Five new licences on the UK Continental Shelf

June 4, 2019 14:13 CEST | Last modified June 4, 2019 15:49 CEST
Image of ocean view
Photo: IKM Testing AS

Equinor has today been awarded five licences by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) - four as operator and one as partner.

“We are pleased to have been awarded these licences in the 31st Offshore Licensing round. These awards in this frontier licensing round are important in continuing our high level of exploration activity on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), in support of our ambition to be a leading energy provider to the UK,” says Nick Ashton, senior vice president for exploration in Norway and UK.

Image of Nick Ashton
Nick Ashton, senior vice president for exploration in Norway and UK. (Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland)

The licences are situated in the Moray Firth and East Shetland Platform, expanding upon Equinor’s current position in these areas of the North Sea. Equinor was also awarded an extension to the Frigg License in the Northern North Sea supporting the Frigg redevelopment project. The license awards include commitments for seismic surveys in several areas on the East Shetland Platform and the Moray Firth. 

“The UK Offshore Licensing rounds enable us to add new opportunities to our exploration portfolio in a prolific basin, in line with our strategy to unlock the remaining potential in both underexplored and more mature areas. We believe in continued value creation on the UKCS through new discoveries and look forward to our fifth exploration well in 2019, Lifjellet, to be drilled later this year,” says Ashton. 

Equinor is one of the most active explorers in the UK. Last year, in May 2018, Equinor was awarded nine new licences in the 30th Offshore Licensing round, eight as operator. 

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  • Equinor is the largest supplier of crude oil to the UK and the largest supplier of natural gas. Equinor’s gas supplies meet more than 25% of UK demand, enough to heat or power 8 million British homes and businesses every year.
  • Equinor’s operated offshore wind farms (Sheringham Shoal, Dudgeon and Hywind Scotland) together supply electricity to 650,000 UK homes. Hywind Scotland is the first floating offshore wind park in the world and is partnered with Batwind, the world’s first battery for offshore wind.
  • Equinor is currently developing Mariner, one of the largest upstream investments in the UK in the last 10 years – a gross investment of more than GBP 4.5 billion.
  • Equinor is one of the most active explorers in the UK. In May 2018, Equinor was awarded nine new licences in the 30th Offshore Licensing round, eight as operator.