The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has awarded 65 new oil and gas production licences on the Norwegian continental shelf to 48 companies, as part of the Awards in Pre-defined Areas (APA) 2013. Of the 65 production licences, 38 are located in the North Sea, 19 in the Norwegian Sea and 8 in the Barents Sea. Seventeen of the production licences are additional acreage to existing production licences. Ten of the new licences are divided stratigraphically and only apply to levels below/above a defined stratigraphic boundary.
Twenty-nine companies will be offered operatorship. Petoro will participate as a licensee and will manage the State's Direct Financial Interest (SDFI) in 12 production licences. Among the winning companies, Statoil and Centrica will take part to the development of 10 blocks each, Lundin and Bayerngas to 9 blocks each, Wintershall and Tullow to 8 blocks each, VNG to 6 blocks, Shell and Total to 4 blocks each and Chevron and DONG Enegy to 2 blocks.