Bids close for latest Norway round

Dec. 6, 2012
Thirty-six companies have submitted bids for Norway’s 22nd offshore licensing round.

Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway – Thirty-six companies have submitted bids for Norway’s 22nd offshore licensing round.

This covered 86 blocks or part-blocks, comprising 14 in the Norwegian Sea and 72 in the Barents Sea.

Sissel Erikson, exploration director at the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), said: “AfterStatoil found oil and gas on Skrugard (7220/8-1) last year, the interest in exploring the Barents Sea has risen sharply. The confidence in new opportunities and discovery expectations has increased.

“Several exploration wells are already planned in the Barents Sea. This round will help maintain the level of activity in the southern part of the Barents Sea, as well as clarify the resource potential.”

The applicants are as follows: Atlantic Petroleum AS, AS Norske Shell, Bayerngas Norge AS, BG Norge AS, BP Norge AS, Centrica Resources Norge AS, Concedo ASA, ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS, Dana Petroleum Norway AS, Det norske oljeselskap ASA, Dong E&P Norge AS, E.ON E&P Norge AS, Edison International SpA, Eni Norge AS, Faroe Petroleum Norge AS, GDF SUEZ E&P Norge AS, Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS, Lukoil Oil Company, Lundin Norway AS, Maersk Oil Norway AS, Moeco Oil & Gas Norge AS, North Energy ASA, OMV Norge AS, PGNiG Norway AS, Repsol Exploration Norge AS, Rocksource ASA, RN Nordic Oil AS, RWE Dea Norge AS, Skagen44 AS, Spring Energy Norway AS, Statoil Petroleum AS, Suncor Energy Norge AS, Total E&P Norge AS, Tullow Oil, Valiant Petroleum, and Wintershall Norge ASA.

Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy aims to award licenses before summer 2013.

Wintershall is set to drill its second well on license PL 457 in the Norwegian North Sea, following authorization from NPD.

The semisubmersibleBredford Dolphin will drill appraisal well 16/1-16, 3 km (1.8 mi) north of the Edvard Grieg field and 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the 16/1-9 Ivar Åsen discovery well.

12/06/2012