APA 2016: High interest in exploring for oil and gas in Norway
Historical archive
Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
Press release | No: 044/16 | Date: 21/09/2016
The deadline for applications to the annual licensing round in the best known exploration areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (APA 2016) expired on Tuesday 6th of September 2016. 33 companies have shown their interest in receiving oil and gas exploration licenses in these areas.
- Awarding new acreage is essential for facilitating activity and employment in the years to come. The fact that a large number of companies position themselves for an active, long term presence and value creation on the Norwegian Continental shelf is positive, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tord Lien (Progress Party).
The Ministry has received applications from a total of 33 companies. This is a slight decline compared to last year's number of applicants. This can mainly be attributed to consolidation and structural changes in the industry.
The pre-defined areas were significantly expanded both in the Norwegian Sea and in the Barents Sea in connection with this licensing round. Interesting applications have been received both in these new areas and in the previously announced APA-areas.
- Predictable access to attractive acreage is among the most important measures the Government can contribute with in order to maintain employment as well as a high, long-term level of activity in the industry. I take note of the fact that there is great interest in all areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, Minister Lien adds.
Background:
APA is a scheme with annual awards within pre-defined areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The purpose of the APA scheme is to stimulate rapid and efficient exploration of the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The area will gradually be increased as the geological knowledge of areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf increases.
In the areas with extensive geological knowledge on the Shelf, it is expected that most discoveries will be relatively small, and thus might not warrant independent developments. Therefore, it is good resource management to prove and recover these resources before existing infrastructure to other fields is shut down.
APA 2016 was announced on 17th March 2016.
More information is available at APA 2016, hereunder maps of available acreage.
The companies that have applied:
A/S Norske Shell
BP Norge AS
Capricorn Norge AS
Centrica Resources (Norge) AS
Concedo ASA
ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS
DEA Norge AS
Det norske oljeselskap ASA
Edison Norge AS
ENGIE E&P Norge AS
Eni Norge AS
Faroe Petroleum Norge AS
Fortis Petroleum Norway AS
Grail North Sea Ltd
Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS
Lotos Exploration & Production Norge AS
Lundin Norway AS
M Vest Energy AS
MOL Norge AS
North E&P AS
OMV (Norge) AS
Origo Exploration Norway AS
Petrolia NOCO AS
PGNiG Upstream International AS
Point Resources AS
Repsol Norge AS
Skagen 44 AS
Statoil Petroleum AS
Suncor Energy Norge AS
Total E&P Norge AS
VNG Norge AS
Wellesley Petroleum AS
Wintershall Norge AS