Nominations for the 20th licensing round

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy have received nominations from 46 companies for blocks for the 20th licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf. In the 19th licensing round, 19 companies participated in the nomination process. 301 blocks or parts of blocks have been nominated.

- The companies have shown high interest for nominating blocks in this round. I am particularly pleased to see that small and medium sized oil companies now have nominated blocks, says Mrs. Åslaug Haga, Minister of Petroleum and Energy.

- Prior to the announcement of the 20th licensing round, the Ministry will consult the public and ask for their opinion about the announcement. This is in line with the new openness policy in the Government’s petroleum policy. The oil companies have now been given the chance to nominate blocks they find interesting. The decision of which blocks that will be announced will be made by the Government based on comprehensive evaluation, says Mrs. Åslaug Haga.

The companies that have nominated blocks are: Aker Exploration ASA, A/S Norske Shell, BG Norge AS, Bridge Energy AS, Centrica Resources (Norge) AS, Chevron Norge AS, Concedo ASA, ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS, Dana Petroleum Norway ASA, Det norske oljeselskap AS, Discover Petroleum AS, DONG E&P Norge AS, E.ON Ruhrgas Norge AS, Edison International SPA, Endeavour Norge AS, Eni Norge AS, Esso Norge AS, Excel Expro Norway AS, Faroe Petroleum Norge AS, Gaz de France Norge AS, Genesis Petroleum Norway AS, Hess Norge AS, Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS, Lundin Norway AS, Maersk Oil Exploration Norway AS, Marathon Petroleum Norge AS, Nexen Exploration Norge AS, NOIL Energy ASA, Norwegian Energy Company AS, OMV (Norge) AS, PA Resources Norway AS, Petro-Canada Norge AS, Premier Oil Norge AS, Revus Energy ASA, Rocksource ASA, RWE Dea Norge AS, Sagex Petroleum Norge AS, Skagen 44 AS, Skeie Energy AS, StatoilHydro ASA, Svenska Petroleum Exploration AS, Talisman Energy AS, Total E&P Norge AS, VNG Norge AS, Wintershall Norge A/S. The ministry also received nominations from the Puffin Oil & Gas limited which is not prequalified or licensee on the Norwegian shelf.

The companies were invited to nominate blocks on 25 October 2007. As in the 19th licensing round, each company could nominate up to 15 blocks, to ensure focus on the blocks viewed the most interesting by the different companies.
The Ministry plans to announce the round before summer 2008. Awards will be finalised during spring 2009.

Link to map showing blocks or parts of blocks nominated:
Barents Sea
Norwegian Sea
North Sea

Press release with invitation to nominate