Energy giant Equinor has announced it has snapped up almost two dozen new production licenses in the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The licenses, issued by the country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, saw Equinor pick up 14 solely-operated and nine partner-operated licenses.
Eight of those production licenses are in the North Sea, eight are in the Norwegian Sea and seven are in the Barents Sea.
Nick Ashton, Equinor’s senior vice president for exploration in Norway and the UK, said: “The award enables us to mature new prospects and prove profitable resources that can be developed within the scope of our new climate roadmap for the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).”
A total of 69 production licenses were on offer to oil and gas firms – 33 located in the North Sea, 23 in the Norwegian Sea and 13 in the Barents Sea.
Aker BP snapped up 15 licenses, while Lundin took 12, Neptune Energy won 13, DNO bagged 10 and Var Energy took 17.
Minister of petroleum and energy, Sylvi Listhaug, said the interest showed “that the industry believes in future value creation on the Norwegian continental shelf.”
Earlier this year, Equinor was awarded five licences in the UK North Sea by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) – four as operator and one as partner.
Mr Ashton said Equinor was “pleased with the opportunities” today’s award round offered.
He added: “This provides a good basis for high profitability and a low carbon footprint. In addition, we are actively pursuing new ideas in selected areas that meet the same criteria.
“This applies to the North Sea, as well as the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea, where we see potentials in the Castberg, Wisting, Goliat and Snohvit areas.”
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