Norway’s Awards in Predfined Areas have seismic data strings attached

More than 20 significant seismic surveys and reprocessing projects will be carried out after Norway awarded 57 production licences to 19 companies in the APA 2025 licensing round.

In the North Sea DNO, Petoro, Aker BP and Source Energy will reprocess 3D seismic data on Licence 1086; DNO, Aker BP and Petoro will acquire new 3D seismic data on licence 1278; Equinor and DNO will reprocess 3D seismic data on licence 1280; Equinor and Aker BP will reprocess ocean bottom seismic data on licence 1282; Aker BP and DNO will reprocess 3D seismic data on licence 1286; Equinor, Petoro, Pandion Energy and Concedo will acquire modern 3D seismic data and EM data on licence 1288; Wellesley Petroleum and DNO will acquire 3D seismic data on licence 1290; Concedo, Equinor and OMV will acquire modern 3D seismic data on licence 1292; Equinor and OKEA will acquire 3D seismic data on licence 1293; Petrolia and Equinor will acquire modern 3D seismic data on licence 1294; Wellesley and Equinor will acquire 3D seismic data on licence 1295.

In the Norwegian Sea, Aker BP, Petoro and Equinor will acquire 3D seismic data on licence 1296; Equinor, Petoro and Inpex will reprocess 3D seismic data on licence 1297; Vår Energi, Petoro, Equinor and TotalEnergies will reprocess 3D seismic data on licence 1298; Equinor and Harbour Energy will acquire 3D seismic data on licence 1299; OMW, Petoro and Equinor will acquire 3D seismic data on licence 1302; OKEA, Petoro, and Equinor will acquire 3D seismic data on licence 1305; Aker BP will acquire 2D OBN data on licence 1308; and Equinor and Japex will carry out a feasibility study for seismic reprocessing on licence 1310.

In the Barents Sea Equinor and Vår Energi will acquire 3D seismic on licence 1311; and Vår Energi and Equinor will acquire and reprocess 3D seismic data on licence 1312.

Of the 57 production licences offered, 31 are located in the North Sea, 21 in the Norwegian sea, and five in the Barents Sea. In total, 19 oil companies were offered parts in one or more of these licenses. 13 companies were offered one or more operatorships.

Equinor has won operatorships or shares in 35 production licences, 21 in the North Sea, 10 in the Norwegian Sea, and four in the Barents Sea. The company will operate 17 of the licences.

Jez Averty, Equinor’s senior vice president for subsurface, said: ‘Our geological knowledge is high, and we are constantly learning more through further exploration. Awards in lesser-known areas, such as we have received in the northeastern part of the North Sea and in the southwestern Møre Basin, provide new and exciting opportunities.’

The awards will aid Equinor’s effort to to develop 6-8 new subsea developments each year until 2035. ‘This is a significant increase from the current level. Access to new acreage is crucial for our ambition to maintain a high level of production and predictable energy deliveries to Europe from the NCS towards 2035,’ Averty added.

Vår Energi has won 14 production licences, six as operator. The company has been offered four licences in the North Sea, six licences in the Norwegian Sea and four licences in the Barents Sea.

Aker BP won ownership interests in 22 exploration licences, 12 as operator. The company has won licences in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea. The associated work programmes include two exploration wells and extensive seismic data acquisition.

DNO has won 17 exploration licenses, four as operator. Of the 17 licences, 15 are in the North Sea and two in the Norwegian Sea.

OKEA has been offered interests in three production licences, one as operator. PL 1305 was awarded with OKEA as operator and is located on the Nordland Ridge north of the Draugen field and Mistral Discovery on the Halten Terrace in the Norwegian Sea. PL 1255 B and PL 1293 have been awarded to OKEA as partner and are located close to the Aurora Discovery in the Gjøa field in the North Sea.