The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Firms queue up for offshore licences
Authority (OGA) said. The 30th round, which closed yesterday, has also seen applications from a total of 68 companies, from large multinationals to new, smaller operators.
Nick Richardson, head of exploration and new ventures, OGA, said: “Despite the difficult economic environment, industry has responded strongly to this round, confirming the high remaining potential of the UKCS (UK continental shelf ). The focus on regions with existing infrastructure provided companies with an excellent opportunity to take a fresh look at a large inventory of opportunities.”
In order to boost applications, two Aberdeen-based organisations, the OGA and Oil and Gas Technology Centre, worked together to create several digital data packages and co-host a technology event.
Mr Richardson said: “Efforts by the OGA to provide new data, analysis and insights has stimulated a number of high-quality applications.
“Together with the added advantages of flexible licensing, technology development and improvements to the oil and gas fiscal regime, this has evidently created the right conditions to support continued investment.”