- The North Sea Awards 2001 is important for the long-term resource management on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. For these awards the Government has given preference to blocks near existing infrastructure with future spare capacity. This will contribute to maintaining the activity level and securing the level of employment in the industry, says Olav Akselsen, Minister of Petroleum and Energy.

In the North Sea, exploration activities have been going on for many years. The activities started in 1965, and 775 exploration wells have been drilled in the area. The fields assumed to be the largest have been discovered and put into production. About 58 field developments have been approved in the area. There is still a potential to discover new, profitable resources in the North Sea.

The acreage announced totals 68 blocks or parts of blocks.
Deadline for submission of applications is 7 December 2001. The awards are planned to take place in 1st quarter of 2002.

The following blocks or part of blocks are announced:
1/2, 3, 5, 6 and 9
2/1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11
3/5, 7 and 8
6/3
7/1, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 12
8/10
15/5, 6, 8 and 12
16/7 and 10
25/1, 2, 4, 7 and 8
29/6 and 9
30/2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
31/1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
33/9 and 12
34/4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12
35/7, 8, 9, 10 and 12

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