Statoil has delivered its application for the 23rd licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf to the Norwegian authorities, the company said in its press release.
It is expected that the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy will announce the awards late first half of 2016.
The round represents the first opening of new acreage on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) since 1994. Statoil’s application aims to significantly contribute to the company’s ambition for 2030 and beyond.
The acreage that is offered in this round includes the south-east of the Barents Sea, which is an area that was clarified as Norwegian territory under the border agreement with Russia that came into effect from 2011. In addition acreage in the Hoop-Wisting area, opened in the 22nd round, is on offer.
In the run up to this licence round, the cooperation within the industry has been unprecedented. In the Barents Sea Exploration Collaboration project, 16 companies are cooperating to find common solutions for exploration operations in the Barents Sea and to ensure cost-effectiveness and good safety standards.
In 2014, Statoil was operator for a group of 33 companies cooperating on seismic surveys in areas included in the licensing round.