SANDEFORD, Norway Jan 19 (Reuters) - Norway's oil ministryawarded 56 oil and gas exploration licences in mature areas onTuesday and said it plans to launch a new licencing round inmature areas before Easter this year.
"I have the pleasure to offer 56 new exploration licences.27 in the North Sea, 24 in the Norwegian Sea and five in theBarents Sea," oil minister Tord Lien told an industryconference.
A total of 36 companies were awarded stakes to explore inmature areas, or areas already opened for exploration, thePetroleum and Energy ministry said.
The biggest winner was Statoil with 24 licences,including 13 operatorships. Others to win operatorships includeLundin and Eni.
For full list: https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/apa-2015-considerable-interest-in-further-exploration-of-the-norwegian-continental-shelf/id2470979/
(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Joachim Dagenborg, editing byAlister Doyle)
