New Norwegian offshore licences
Lundin and Wintershall fare well in recent licensing round after Norway awards 61 licences to 30 oil companies.
By Marc Allen, Maritime Direct UK.
61 offshore drilling licences have been awarded by Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru, reports Reuters. The 61 offshore exploration blocks have gone to 30 firms, including Lundin and Wintershall and are part of Norway‘s plan to find oil close to existing fields.
Some of the other companies to gain licences include Equinor, Shell Aker BP, Conoco Phillips, Total and Eni’s Vaar Energy. Bru said: “These companies have shown great interest in gaining access to new exploration acreage, illustrating the industry’s confidence in continued profitability from exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf.”
The blocks are the latest in Norway’s pre-defined areas (APA) to become available and have known geology or are near existing infrastructure. Norway has also invited oil firms to submit applications by 23rd February for 136 exploration blocks in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea – despite legal challenges from environmental groups.
