17/02/2019 -  In February 2019, The Egyptian Authorities awarded two onshore exploration blocks to Eni.

The first block, “South East Siwa” (Eni 100%), has been assigned within the EGPC 2018 competitive bid round. The block, which has an acreage of 3,013 km², is located in the Western Desert close by to the Eni “SW Melehia” Concession, where two commercial oil discoveries have recently been announced and for which development plans are currently being prepared.

The second block, “West Sherbean” (Eni 50%, Operator; BP 50%), has been assigned within the EGAS 2018 competitive bid round. The block is located onshore Nile Delta, immediately southwest of the new "Nile Delta" concession assigned to Eni in August 2018 and where the Nooros field is located. The new block covers an area of 1,535 km².

12/02/2019 - The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) awarded one new licence to DEA in its 2018 Bid Round. The East Damanhour exploration block (originally offered as Block 10) covers 1,418 square kilometres and is located west of the Disouq development leases, where DEA is the operator with a licence share of 100%.

02/02/2019 - The second of three planned onshore licencing rounds for the exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Croatia is currently underway. Seven exploration blocks in southwest and central Croatia and central Slavonia have been offered in this bidding round, which is open between 2 November 2018 and 28 June 2019.

31/01/2019 - The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) launched the Supplementary 31st Offshore Licensing Round, presenting an exceptional opportunity for oil and gas companies to collaborate to maximise economic recovery of up to 300 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) in the Greater Buchan Area.

16/01/2019 - Equinor has been awarded 29 new licences by Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy as part of the Award in Predefined Areas (APA) for 2018 – 13 licences as operator and 16 as partner.

15/01/2019 - Vår Energi has been awarded a total of 13 licenses in the Awards in Predefined Areas 2018 (APA) by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

15/01/2019 - 33 companies have been offered ownership interests in a total of 83 production licences on the Norwegian Shelf in the Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2018. This is the largest number ever awarded in one licensing round. 

15/01/2019 - DNO Norge AS has been awarded participation in 18 exploration licenses, of which five are operatorships, under Norway's Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2018 licensing round.

15/01/2019 - The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy awarded nine new licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) to DEA in this year’s Awards in Predefined Areas (APA). Four of the awarded licences are located in the Norwegian Sea, three in the North Sea and two in the Barents Sea. DEA will be operator in three of the licences.

15/01/2019 - Neptune Energy has today been awarded 9 new licenses in mature areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. 

13/01/2019 - Eni signed two Concession Agreements for the acquisition of a 70% stake in the Offshore Block 1 and Offshore Block 2 exploration areas for a duration of 35 years, leading a consortium including Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production Company Limited (PTTEP) with the remaining 30% stake.

11/01/2019 - Azeire reported that the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Actions and Environment approved both the extension of Frontier Exploration Licence 1/13 (FEL 1/13) for two years, and the conversion of Licence Option 16/17 (LO 16/17) to Frontier Exploration Licence 1/19 (FEL 1/19), commencing 1 February 2019.

07/01/2019 - After months of delay, India will Monday launch the second auction of 14 blocks for prospecting of oil and gas in an attempt to raise domestic output to cut imports.

04/01/2019 - Lebanon’s 2nd Offshore Licence Round is scheduled for official launch this month, with a window for prequalification from January to April 2019. 

14/12/2018 - PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) confirms its readiness to continue the operatorship in the Bongkot gas field and to become the operator in the Erawan field starting from 2022.

12/12/2018 - Total and the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines of Mauritania have signed an agreement awarding Total two new exploration and production contracts for Blocks C15 and C31 deep offshore Mauritania, covering an area of 14,175 square kilometers. 

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