Holdings in 11 new production licences have been awarded to Statoil in the 21st licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS), which was announced by the government today, 15 April. The group received eight new operatorships, with four of these in the Barents Sea and four in the Norwegian Sea. “We are very pleased with the award of new acreage in the Barents and Norwegian Seas,” says Gro Gunleiksrud Haatvedt, senior vice president for exploration on the NCS. “I’d particularly highlight the operatorship/acreage in the Hoop area.