Bids close for Norway’s offshore APA 25 leasing round

The process had been expanded this year to include 68 further blocks in the Barents Sea and eight blocks in the Norwegian Sea, with awards set to be announced early in 2026.

Related To:

Norwegian Offshore Directorate

Sept. 5, 2025

Map of APA 2025 — The maps show licensed acreage within the APA boundaries as of May 9.

This thin section from the Ørn Formation is of Carboniferous and Permian age. The thin section is from a well drilled on the central Finnmark platform in the Barents Sea and shows limestone with fossils from about 2,000 m depth.

Twenty E&P companies submitted applications for Norway’s Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2025 licensing round, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) reported Sept. 4.

Compared with APA 2024, the predefined areas (APA acreage) was expanded to include 68 blocks in the Barents Sea and eight blocks in the Norwegian Sea.

Most of the applications were from companies already active on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, with strong interest in exploration near existing fields and offshore infrastructure.

The NOD has started assessing the applications, focusing on geological comprehension and plans for exploration of the areas requested.

Awards of new production licenses, due to be announced early next year, will also take into account the companies’ technical proficiency, experience and financial strength.