Norway's Oil Ministry Friday said there was considerable interest in the country's latest so-called "awards in predefined areas", or APA, oil and gas license round, which attracted applications from 47 companies.
Among the applicants for exploration acreage in areas which have already been opened for oil and gas activities were majors Total SA (TOT), ConocoPhillips (COP), Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA), and Norwegian incumbent StatoilHydro ASA (STO).
The outcome of the ministry's allocation of licenses is expected around the end of the year.