The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has received applications from 31 companies in connection with the announcement of APA 2021.

– I am happy that the oil companies still see good opportunities on the Norwegian shelf. Exploration is important for maintaining activity and good resource management, and lays the foundation for value creation and safe jobs throughout the country, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru.

Allocation in predefined areas (APA) is the annual licensing round for the best-known exploration areas on the Norwegian shelf. It comprises the majority of the available exploration areas.

By the application deadline of 8 September, the Ministry had received applications from a total of 31 different companies. The Ministry does not publish the total number of applications because of competitive considerations.

The APA area is being expanded as geological knowledge in areas on the Norwegian shelf increases. In this year’s licensing round, the predefined area was expanded in the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, and the Barents Sea.

APA 2021 was announced on 9 June 2021. The aim is to grant new production licenses in the announced areas at the beginning of 2022.

Full announcement text, updated map of announced blocks, HSE, environmental and fisheries conditions, and further information is available on the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate’s website.

Background

Allocation in predefined areas (APA) was introduced in 2003 to facilitate the timely exploration of the most geologically known parts of the shelf. In these areas, the expected discovery size decreases. There is a large-scale search for smaller discoveries that cannot justify an independent development but can be profitable in connection with other discoveries and/or can use existing or planned infrastructure.

That is why it is important with a timely exploration of these areas. Predictability about which areas it is possible to apply for in APA.rounds, and regular replenishment of new areas is important to achieve effective exploration. APA rounds are therefore conducted annually.

Upon the announcement, an assessment is made of whether the area covered by the APA area will be expanded. Professional assessments decide whether new areas are to be added to the APA area. The area expands as new areas are explored.

The petroleum activities in Norway take place under strict requirements for health, safety and the environment and the protection of the external environment. Great emphasis is placed on ensuring good coexistence with other industries.

List of companies that have applied:
 Aker BP ASA
 A / S Norske Shell
 Chrysaor Norge AS
 Concedo ASA
 ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS
 DNO Norge AS
 Equinor Energy AS
 Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS
 INEOS E&P Norge AS
 KUFPEC Norway AS
 Lime Petroleum AS
 Longboat Energy Norge AS
 Lotos Exploration & Production Norge AS
 Lundin Energy Norway AS
 M Vest Energy AS
 Neptune Energy Norge AS
 OKEA ASA
 OMV (Norway) AS
 ONE Dyas Norge AS
 Pandion Energy AS
 Petrolia NOCO AS
 PGNiG Upstream Norway AS
 RN Nordic Oil AS
 Source Energy AS
 Spirit Energy Norge AS
 Suncor Energy Norge AS
 Sval Energi AS
 TotalEnergies EP Norge AS
 Vår Energi AS
 Wellesley Petroleum AS
 Wintershall Dea Norge AS