Spirit Energy has been awarded nine new licences in the Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) round on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, including two as operator.

Spirit Energy Exploration Director Steinar Meland said: “The APA outcome is great for us this year. We want to grow our business on the Norwegian Shelf.

"New, attractive exploration acreage is key to making new discoveries that can lead to developments and production."

In APA 2018 Spirit Energy has been awarded new licences from the North Sea in the south to the Barents Sea in the north.

Mr Meland added: “We believe it’s possible to make new discoveries in all three areas of the NCS and will explore in both mature areas in the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea and in the Barents Sea.”

2018 was a busy year for Spirit Energy on the NCS, with nine exploration wells resulting in several discoveries. As of today, an additional three exploration wells are planned in 2019.

Mr Meland said: “The APA arrangement is important to maintain a steady exploration level and to create value.”

About Spirit Energy

Spirit Energy was created in 2017 following the combination of Centrica’s Exploration & Production business and Bayerngas Norge AS. The business is 69%-owned by Centrica plc, with the remaining 31% owned by Bayerngas Norge’s former shareholders, led by Stadtwerke München and Bayerngas GmbH.

The independent company was formed to combine a complementary mix of producing and development assets, and creates a robust, self-financing business to allow both organic and inorganic growth.