UK awards 46 oil and gas licences in North Sea

摘要

The UK has awarded 46 new licences to explore for oil and gas in the North Sea covering 110 blocks, which were previously held back pending the need for further assessment, according to a Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) statement on December 30. The licences were awarded as part of the 26th offshore oil and gas licensing round, which was originally announced in October 2010 and awarded 144 licenses. However, a number of blocks were delayed due to the need for assessment on Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Administrators in the second wave of licence awards include Centrica, GDF Suez, Shell, and Wintershall.