Fossil dinoflagellate (microplankton) of Late Cretaceous age, approximately 75 million years. This specimen is 0.1 millimeter in width.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy announced APA 2022 on 14 June 2022, encompassing the predefined areas with blocks in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea.

The deadline to apply for APA 2022 is Monday, 12 September 2022 at 12.00.

Applicants are encouraged to submit in good time before the deadline.

Awards are expected during the first quarter of 2023.

Available acreage

Since APA 2021, the predefined areas (APA acreage) have been expanded by 28 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