Oil and Gas
The petroleum industry is Norway's largest industry.
Norway’s oil history in 5 minutes
In the late 1950s, very few people believed that the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) might conceal rich oil and gas deposits. However, the discovery of gas at Groningen in the Netherlands in 1959 caused people to revise their thinking on the petroleum potential of the North Sea.
Licensing rounds
Licensing rounds entail that Norwegian and foreign oil companies are invited to apply for production licences for defined areas within a given deadline. Two equal licensing rounds have been established to achieve expedient exploration of both mature and frontier areas on the Norwegian shelf. All areas opened for petroleum activity can be announced in numbered licensing rounds or be included in the APA area.
More on oil and gas
Latest on oil and gas
What's new
- The National Budget 2026: High production and large revenues from the petroleum industry Press release 15/10/2025
- Strong interest in new exploration areas Press release 04/09/2025
- More discoveries needed – Launch of the 26th Licensing Round Press release 12/08/2025
- The Revised National Budget: High production generates large revenues from the petroleum industry Press release 19/05/2025
- Seminar for National Oil Companies Speech/statement 16/05/2025
Documents
- Meld. St. 31 (2023–2024) - Long-term Perspectives on the Norwegian Economy 2024 Report to the Storting 09/08/2024
- Meld. St. 21 (2023–2024) - Norway’s integrated ocean management plans Report to the Storting 05/04/2024
- NOU 2023: 25 - The transition to low emissions Norwegian Official Report (NOU) 27/10/2023
- Meld. St. 14 (2020–2021) - Long-term Perspectives on the Norwegian Economy 2021 Report to the Storting 12/02/2021
- Meld. St. 20 (2019–2020) - Norway’s integrated ocean management plans — Barents Sea–Lofoten area; the Norwegian Sea; and the North Sea and Skagerrak Report to the Storting 24/04/2020