Norway awards 56 oil and gas licences in mature areas (updated)
19/01/2016 14:54
* 36 companies awarded stakes to explore in mature areas
* Strong interest in Norwegian Sea
* Next licence round in mature areas to be announced before
Easter
(Recasts, adds quotes, details)
SANDEFJORD, Norway Jan 19 (Reuters) - Norway's oil ministry
awarded 56 oil and gas exploration licences in mature areas on
Tuesday in a move to boost activity for the industry hit by low
crude prices.
A total of 36 companies were awarded stakes to explore in
the mature areas, or areas already opened for exploration.
Petroleum and Energy Minister Tord Lien said the round, of
Awards in Pre-defined Areas (APA), was "among the largest ever
awarded on the Norwegian Continental Shelf."
"It will contribute to activity both in the oil companies
and in the supply industry as exploration progresses, wells are
drilled and discoveries are made," he said in a statement.
Separately, he told an industry conference that the 56
licences comprised 27 in the North Sea, 24 in the Norwegian Sea
and five in the Barents Sea.
Sissel Eriksen, Director of exploration in the Norwegian
Petroleum Directorate, said the number of applications had
remained fairly constant in recent years and that there had been
considerable interest in the Norwegian Sea.
"Many of these areas have existing fields that are nearing
the end of production, with infrastructure that can be
exploited. It is therefore important that we explore the
surrounding areas so that potential resources are not lost", she
said in a statement.
The biggest winner was Statoil STL.OL with 24 licences,
including 13 operatorships while Det norske oljeselskap
DETNOR.OL came in second with 10 licences and 6 operatorships.
Others to win operatorships include Lundin LUPE.ST ,
Eni ENI.MI , ConocoPhillips COP.N , Total TOTF.PA , BP BP.L
and Wintershall WINT.UL .
Lien said the ministry also planned to launch a new
licencing round in mature areas before Easter this year for
similar awards in pre-defined areas next year.
For full list: https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/apa-2015-considerable-interest-in-further-exploration-of-the-norwegian-continental-shelf/id2470979/
(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Joachim Dagenborg, writing by
Henrik Stoelen, editing by Alister Doyle)
((stine.jacobsen@thomsonreuters.com; +47 2331 6448; Reuters
Messaging: stine.jacobsen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: NORWAY OIL/