Oil and Gas Department

Exploration policies. Monitoring of development, production and decommissioning of oil and gas fields on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). Monitoring of the gas chain. Economical analysis of petroleum activity, including estimations and evaluations for the National Budget and the State Budget. Juridical questions linked to petroleum activity.

The department consists of the following sections

• Section for Exploration (LS)

  Exploration policies. Opening of new areas on the NCS for petroleum activity. Questions related to petroleum activity in the Barents Sea and in the Lofoten area. Announcement of blocks, negotiations and awards of production licences. Formulation and monitoring of the framework for petroleum activity on the NCS. Prequalification of companies.

• Section for Development and Production (UDR)

  Monitoring of development, production and decommissioning of oil and gas fields on the NCS. Preparedness related to secure supply of oil. Department responsibility for the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD).

• Section for Petroleum Law and Legal Affairs (PJS)

  Legal questions related to petroleum activity, transport and storage of CO2, and ownership in Gassco. Composing texts for treaties, laws, regulations and framework for petroleum activities. EU/EEA legal issues. Legal advice. Follow-up the application of the Security Act with respect to activities under the ministry's area of responsibility. Legal questions related to agreements and consents that the ministry is considering. Preparation for the development of seabed mineral activities.

• Section for market, analysis and infrastructure (MAI)

  Economic analysis of petroleum activity, including forecasts and evaluations for the National Budget and the State Budget. General market questions and market analysis including price prognoses for crude oil, natural gas, NGLs and condensate. Analysis of central issues regarding the Ministry’s work in developing Norwegian Petroleum Policies. Follow-up of planning, development, operation and use of pipelines and land treatment facilities for gas and oil. Regulation of infrastructure on the Norwegian continental shelf. Follow-up of relevant EU processes. Managing state ownership of Gassco. Secretariat for the Petroleum Price Board, which sets tax reference prices (norm prices). Implementing Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Norway. Bilateral contact with other oil and gas producing and consuming countries. Contact with other oil and gas producing and consuming countries, and Norwegian participation in international forums, such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Energy Forum (IEF) and Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

• Section for analysis and infrastructure (AI)

  Economic analysis of the petroleum industry, including estimates and assessments for the national budget and state budget. Regulation of transport infrastructure on the Norwegian continental shelf; the gas transport system, production infrastructure and other infrastructure. Follow-up of operation and further development of the gas transport system. Ownership follow-up of Gassco. Relevant EU matters.

• Section for energy and market (EM)

  Monitors and analyses trends in resource management, including developments within the EU. These trends are crucial for the implementation and evolution of policies related to petroleum, CO2 storage and seabed minerals, both short-term and long-term. The section serves as the secretariat for the Petroleum Price Council, responsible for forecasting short- and long-term prices for gas, oil, and wet gas. It also represents Norwegian interests in international forums such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Energy Forum (IEF), as well as in various bilateral engagements.