The exploration licenses have been awarded by the Norway's oil ministry as part of the Awards Pre-Defined Areas 2016 (APA 2016) licensing round.
A total of 29 companies received the offers for exploration interests in the 56 licenses including 36 in the North Sea, 17 in the Norwegian Sea and three in the Barents Sea.
Norwegian Petroleum and Energy Minister Terje Søviknes said: “The APA 2016 is an important contribution to secure future employment, value creation and state revenues from our by far largest and most important industry.”
The APA scheme involves 18 discoveries, of which 16 were identified in 2016, in the areas.
Søviknes added: “A predictable and high level of new acreage awards is a key element of our petroleum policy.
“The APA 2016 is an important contribution to secure future employment, value creation and state revenues from our by far largest and most important industry.”
Statoil won the biggest offer with 29 licenses including 16 operatorships. Aker BP remained the second biggest winner with 21 licenses and 13 operatorships.
Others firms which received one or more operatorships include ConocoPhillips, Engie, Shell, Wintershall, Wellesley, Total, PGNiG, MOL, among others.
Image: Statoil has operations in Norwegian continental shelf. Photo: courtesy of Statoil ASA.
