Last year the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has launched the 31st Offshore Licensing Round, offering blocks in frontier areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), supported by government-funded data to stimulate interest in these under-explored basins and assist companies in their activities.
In these days, Norwegian oil giant Equinor has been awarded five offshore licenses in the UK.
“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.

The licenses are located 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.
Out of the five licenses awarded to Equinor, the Norwegian oil firm has won four as operator and one as partner. Overall, the OGA has awarded 37 license areas over 141 blocks or part-blocks to 30 companies in the 31st Offshore Licensing Round.
Equinor has described itself as one of the most active explorers in the UK. Last year, in May 2018, Equinor was awarded nine new licenses in the 30th Offshore Licensing round, eight as an operator.