Offshore - Oil & Gas

Shell Among 21 Applicants for Norway’s 2026 Oil and Gas Round

Norway’s 2026 APA licensing round has drawn applications from 21 oil and gas companies, including Shell, for exploration acreage across three offshore regions.

Photo source: Norwegianpetroleum.no

16, September 2026
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Norway’s 2026 Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) licensing round will offer 70 new blocks or parts of blocks for oil and gas exploration across the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea.

The country’s energy ministry has received applications from 21 oil and gas companies seeking exploration acreage in the annual mature-areas licensing round.

Equinor, Aker BP, ConocoPhillips and TotalEnergies are among the companies that submitted applications.

Shell has also applied, returning to the APA applicant list after being absent in 2025. The total number of applicants is one higher than in last year’s round.

Norway’s energy ministry said continued exploration and new discoveries are important for the country to remain a stable supplier of oil and gas.

Tags: Aker BP, APA 2026, Barents Sea, ConocoPhillips, Equinor, North Sea, Norway Oil and Gas, Norwegian Sea, offshore exploration, Shell, TotalEnergies

Editorial Note:
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools to enhance clarity and efficiency.
All information has been reviewed and verified by the HMT News editor.

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