We hold offshore and onshore licensing rounds, inviting applications from companies and making awards to those bids that promise to maximise economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources.

The 32nd Offshore Licensing Round

The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) aims to formally launch the round during the summer/mid-year 2019.

The announcement of the United Kingdom 32nd Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round was made in the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 May 2019 and can be viewed here.

An indication of the general areas likely to be included in this round can be viewed here.

Any questions regarding this notice should be sent to OGA's Correspondence inbox

31^st Supplementary Offshore Licensing Round - Greater Buchan Area Plan

The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has initiated a new Area Plan to maximise economic recovery (MER) from the Greater Buchan area of the North Sea, to develop the 150-300 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) estimated to be present in the area.

To maximise recovery of the significant potential recoverable resources in the Greater Buchan area, the OGA opened a Supplementary Licensing Round in Q1 2019.

The area, situated in the Outer Moray Firth, features considerable open, currently unlicensed acreage, including a number of undeveloped discoveries. The OGA is encouraging companies to partner with each other and collaborate to progress exploration and new developments in the area.

In advance of the Supplementary Round, the OGA hosted an information session in Aberdeen for interested oil and gas companies on 15 November 2018. Please expand the menu to see presentation and press materials.

The data pack for the 31^st Supplementary Licensing Round is available here.  A summary of the available data is included in the Industry Engagement Session - presentation.  Additional data (e.g. pressure and core analysis databases) are available from the OGA open data site.

Timing of the 31st Supplementary Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round

On 31st January 2019, the OGA invited applications for licences for a 31st Supplementary Offshore Licensing Round. The Round closed for applications at 14.00 on the 2nd May 2019.

 

The 31^st Offshore Licensing Round

On 10^th July 2018, we invited applications for licences in the 31^st Offshore Licensing Round. Applications were accepted up to 14.00 on the 7^th November 2018 through the LARRY system on the Energy Portal. 

The Round attracted 36 applications covering 164 blocks in frontier areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).  For full details on the applications received please see the related Press Release.

On 4 June 2019, the Oil and Gas Authority offered for award 37 licence areas over 141 blocks or part-blocks to 30 companies in the 31^st Offshore Licensing Round.

These successful awards act as a strong platform for future exploration and production in frontier areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) in the Faroe-Shetland Basin, Moray Firth, East Irish Sea, East Shetland Platform, Mid North Sea High and English Channel.

A number of proposed new work programmes have been secured in this round, including new shoot seismic acquisition, with two licences progressing straight to field development planning (second term licences).

Overall, the awards have been offered to a broad spectrum of companies; with super-majors expanding their footprint and new entrant companies investing for the first time.

Dates of previous and indicative timings for future licence rounds

Dates of previous and indicative timings for future offshore licence round events, covering a five year total period,are detailed below:-

30^th Offshore Licensing Round

On 25 July 2017, we invited applications for licences in the 30th Offshore Licensing Round.  The round closed for applications on 21 November 2017. On 23 May 2018 we announced the offer of awards in the 30th Offshore Licensing Round.

29^th Offshore Licensing Round

On 27 July 2016, we invited applications for licences in the 29^th Offshore Licensing Round. The Round closed on 26 October 2016. On 23 March 2017 we announced the offer of awards in the 29^th Offshore Licensing Round.

2016 Offshore Supplementary Round

On 6 December 2016, we invited applications for licences in the Offshore 2016 Supplementary Round.  

28^th Offshore Licensing Round

On 6 November 2014, we invited applications for licences in the 28^th Offshore Licensing Round.