the Awards in Predefined Area 2017 licensing round.

Read more:

Norway opens latest licensing round, APA 2017