The results for the awards in predefined areas (APA) 2010 are now published by the government. 50 production licenses are offered to 39 companies. 22 companies are offered operatorships. In all, 41 companies applyed for production licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Two types of licensing rounds are arranged on the NCS. Awards in predefined areas focuses on the mature parts of the shelf. The geology is known and the infrastructure is well developed. The second type is the ordinary licensing rounds, and is held every other year. These sets focus on the immature parts of the shelf.
Det norske in APA2010 been offered stakes in eight licenses, three of these as operator.
Awards in the North Sea, Det norske’s stakes in parentheses: PL494B (30%), PL554B (40%), PL567 (40%), PL568 (20%) and PL571 (40%). Operatorship is offered for PL573S (35%). Det norske is offered two operatorships in the Norwegian Sea, in PL468B (95%) and PL593 (60%).
Senior VP Exploration, Vidar Bergo Larsen is reasonably pleased with the awards.
– Six of licenses are located in the North Sea. Three of the awards are additional acreage to the licenses we already have, including expansion of the Dovregubben area.
The work programs for the licenses is one exploration well. This will be operated by Talisman. Det norske got a 20 percent stake in this license. The prospect to be drilled is located close the Vargfield. A discovery here can quickly be put into production
The work program for the other licenses are collection of new seismic data and geological and geophysical studies before a decision to drill an exploration well are made.
