A 16th offshore licensing round will be staged by Norway in 2000, the government has decided.
Acreage on offer will be drawn from parts of the Halten Bank and Dønna Terrace in the Norwegian Sea as well as blocks close to existing discoveries.
"We're pleased that a new round is planned for 2000," comments Sturla Evensen, project manager for the current "North Sea" licensing round in Exploration & Development Norway. "That improves the predictability of our planning."
He adds that the Halten Bank is defined as one of the group's core areas, and that it will definitely apply for licences there.
Before the new round is announced, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy will evaluate it in relation to the level of investment and production off Norway. Commitments under the Kyoto protocol to the UN's framework convention on climate change will also form part of this assessment.
"We're looking forward to a continuing dialogue with the authorities on which areas could be relevant," says Mr Evensen.