The Government has decided to offer ownership interests to 48 companies in 65 new production licences in connection with the 2013 Awards in Predefined Areas (APA 2013).

"I am very pleased to send out offers today to 48 companies for participation in a total of 65 new production licences on the Norwegian shelf. This is a new record, both in the number of production licences and the number of companies. The awards provide a good basis for further exploration of some of the most well-established exploration areas on the Norwegian shelf," says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tord Lien.

The 65 production licences are distributed among the North Sea (38), the Norwegian Sea (19) and the Barents Sea (8). A total of 50 companies applied for production licences in APA 2013. 48 companies will be offered shares in one or more production licences. 29 of these companies will be offered operatorships.

"The Government will maintain a predictable and high pace in awarding new areas for petroleum activity. The record-breaking awards in APA 2013 represent our first step on this path, and demonstrate that we deliver on our promises," continues Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tord Lien.

The AA licensing rounds encompass the most explored areas on the Norwegian shelf. The challenges in mature areas are particularly linked to the lower expected size of discoveries. Small discoveries can not justify stand-alone developments, but may have good profitability when they can exploit existing and planned process equipment and transportation systems, or be coordinated with other planned developments. It is therefore important to ensure timely exploitation and development of such resources.

Award maps available at the Minstry website

Offers to 29 operators:
(number of operatorships in brackets)
A/S Norske Shell (3)
Bayerngas Norge AS(2)
Centrica Resources Norge AS (3)
ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS (1)
Dana Petroleum Norway AS (2)
Det norske oljeselskap ASA (2)
DONG E&P Norge AS(2)
E.ON E&P Norge AS (1)
Edison International Spa Norway Branch (3)
EnQuest Norge AS (1)
Faroe Petroleum Norge AS(2)
Lotos Exploration & Production Norge AS (2)
Lundin Norway AS (4)
Maersk Oil Norway AS(1)
Marathon Oil Norge AS (1)
Norwegian Energy Company ASA (2)
North Energy ASA (2)
OMV Norge AS(1)
PGNiG Upstream International AS (1)
Premier Oil Norge AS (2)
Repsol Exploration Norge (1)
Rocksource ASA (2)
tatoil Petroleum AS (7)
uncor Energy Norge AS (2)
Talisman Energy Norge AS (1)
Total E&P Norge AS (2)
Tullow Oil Norge AS (4)
VNG Norge AS (3)
Wintershall Norge ASA (5)

Offers to 48 licensees:
(number of shares in brackets, including where the companies are operators)
Atlantic Petroleum Norge AS (2)
A/S Norske Shell (4)
Bayerngas Norge AS (9)
Bridge Energy AS (2)
Capricorn Norge AS (3)
Centrica Resources Norge AS (10)
Chevron Norge AS (2)
Concedo ASA (7)
ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS (2)
Core Energy AS (3)
Dana Petroleum Norway AS (3)
Det norske oljeselskap ASA (6)
Dong E&P Norge AS (2)
E.ON E&P Norge AS (2)
Edison International Spa Norway Branch (5)
ENI Norge AS(1)
EnQuest Norge AS (2)
Explora Petroleum AS (3)
ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS (1)
Faroe Petroleum Norge AS (10)
Fortis Petroleum Norge AS (6)
GDF SUEZ E&P Norge AS (1)
Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS (1)
Ithaca Petroleum Norge AS (2)
Lime Petroleum (5)
Lotos Exploration & Production Norge AS (2)
Lundin Norway AS (9)
Maersk Oil Norway AS (5)
Marathon Petroleum Norge AS (1)
Moeco Oil & Gas Norge AS (1)
Norwegian Energy Company ASA (5)
North Energy ASA (6)
OMV Norge AS (2)
Petrolia Norway AS (1)
PGNiG Upstream International AS (1)
Premier Oil Norge AS (2)
Repsol Exploration Norge AS (3)
Rocksource ASA (5)
kagen44 AS (5)
pike Exploration Holding AS
Statoil Petroleum AS (10)
uncor Energy Norge AS (4)
venska Petroleum Exploration AS (1)
Talisman Energy Norge AS (3)
Total E&P Norge AS (4)
Tullow Oil Norge AS (8)
VNG Norge AS (6)
Wintershall Norge ASA (8)