The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) confirmed on 18 June 2018 that it has offered 12 new licences to 11 companies in the 24th Licensing Round. The number of companies that applied is significantly down from the 26 companies that applied for acreage during the 23rd Round. The exploration acreage that has been offered is in both the Norwegian and the Barents seas, with most in the Barents Sea, and particularly the northwestern part. The following companies have been offered acreage: Aker BP, DEA, Equinor, Idemitsu, Lundin, M Vest, OMV, Shell, Spirit Energy, VNG and Wintershall. Official awards are expected before summer 2018.   The 24th Round was opened by the MPE on 21 June 2017, with applications due by noon on 30 November 2017. This Round included 102 blocks (or part blocks) â nine in the Norwegian Sea and 93 in the Barents Sea.   Background information:  On 29 August 2016 the MPE invited companies to nominate blocks which they would like to see included in the 24th Round. All three areas of the NCS were open for nominations with particular focus on frontier areas with the greatest potential. Companies were invited to nominate up to 15 blocks which they would like to see included. Nominated blocks were to be divided into two categories â âinterestingâ and âvery interestingâ. Nominations needed to be received by the MPE before 12:00 hours on 30 November 2016. Nominations were received from 22 companies.   The nominations are an important part of deciding what acreage to include in the 24th Licencing Round. All areas open for petroleum exploration could be nominated in the round, excluding: areas already covered by licences, areas included in the Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) and areas where activity has been restricted through different management plans for the sea areas. Â   The MPE sent its proposal for the blocks to be included in the 24th Round to public consultation on 13 March 2017. It proposed that a total of 102 blocks were to be included â 93 in the Barents Sea and nine in the Norwegian Sea. Comments had to be received by 2 May 2017.            Licence         Block(s)         Operator         Partners         New seismic/well commitments             537   B         7324/4         OMV   (25%)         Idemitsu   (20%)         Â              Â          Â          Â          Petoro   (20%)         Â              Â          Â          Â          Equinor   (35%)         Â              852   C         7322/4,   8         Spirit   (60%)         Aker   BP (40%)         Â              957         6201/6   and 6202/4         Equinor   (100%)         Â          Â              958         6408/4,   7         Shell   (50%)         Petoro   (20%)         Â              Â          Â          Â          VNG   (30%)         Â              959         6503/8,   11, 12 and 6504/10, 11         Equinor   (50%)         M   Vest (10%)         Â              Â          Â          Petoro   (20%)         Â              Â          Â          Spirit   (20%)         Â              960         7018/4,   5         Equinor   (40%)         DEA   (20%)         One   firm well             Â          Â          Â          Lundin   (20%)         Â              Â          Â          Â          Petoro   (20%)         Â              961         7116/6   and 7117/4, 5         Equinor   (50%)         Petoro   (20%)         Â              Â          Â          Â          Aker   BP (30%)         Â              962         7322/1,   2, 4, 5, 8         Equinor   (60%)         Aker   BP (20%)         Acquire   new 3D seismic             Â          Â          Â          Lundin   (20%)         Â              963         7422/10,   11         Aker   BP (70%)         Equinor   (30%)         Â              964         7320/1,   2, 3, 5,Â 6 andÂ 7321/1, 2 andÂ 7420/12Â and 7421/10, 11         Aker   BP (40%)         DEA   (15%)         Â              Â          Â          Wintershall   (20%)         Â              Â          Â          Petoro   (25%)         Â              965         Â 7323/5, 6         Lundin   (60%)         Spirit   (40%)         Acquire   new 3D seismic             966         Â 7325/2, 3, 6, 8, 9 and 7326/4, 7, 8, 9 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â and 7327/7, 8 and 7426/10, 11         Equinor   (70%)         Aker   BP (30%)
Norway has awarded nine exploration licences in the Barents Sea among 12 tracts handed out to 11 oil companies under its 24th licensing round. Equinor gets 5 operatorships out of 7 awards, Aker BP 2 operatorships out of 6 awards.