By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 17 -- Norway has launched its 18th licensing round, offering all or parts of a hefty 95 blocks in the Norwegian and North seas.
Bids are due by Mar. 15, 2004, and production licenses are to be awarded by summer 2004.
Of the total, 13 blocks lie in the southeastern North Sea south of Stavanger. The others lie from northwest of Floró to as far north as 67° 30' N. Lat., above the Arctic Circle.
The Ministry of Petroleum & Energy offered 46, 48, and 32 blocks, respectively, in the previous three rounds.
