31st Mar 2006 12:39
BG GROUP plc31 March 2006 MediaInformation 31 March 2006 BG Group achieves 100% success in Norway's 19th Licensing Round BG Group welcomes today's announcement that it has been awarded eight newlicences in the Norwegian 19th Licensing Round. BG Group will be operator infive of these licences and is the most successful company of all the applicantsin this round. The awards cover five licences in the Norwegian Sea and three licences in theBarents Sea. Today's announcement maintains BG's record of being awarded acreage with everyapplication it has made in licensing rounds since its entry into the NorwegianContinental Shelf in 2003. Mark Carne, BG Group Executive Vice President and Managing Director Europe andCentral Asia said: "We are delighted by today's awards that allow us to continue our investment andexpansion within the Norwegian Continental Shelf. "Since our entry into Norway we have been awarded or acquired interests in 23licences, and in 13 of these we are now the operator. This is a remarkableachievement in such a short space of time. "Today's awards mark a 100 per cent success rate for our applications in the19th round. This is clear reward for our exploration led growth strategy in theregion to deliver exciting new opportunities. "In this round we have been awarded operatorship in deep-water areas in theNorwegian Sea, and we are expanding, also as operator, into the Barents Sea,which is a new and challenging area for us." The licence awards are as follows:Barents Sea -PL 396 (BG 70% (op))PL 395 (BG 30%)PL 393 (BG 20%) Norwegian SeaPL392 (BG 20%)PL 391 (BG 40% (op))PL 390 (BG 70% (op))PL 388 (BG100%(op))PL 372 BS (BG70% (op)) There are matters discussed in this media information that are forward looking statements. Such statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. For a discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements, refer to the Company's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2005. Notes to Editors: BG Group plc is a global natural gas business. Active on five continents in over20 countries, it operates four business segments - Exploration and Production,LNG, Transmission and Distribution and Power. In December 2003, BG was selected for the operatorship - and 100 per centownership - in PL 297 in Norway's first Awards in Predefined Areas (APA)licensing round. Seismic was acquired over the blocks in 2004-05. Since then the BG portfolio in Norway has grown as follows:June 2004 - 18th Licensing Round, Norwegian Sea:PL 324 (BG 30%, ENI (op), Chevron)PL 325 (BG 30%, Chevron (op), ENI)August 2004 - Transaction with Lundin, North Sea Play Extension:PL 292 (BG 60% (op), Lundin)November 2004 - Transaction with Paladin, North Sea Play Extension:PL 143 (BG 30%, ConocoPhillips (op), Talisman)PL 143 CS (BG 20%, Talisman (op), DNO)PL 298 (BG 20%, Talisman (op))December 2004 - Two awards in APA (Awards in Predefined Areas) Licensing Round:PL 335 (BG 52% (op), Lundin, Paladin, RWE)PL 337 (BG 25%, Pertra (op))July 2005 - Transaction with Statoil, Norwegian Sea:PL 251 (BG 20%, Statoil (op), Shell)November 2005 - Transaction with DONG, North Sea:PL 274 BS (BG 80% (op), DONG 20%)December 2005 - Four awards in APA (Awards in Predefined Areas) Licensing Round:PL373S (BG 45% (op), Revus, RWE, Idemitsu)PL 372S (BG 70% (op), Revus)PL374S (BG 45% (op), Revus, Petoro, Premier)PL382 (BG 80% (op), Noreco) - ends - Enquiries: Communications +44 (0) 118 929 2462Out of hours media mobile: +44 (0) 791 718 5707 Investor Relations Chris Lloyd/Helen Parris/ Kate Bingham +44 (0) 118 929 3025 Website: www.bg-group.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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