UK awards seven onshore petroleum licenses
LONDON� UK Energy Minister Helen Liddell Tuesday awarded the second and final tranche of petroleum exploration and development licenses in Department of Trade & Industry's ninth onshore round.
The seven blocks�covering conventional onshore oil and gas blocks as well as coal bed methane and mine vents gas prospects�were awarded to operators Midmar Energy Onshore Ltd., which won three blocks; Black Rock Resources UK PLC, which won two; Coal Oil and Gas Ltd.; and Mustang Oil and Gas Ltd.
DTI announced the ninth round last Feb. 3 and held the first tranche awards July 27. It did not make all awards at that time because several applications "still had issues outstanding."