The UK has awarded 37 new licence areas covering 141 blocks or partial blocks in its 31st Offshore Round, with as many as 30 oil companies taking on acreage, writes Rob Watts.
Those taking new positions included supermajors Shell, BP and Total, Norway's Equinor, Chrysaor and Spirit Energy.
The UK’s Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) said the round, which focused on frontier areas, will act as a "strong platform" for future exploration and production in in the Faroe-Shetland basin, Moray Firth, East Irish Sea, East Shetland Platform, Mid North Sea High and English Channel.
