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Figure 13 Total petroleum resources on the Norwegian continental shelf, 2009–2013
2 000 4 000
6 000 8 000
10 000 12 000
14 000
2009 2010
2011 2012
2013
Billion Sm3 oil equivalents
Barents Sea Norwegian Sea
North Sea
Source: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate
Emphasis is placed on contributing to the further development of petroleum activities in the Barents Sea, so that they can spur local and regional economic growth.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate estimates that 43 per cent of the undiscovered resources on the Norwegian continental shelf are found in the Barents Sea, as shown
in Figure 14. The distribution of the undiscovered resources thus shows that there is signiicant potential for increased petroleum activity in the Norwegian part of the
Barents Sea. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, extensive and sound regulations have been established to ensure proper resource management within the
framework of sustainable development in these areas. The Ministry also notes that interest in the northern parts of the Norwegian continental shelf is high among oil
companies, which the 22nd round of concessions showed with the awarding of 20 production licences in the Barents Sea and four in the Norwegian Sea.
Figure 14 Undiscovered resources divided by area, 2013
Barents Sea
43
North Sea 28
Norwegian Sea 29
Source: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate
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6.2.3 Petroleum-related activities in the Arctic Council
Several of the Arctic Council’s working groups deal with issues related to the petro- leum sector. According to the Norwegian Environment Agency, this is an area where
several of the working groups complement each other. AMAP works on mapping petroleum activities in the Arctic and how these may afect the environment, PAME
draws up guidelines for oil and gas activities in the Arctic, EPPR works on emergency preparedness against acute pollution and measures for handling environmental disas-
ters, and CAFF assesses the efects of possible oil spills on biodiversity.
The AMAP, EPPR and PAME working groups have all published reports directly dealing with oil and gas activities in the Arctic. They are summarised in Table 6.
Table 6 Reports from the Arctic Council’s working groups on petroleum activities in the Arctic Type of report and
contents Discussed at Ministerial
Meeting
Comments on the report
1997 Guidelines for oil
and gas activities in the Arctic
Yes, in 1998. It was said that the countries should
promote the use of these guidelines.
This is a PAME report which includes impact assessment, discussion of the
inhabitants of the Arctic, sustainability and conservation of lora and fauna,
safety and environmental manage- ment and environmental monitoring.
2002 Guidelines for oil
and gas activities in the Arctic, update
While the report was not directly discussed at the
Ministerial Meeting, refer- ence was made to the
importance of good management in this area.
This is a PAME report that deals with the same subjects and discusses new
ones such as operations and acci- dents.
2004 Guidelines for
trans-shipment of reined oil and oil
products in Arctic waters.
Yes, in 2004. It was said that the countries should
disseminate the infor- mation.
This is a PAMEEPPR report on the step-by-step process for the deliveries
of oil to industry and other ships in the Arctic.
2007 Oil and gas report
Yes, in 2009. The Ministe- rial Meeting endorsed the
study and its conclusions. The report is an AMAP summary of
activity and risks associated with petroleum activities in the Arctic.
2009 Guidelines for oil
and gas activities in the Arctic, update
Yes, in 2009. The countries were encouraged to use
these guidelines as a minimum standard.
This is a PAME report that updates the information from the previous
report in 2002.
2010 Oil and gas report,
volumes I and II No, not directly.
The study is published in two reports on activities and risks and a summary.
The AMAP report concerns petroleum activities in the Arctic, social and eco-
nomic effects of such activities, pol- lutants associated with such activity
and effects on the environment and health as well as the Arctic ecosystem.
2011 Report on oil and
other hazardous and toxic substances
in Arctic waters Yes, in 2011. The Ministe-
rial Meeting welcomed the report and asked the SAOs
about further follow-up. This is an EPPR report that sum-
marises the knowledge of how oil and other hazardous and toxic
substances behave in icy waters.
2013 Recommended
practice to prevent oil spills in the Arctic
and summarising report and recom-
mendations to prevent marine oil
spills in the Arctic Yes, in 2013. The Ministe-
rial Meeting welcomed the reports and encouraged
countries to continue working within the recom-
mended areas. The report describes several observa-
tions and practices that can be used to reduce the risk of oil spills.
