Kunna, furthest south in Salten, modern shallow marine depositional environment, where the beach facing north (left) is more affected by waves and wind than the beach facing south (right). Photo: Fridtjof Riis, Norwegian Offshore Directorate

The Ministry of Energy announced APA 2024 on 8 May 2024, encompassing the predefined areas with blocks in the Norwegian Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea.

The deadline to apply for APA 2024 is 12:00 noon on Tuesday, 3 September 2024. Applicants are encouraged to submit in good time before the deadline.

Awards are expected during the first quarter of 2025.

Available acreage

Since APA 2023, the predefined areas (APA acreage) have been expanded by 34 blocks in the Barents Sea and 3 blocks in the Norwegian Sea. Applications can be submitted for all available blocks or parts of blocks within the predefined areas.

Blocks or parts of blocks that become available less than 3 months prior to the application deadline, cannot be applied for. That means that all acreage approved for relinquishment in the period up to three months prior to the application deadline is considered to be announced as of the application deadline.

Relinquished area is included on a continuous basis in the predefined area on the Norwegian Offshore Directorate's interactive Factmap, and maps covering the final area that can be applied for will be provided as soon as practically possible.

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