The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy announced APA 2021 on 9 June 2021, encompassing the predefined areas with blocks in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea.

The photo shows karstified (dissolved) marble at Liland in Evenes municipality.

The deadline to apply for APA 2021 is Wednesday, 8 September 2021 at 12:00.

Available acreage

Since APA 2020, the predefined areas (APA acreage) have been expanded by 4 blocks in the North Sea, 10 blocks in the Norwegian Sea and 70 blocks in the Barents 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 NPD’s interactive Factmap, and maps covering the final area that can be applied for will be provided as soon as practically possible.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate