APA 2007 – Wide interest for exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf

By the deadline for application to the Awards in predefined areas (APA) 2007* on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS), the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has received applications from 46 companies. The Ministry aims to award new production licenses in APA 2007 at the end of this year or at the beginning of 2008.

Although most of these areas have been available for exploration for several years, the steady high number of applications the recent years demonstrates that the industry sees opportunities in the APA areas.

- I am pleased to see the extensive interest for exploration in the mature areas, says Mrs. Åslaug Haga, Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy. - This shows that our continental shelf is very competitive, seen from an international perspective, says Minister Haga.

The range of applicants is wide, from the large established international companies to companies recently prequalified as licensees for the Norwegian continental shelf.

- The APA system enables many small companies to quickly establish a business position at the NCS. This ensures a varied mix of companies operating in Norway. Nevertheless, I will underscore the importance of large, established companies also participating in the exploration in mature areas, says Minister Haga.

The companies submitting applications are:
Aker Exploration AS, Bayerngas Norge AS, BG Norge AS, Bridge Energy AS, Centrica Resources Norge AS, Concedo ASA, ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS, Dana Petroleum Norway, Det Norske Oljeselskap AS, Discover Petroleum AS, DONG Norge AS, E. ON Ruhrgas Norge AS, Edison International Spa, Endeavour Energy Norge AS, Eni Norge AS, Esso Norge AS, Excel Expro Norge AS, Faroe Petroleum Norge AS, Gaz de France Norge AS, Genesis Petroleum Norway AS, Hess Norge AS, Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS, Lundin Norway AS, Maersk Oil Norway AS, Nexen Exploration Norge AS, Noble Energy Norge AS, Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS, AS Norske Shell, Norwegian Energy Company AS (NORECO), OMV Norge AS, PA Resources Norway AS, Pertra ASA, Petro-Canada Norge AS, Premier Oil Norge AS, Revus Energy ASA, Rocksource ASA, RWE Dea Norge AS, Sagex Petroleum Norge AS, Skagen44 AS, Skeie Energy AS, Statoil ASA, Svenska Petroleum Exploration Norge AS, Talisman Energy Norge AS, Total E&P Norge AS, VNG Norge AS and Wintershall Norge AS.

The Government announced the APA 2007 on 29 January 2007. More information is to be found in the press release from the same date. Here a map of the announced areas is to be found.

Press release from 29 January 2006

*Background:

• In 2003 the Government introduced the system of Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) in mature parts of the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). This system replaced the annual North Sea Awards. Today the predefined areas comprises of acreage in the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. 
• The APA-system ensures that very large areas close to existing and planned infrastructure are available for the industry in the years to come. This will contribute to efficient use of production and transportation installations on the NCS. 
• The APA-system gives new and smaller players on the NCS opportunities to build up their exploration portfolio. 
• The APA area shall be expanded as new areas mature, but the area shall not be reduced.
  

Announced blocks or parts of blocks in the APA-rounds:
2003 – 143 blocks
2004 – 151 blocks
2005 – 192 blocks
2006 – 200 blocks
2007 – 197 blocks

Number of companies that submitted applications:
2003 – 16 companies
2004 – 22 companies
2005 – 29 companies
2006 – 43 companies
2007 – 46 companies