Barents Sea reopened
Posted: 16 December 2003
Norway's sector of the Barents Sea is to be reopened for petroleum
operations, the Norwegian government said yesterday, 15 December,
when it also announced the country's 18th licensing round.
An assessment of the Nordland VI area of the Norwegian Sea will
be made when the integrated management plan for the Barents sea
has been produced.
The decision on the Barents Sea was announced by petroleum and
energy minister Einar Steensnæs at a press conference today.
He also detailed which areas of the North and Norwegian Seas will
be included in the 18th round, and said that awards can be expected
before next summer.
"It's very positive for us that the Barents Sea is being reopened
after a three-year pause," says Tor Fjæran, senior vice
president for new areas in Exploration & Production Norway.
"We're looking forward to resuming exploration activities
in these waters, and to following up the encouraging results of
the last drilling campaign."
He adds that Statoil will now contact the other operators in these
waters in order to establish collaboration over a drilling campaign
as early as next autumn.
"And we're also pleased that the 18th round incorporates many
interesting blocks both in the North Sea and in the Norwegian Sea.
"We'll now be assessing the acreage on offer, and believe this
can lay the basis for a higher level of activity. Our aim will be
to start drilling as early as the spring of 2005."
The group also gives high priority to blocks in the Nordland VI
area off Lofoten as well as the Nordland VII and Troms II zones
of the Norwegian Sea.
It regards these waters as highly interesting, but notes that opening
Nordland VI has been difficult this time round.
Statoil's aim is to be a prime mover in ensuring that new oil operations
in northern areas are pursued without causing environmental damage.
Mr Fjæran says that zero harm, clean seas and coexistence
with other industries will be guiding principles for petroleum activities
in these waters.
He adds that Statoil applies tougher environmental standards to
new operations on the northern NCS in order to ensure zero discharges
to the sea.
The "ULB" report on year-round oil activities in the
Norwegian Sea north of Lofoten and in the Barents Sea was published
this summer.
A public consultation exercise on the impact assessment was completed
on 1 October 2003, and the findings will be submitted to the Storting
(parliament) before its Easter recess next year.
For more information see http://www.statoil.com.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
Information supplied by companies
or PR agencies who are responsible for content. Send press releases
to info@pipelinedubai.com |
