Statoil has been awarded interests in 10 production licences in the Awards in Predefined Areas 2013 (APA 2013) on the Norwegian continental shelf. Statoil will be the operator in 7 of the licences.

"We are very pleased with the APA 2013 award which is in line with our strategy. It makes a good basis for further developing the NCS as a core area for Statoil," says Irene Rummelhoff, newly appointed senior vice president for NCS exploration in Statoil.

"The mature areas of the NCS are very attractive. Familiar geology contributes to high discovery rates, while well-developed infrastructure yields high-value barrels", says Rummelhoff.

Statoil has been awarded new acreage in all three NCS provinces:

Barents Sea 

- 40% ownership and operatorship in PL765 - a new licence in the Hammerfest basin. We see exciting potential in the area, particularly in some of the more under-explored plays.

Norwegian Sea

- 40% ownership and operatorship in PL755. This is an interesting area east of Heidrun awarded to secure optimal near-field exploration.

- 60% ownership and operatorship in PL752 and 20% ownership in PL751 - two new licences in the less mature Frøya high/Froan basin where we take a fresh perspective on traditional and new plays.

Statoil believes that the mature areas of the NCS still offer exciting exploration opportunities. The company takes targeted steps in order to unlock the full potential of the mature areas thus maximising value creation on the NCS.

"In 2012 we established three growth projects within our Exploration Norway team covering the most interesting parts of the Norwegian and North Seas. The aim of the growth projects is to leverage our regional knowledge and come up with new creative ideas and exploration concepts. Our APA 2013 application was to a large extent based on the opportunities matured by the growth projects", says Rummelhoff.

Rummelhoff emphasises that access to new quality acreage is essential for maintaining the NCS production level beyond 2020.

Earlier this month Statoil delivered to the authorities its nomination of blocks for the 23rd licencing round.