- The North Sea Awards 2000 is important for the long-term resource management on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Carrying out this Round will contribute to increased exploration activity, and may in the longer term give new field developments. This will even out the activity level and contribute to securing the level of employment in the industry, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Olav Akselsen. The Minister adds that concern for the fisheries and the environment was taken into account when the fields were chosen.

In the North Sea, exploration activities have been going on for many years. The activities started in 1965, and about 520 exploration wells have been drilled in the area. The fields assumed to be the largest have been discovered and production has started. About 48 field developments have been approved in the area. There is still a potential to discover new, profitable resources in the North Sea. The undiscovered resources in unlicensed areas in the North Sea are expected to amount to approximately 1/3 of the total resources.

The acreage announced totals 40 blocks or parts of blocks. The area that is designated as seismic area is shown on the map.

Deadline for submission of applications is 14 December 2000. The awards are planned to take place in the first quarter of 2001.

The following blocks or parts of blocks are announced:

• 1/2, 3, 5 and 6
• 3/5, 7 and 8
• 4/1
• 7/5, 7, 8 and 9
• 15/5 and 8
• 16/2, 3, 5 and 6
• 17/5, 7 and 8
• 25/7
• 29/6
• 30/4 and 11
• 31/5
• 34/5, 6 and 9
• 35/1, 3 and 7
• 26/1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8, and 31/10 and 11

See the map