Great interest in the 21st licensing round on the Norwegian Continental Shelf

- It is positive that many companies show interest for the announced blocks in the 21st licensing round. Competition for acreage is an important part of our licensing policy. This allows us to choose companies which can explore and exploit the resources on the Norwegain continental shelf most efficient, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen.

94 blocks were announced in the 21st licensing round divided upon 43 blocks in the Norwegian Sea and 51 blocks in the Barents Sea. This licensing round has focus upon frontier areas on deep water in the Norwegian Sea and frontier areas in the Barents Sea.

- The Norwegian oil production is declining. Hence, it is pivotal to maintain the level of exploration activities on the Norwegian continental shelf through awards of new production licenses in both mature and frontier areas of the Norwegian Continental Shelf, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen.

When the offers are made to the companies during spring 2011 The Ministry will make public which blocks are awarded to which companies, with according work program

The companies that have applied for production licenses are:

A/S Norske Shell, Bayerngas Norge AS, BG Norge AS, Bridge Energy Norge AS, Centrica Resources Norge AS, Chevron Norge AS, Concedo ASA, ConocoPhillips Scandinavia AS, Dana Petroleum Norway AS, Det norske oljeselskap ASA, Dong E&P Norge AS, E.ON Ruhrgas Norge AS, Edison International SpA - Norway Branch, ENI Norge AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, Faroe Petroleum Norge AS, Front Exploration AS, GDF SUEZ E&P Norge AS, Idemistu Petroleum Norge AS, LOTOS Exploration & Production Norge AS, Lundin Norway AS, Maersk Oil Norway AS, Marathon Petroleum Norge AS, Nexen Exploration Norge AS, North Energy ASA, Norwegian Energy Company ASA, OMV (Norge) AS, Petro-Canada Norge AS, PGNiG Norway AS, Repsol Exploration Norge AS, Rocksource ASA, RWE-Dea Norge AS, Sagex Petroleum Norge AS, Spring Energy Norway AS, Statoil Petroleum AS, VNG Norge AS, Wintershall Norge ASA

The Norwegian Government announced the 21st licensing round on June 23rd 2010. More information regarding the licensing round can be found in the press release from this date, including a map of the announced areas.