Broad interest in the 20th licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf

By today’s deadline for applications in the 20th licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has received applications from 46 qualified companies. The Ministry aims at awarding new production licenses during spring 2009. At the same time the comprehensive Management plan for the Norwegian Sea is finalized.

-It is positive that this many companies want to aim towards new opportunities in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea. Petroleum activities that are undertaken in accordance with important environmental and fisheries concerns can make a significant impact on employment, industrial development and value creation in the northern areas, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen. 

As part of the Government’s policy on openness, the proposal for blocks in The 20th licensing round was for the first time sent on public hearing. The different views provided an important basis for the Governments decision before the announcement of the 20th licensing round on 27th June 2008. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy will as part of the openness policy now also for the first time make available to the public which of the announced blocks the companies have applied for. This will be published as soon as the Ministry has reviewed the applications.

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 companies that have applied for production licenses are:
Aker Exploration AS, Bayerngas Norge AS, BG Norge AS, Bridge Energy AS, Centrica Resources Norge AS, Chevron Norge AS, Concedo ASA, ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS, Dana Petroleum Norway, Det Norske Oljeselskap AS, Discover Petroleum AS, DONG Norge AS, AS, Edison International Spa, Endeavour Energy Norge AS, Eni Norge AS, E. ON Ruhrgas Norge, Excel Expro Norge AS, ExxonMobil E&P Norway AS, Faroe Petroleum Norge AS, Gaz de France Norge AS, Genesis petroleum Norway AS, Hess Norge AS, Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS, Lotos EPN AS, Lundin Norway AS, Marathon Petroleum Norge AS, Nexen Exploration Norge AS, North Energy AS, Norwegian Energy Company ASA, OMV Norge AS, PA Resources Norway AS, Petro-Canada Norge AS, PGNiG Norway AS, Repsol YPF, Revus Energy ASA, Rocksource ASA, RWE Dea Norge AS, Sagex Petroleum Norge AS, AS Norske Shell, Skagen44 AS, Spring Energy Norway AS, StatoilHydro ASA, Svenska Petroleum Exploration Norge AS, Talisman Energy Norge AS, Total E&P Norge AS og Wintershall Norge AS.

Number of applicants in previous licensing rounds:
19th licensing round: 24 companies
18th licensing round: 18 companies
17th licensing round: 13 companies

Press release: 
Announcement - 20th Licensing Round