Norway's Ministry of Oil & Energy has allocated seven large exploration license areas in the Barents Sea off northern Norway, each covering several blocks.
Operators have until the end of May to accept the government's license offers, but none is expected to refuse them. The ministry offered large license areas in a bid to increase the area's attraction.
Sixteen discoveries have been made in the Norwegian Barents Sea, mainly of gas, but none have been developed, because of remoteness from potential markets (OGJ, Sept. 23, 1996, p. 43).
Snohvit gas field is the largest find to date. Operator Den norske stats oljeselskap AS (Statoil) is studying feasibility of development with subsea wellheads linked by a pipeline to an onshore terminal.
Operatorships and license interests in the newly allocated areas are:
Area A: Operator Norsk Hydro AS 20%, Statoil 45%, Mobil Development Norway AS 15%, Saga Petroleum AS 10%, and Elf Petroleum Norge AS 10%.
Area B: Operator Elf 30%, Mobil 25%, Phillips Petroleum Co. Norway 25%, and Statoil 20%.
Area C: Operator Saga 20%, Statoil 40%, Norske Agip AS 15%, Enterprise Oil Norge AS 15%, and Neste Petroleum AS 10%.
Area D: Operator Saga 30%, Norsk Hydro 20%, and Statoil 50%.
Area E: Operator Agip 25%, Phillips 25%, Enterprise 15%, Neste 15%, and Statoil 20%.
Area F: Operator Mobil 20%, Amerada Hess Norge AS 15%, Norsk Hydro 15%, Saga 15%, and Statoil 35%.
Area G: Operator Statoil 50%, Saga 20%, Agip 15%, and Norsk Hydro 15%.
This license offering has been seen as the last chance for government to interest petroleum companies in Barents Sea prospects, because the oil finds needed to spark development have proven elusive (OGJ, July 29, 1996, p. 40).
Copyright 1997 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
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