Licences

General information about oil/gas licences in Denmark

The first exploration licence was granted in 1935. Since then there has been oil and gas exploration in Denmark. In 1966 A.P.Møller with the first well in the Danish part of the North Sea for the first time discovered hydrocarbons in Denmark. The discovery was also the first find in the North Sea.

The exploration continued and a series of oil and gas fields were found. In 1972 the first oil was produced from the Dan field.

Since 1983 areas in the North Sea have been offered to interested oil companies in a system of rounds. Six licensing rounds have been held, the latest in 2005/2006.

Furthermore in 1996 an Open Door procedure for areas east of 6° 15' eastern longitude was introduced.