OSLO, Sept 9 (Reuters) - A total of 43 oil firms have askedfor drilling permits in Norway's annual round of license awardsin so-called mature areas of its continental shelf, down from 47last year, the country's Oil and Energy Ministry said in astatement.
Statoil, BP and Royal Dutch Shell were among the applicants, it added.
The government is expected to decide on the allocation ofresources in early 2016. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Alister Doyle)
Tullow Oil (TLW)
BP (BP.)
