Announcement – 20th Licensing Round

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy hereby announces the 20th Licensing Round, which comprises 79 blocks or parts of blocks in the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. This will provide basis for awards during spring of 2009. The 20th Licensing Round will contribute to maintaining exploration activities in immature parts of the Norwegian continental shelf, and provide basis for new petroleum activities and value creation in the northern part of Norway. New discoveries in these areas may prove significant for employment and industrial development in the northern coastal areas.

As part of the Governments openness policy, the proposal for blocks in the 20th Licensing Round has for the first time been sent on a public consultation. The response on the public consultation has been extensive and positive, and the different views have provided an important basis for the Governments decision. 

The Government puts great emphasis on fisheries- and environmental concerns in the coastal areas. The conditions relating to environmental concerns and fishery interests for the 20th Licensing Round have therefore been strengthened in some areas, e.g. in some blocks there is introduced time limitations on seismic surveys. 

The Government wants to await the assessments in the upcoming management plan for the Norwegian Sea before starting new petroleum activities outside the Møre coastline. Further petroleum activities and conditions in this area will be assessed in the management plan.

-It is important to continue the development of our welfare society by maintaining opportunities to make new discoveries, activities and value creation on the Norwegian continental shelf. The announcement is a balanced solution with emphasis on environmental- and fisheries concerns, says the Minister of petroleum and energy Terje Riis-Johansen.

Deadline for applications is 7 November 2008 at 12.00. The Government aims to award new production licenses during spring of 2009, at the same time of the finalization of the comprehensive management plan for the Norwegian Sea. Awards of blocks in the Norwegian Sea shall not conflict with the conclusion of the management plan.

The Government has in this Licensing Round decided not to include some of the recommended blocks in the Norwegian Sea. This will however not affect the assessments that will be part of the management plan. The Government will in the management plan for the Norwegian Sea consider the issue of new requirements related to zero discharges to sea during normal operations, this is currently required for petroleum operations in the Barents Sea. 

The following blocks or parts of blocks are announced in the 20th Licensing Round:

6201/4, 5, 6, 11, 12
6202/10
6203/10 (part in the southeastern corner)
6405/1, 2, 3
6502/2, 3, 6
6503/1, 2, 4, 5
6509/4, 5, 6, 12
6604/2, 3, 4, 5, 6
6605/11, 12
6606/1, 2, 3, 4, 5
6607/6, 8
6608/6, 9
6609/4
6703/7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
6704/7, 8, 10
6705/12
6707/8, 9, 11
7016/2
7116/11
7123/5, 6
7124/4
7217/12
7218/10, 11
7219/9, 12
7220/2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
7224/7, 8, 11
7225/3
7226/1, 8, 9
7228/10, 11, 12
7324/7, 8

Complete announcement, maps of available blocks, conditions related to environmental and fisheries interests and further information are available on the internet pages of the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (www.npd.no/20runde).

Link to pdf-map of announced areas

Brochure in pdf format: Norwegian Continental Shelf 2008