We hold offshore and onshore petroleum licensing rounds, inviting applications from companies and making awards to those bids that promise to ensure economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources, whilst supporting the drive to net zero carbon by 2050.
We also offer acreage offshore for carbon dioxide appraisal and storage licensing in support the Government’s targets to store 20-30MTPA of CO2 by 2030 as part of the decarbonisation of UK industrial emissions, and to support the UK’s journey to net zero emissions by 2050.
33rd Offshore Licensing Round
The 33rd UK Offshore Licensing Round officially opened on 7th October 2022 and closed for applications for licences on 12 January 2023.
The Licensing Round was formulated in compliance with the Climate Compatibility Checkpoint (CCC) which was published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (now the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero).
It was also written in light of the OGA Strategy which ‘requires industry to operate in a way consistent with net zero ambitions, lowering production emissions and making serious progress on the solutions that can contribute to the UK achieving net zero.’
On 13 October 2022 we announced that further Blocks were made available for offer. On the 30th October 2023 the NSTA announced the offer of 27 new licences and the merge of 6 blocks into 5 existing licences, in the first set of awards for the 33rd Round. On 31 January 2024 the NSTA announced the Tranche 2 awards for the 33rd Round, comprising of 24 new licences made up of 74 blocks/part block in the West of Shetlands, Northern North Sea and Central North Sea. On 3 May 2024 the NSTA announced the Tranche 3 awards for the 33rd Round, comprising of 31 new licences made up of 88 blocks/part blocks in the Central North Sea, East Irish Sea and the Southern North Sea.
On 24 May 2024 we offered a licence to Total Energies.
Licensing Round Information
English Channel Carbon Storage Applications
On 30th April 2024, the NSTA opened a competitive process inviting applications for Carbon Dioxide Appraisal and Storage Licences in an area in the English Channel. These licences grant exclusive rights for the exploration and appraisal of potential storage sites for carbon dioxide in the subsurface. Applicants had to note their interest in submitting an application within the first two weeks of the process, and had to submit applications by Wednesday 5th June 2024.
The NSTA will subsequently undertake technical evaluations of applications received, and OPRED will make an Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Regulations. Full information on the process can be found below.
Licensing round information
14th Onshore Licensing Round
On 17 December 2015, we announced that licences for a total of 159 blocks were formally offered to successful applicants under the 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round.
View past Licencing Rounds here: