Wintershall will take over as operator with 60% shares in the license areas PL 550 (Spring 40 %) and PL 551 (Spring 40 %) in the Norwegian North sea off the coast of Central Norway. Wintershall was also awarded the operatorship for area PL 561 with a share of 35% (Concedo 20%, Det norske 20%, E.ON Ruhrgas 25%).
In addition, Wintershall has been granted an interest in license PL 564 (Wintershall 30 %, OMV 50% (operator), North Energy 20%) in the Barents sea.
The Norwegian ministry of petroleum and energy has issued 38 licenses to 42 companies overall as part of the 2009 licensing round. The majority of the licenses granted apply to the Norwegian section of the North sea (25 licenses). Another ten licenses were issued for the Norwegian sea and three for the Barents sea. Overall 44 companies took part in the bidding process, which is now complete.
