Norway Awards 24 Oil and Gas Production Licences

The Norway Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has awarded 24 oil and gas production licences in its 21st offshore licensing round.

The licences were divided between the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea, and Statoil, GDF Suez and ExxonMobil were among the companies offered licences.

Norway Petroleum and Energy Minister Ola Borten Moe said the 21st licensing round will lay the foundation for further exploration of the least explored areas of the Barents Sea and the deepwater areas of the Norwegian Sea.

Statoil was offered the operator role for eight licences and 11 participating interests, while GDF Suez received three operator licences, and Suncor Energy and Wintershall got two licences each.