Forty-six companies applied for licenses under Norway's latest Awards in Predefined Areas (2007) scheme, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.
Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway --Forty-six companies applied for licenses under Norway's latest Awards in Predefined Areas (2007) scheme, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.
This is the fifth APA round in the past five years, and the number of applicants has risen steadily year on year. Several new companies put in bids this year, NPD adds, although BP Norge did not participate.
By the time the deadline of Sept. 28 had passed, a total of 197 blocks had been made available, covering a total area of 52,908 sq km (20,428 sq mi). This makes APA 2007 the sixth largest of all Norwegian rounds to date in terms of acreage. The good response was due partly to the government's decision to make more blocks or part-blocks available in the Barents Sea.
