New exploration licenses for Statoil

Norwegian energy producer Statoil has been awarded interests in 11 new production licences on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). Statoil will be operator for eight of these licences.

As reported earlier, the government awards embrace a total of 50 production licences: 31 in the North Sea, 17 in the Norwegian Sea and two in the Barents Sea.

Statoil has been awarded one operatorship in the Barents Sea, two licences – one as operator – in the Norwegian Sea, and a total of eight licences – six as operator – in the North Sea.

“We’re very pleased with this year’s awards,” says Gro Gunleiksrud Haatvedt, Statoil’s senior vice president for exploration on the NCS.

“Infrastructure-led exploration contributes to maximising the potential of the NCS,” she says.

“Most of the licences lie near established infrastructure and can thereby help to extend the lifetime of the installations and open up further exploration opportunities in these areas,” Haatvedt says.

(Press release)

Tuesday, 25 January 2011 08:14