OSLO, June 12 (Reuters) - Norway awarded 24 oil and gaslicenses to 29 companies in its 22nd licensing round forexploration in new areas, the country's oil and energy ministrysaid on Wednesday.
Some 36 oil firms had applied for licenses. 86 blocks wereon offer, of which 72 in the Arctic - a record number for theregion - and 14 in the Norwegian Sea.