Announcement 2024, round 2

All you need to know about licences for subsea reservoirs on the Norwegian Continental Shelf for injection and storage of CO2 in 2024, round 2.

Three companies have been offered exploration licences for CO2 storage

The exploration licences are in two areas in the North Sea. The authorities have reviewed applications from six companies following announcement of three suitable acreage in June 2024.

The companies are:

Aker BP ASA
Equinor Low Carbon Solutions AS
Harbour Energy Norge AS

This is the seventh time acreage is being awarded for CO2 storage pursuant to the CO2 Storage Regulations.

See work programme (pdf)

Shape offered acreage (zip)

Press release from the Ministry of Energy (Norwegian)

Six companies have applied for CO2 storage acreage

The Ministry of Energy has received applications from six companies in connection with the announcement of an area in the North Sea for potential storage of CO2 on the Norwegian shelf.

The department is processing incoming applications and aims to award exploration licences in the second half of 2024.

The Ministry of Energy has been contacted by commercial players who are interested in securing the award of specific acreage for CO2 storage. This acreage, located in the North Sea, was announced on 6 June, pursuant to the CO2 Storage Regulations.

As of the application deadline on 29 August, applications were received from the following companies:

Aker BP ASA
Equinor Low Carbon Solutions AS
Harbour Energy Norge AS
Horisont Energi AS
Storegga Norge AS
TotalEnergies EP Norge AS

Press release from the Ministry of Energy

Announcement nr. 2-2024: Acreage for CO2 storage on the Norwegian continental shelf

On 6 of June 2024, the Ministry of Energy announced three areas for CO2 storage pursuant to the CO2 Storage Regulations. This areas comprises defined blocks in the North Sea.

Press release from the Ministry of Energy: "Announcing three areas related to CO2-storage"

Invitation to apply for licences for storage of CO2

As of the application deadline on 29 August, applications were received from the following companies:

Aker BP ASA
Equinor Low Carbon Solutions AS
Harbour Energy Norge AS
Horisont Energi AS
Storegga Norge AS
TotalEnergies EP Norge AS

Press release from the Ministry of Energy: "Applications for permits to store CO2 in the North Sea"

Map of available acreage

Map-2024-2-area-1-English

Map-2024-2-area-3-English Map-2024-2-area-2-English

Table with coordinates

List of coordinates, the North Sea (zip file)

Relevant information

CO2 Storage Atlas, Norwegian Continental Shelf

Norwegian Offshore Directorate CO2 factmap

Regulations relating to exploitation of subsea reservoirs on the continental shelf for storage of CO₂ and relating to transportation of CO₂ on the continental shelf

Regulations relating to materials and documentation in connection with surveys for and utilisation of subsea reservoirs on the continental shelf to store CO₂

Open data

How to apply

Each company that applies for licences must submit the following to the Ministry of Energy with copies to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate and the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil):

Application letter, company information and receipt for paid application fee
Application(s)

The submission to the Ministry of Energy and the Norwegian Offshore Directorate shall be sent via L2S Authority Communication or via Altinn.

1. Application letter, company information and receipt for paid application fee

The formal application letter with an overview of all applications the company is participating in, both individually and as a participant in group application(s), shall be submitted together with the company information. See Guideline to application letter and company information (pdf) for more information.

A fee of NOK 123,000 must be paid for each application. When several companies join in a group application to apply for a licence, this counts as one application.

One of the members of the group pays the fee. Payment shall be made to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, account no.: 7694.05.00326, marked "CO2-storage".

A copy of the receipt must be enclosed with the application letter from the company.

2. Application(s)

Each application for a licence must be submitted in electronic format to the Ministry of Energy and the Norwegian Offshore Directorate. See Guideline for application for licence for CO2-storage (pdf) for more information.