Statoil is drilling closer to Svalbard. They find oil, Norway can be brought to court – Aftenposten

Statoil drills coming ever closer to the big disputed waters around Svalbard – also called Svalbard Checkout.

Last week announced Statoil’s exploration plans for the Barents Sea next year. Then it will be for the first time drilling in one of the licenses which extends into the disputed area.

Two views on the ocean

Svalbard The box is a clearly defined, large body of water around Svalbard. Here is Norwegian rights disputed:

• Norway believes the area is part of the Norwegian continental shelf, and that any oil and gas discoveries belong to Norway.
• All the second states that have signed the Svalbard Treaty, mean sea area covered by the treaty. The countries that have signed thus has equal access to oil and gas that may reside there.

An international agreement securing Norway sovereignty over Svalbard, but with restrictions.

Entered into force in 1925. to date ratified by 42 countries.

Norwegian laws and rules apply on Svalbard. Citizens of countries that have signed the agreement have full opportunity to settle on Svalbard and hunting, fishing and commercial activity in the area.

Source: Large Norwegian encyclopedia

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Norway alone

Per Arne Totland has just published the book Cold front – conflict area Svalbard 100 years.

– Norway stands alone against the world in sight on which rules should apply. Norwegian views are probably still quite strong, he said.

But it does not suffice to have the right:

– On the other hand, it may lie vast resources here. These resources can be so valuable that someone will bring the matter before the International Court in The Hague, he said.

What will we Svalbard? | Per Arne Totland There vulnerable Svalbard | Per Anders Madsen

Russians require their

Russia is among the countries that do not like Norwegian drilling in the area. Russia uses the term “Spitsbergen square” about what the Norwegian Svalbard referred to as cashier.

“The continental shelf is a natural continuation of land and forms insoluble and unbreakable unity with it. In accordance with this include legal order, formed by the Spitsbergen Treaty of 1920, fully archipelago continental shelf within the so-called “Spitsbergen square” (…) “, writes the press attaché Andrey Kolesnikov at Embassy of Russia in Oslo in an email to Aftenposten.

He continues:

“We encourage Norwegian side to take necessary steps to bring Norway’s policy regarding control operations in” Spitsbergen square “in accordance with its international obligations.”

Lien does not agree

Petroleum and Energy Tord Lien does not agree with the Russians.

“the Svalbard Treaty concerning the islands and territorial waters around which are located within the area geographically limited in Svalbard Treaty, “writes Ministry information department in an email on behalf of the Minister.

This means that the treaty only applies to islands and bit of the sea around them within Svalbard cashier. Seabed and everything under it – the continental shelf – are not covered by the treaty.

“The Norwegian continental shelf is contiguous up to and past Svalbard. On the continental shelf, Norway has in accordance with international law sovereign rights to natural resources, including oil and gas, “writes Affairs.

Borer next year

In the first place it is about drilling in the so-called Korpfjell prospect in license extends into the disputed area.

– We plan to drill in this license during 2017 as part of a larger drill program, says spokesman Morten Eek Statoil .

the actual drilling next year will take place entirely south of the license and outside Svalbard cashier. No one knows whether any findings will extend into the “box” or not.

Eek will not go into the Law of the Sea disagreements in the area.

– We relate to what we have awarded by Norwegian authorities, he said.

Want protection zone

the environmental organization Greenpeace ønker not Statoil welcome in Svalbard Checkout.

– Greenpeace urges the Government to declare Svalbard zone as an international marine conservation area where no country can extract oil, gas or minerals, leader Truls Gulowsen Green Pace in Norway

– We are not surprised that Russia is now entering the arena and would like access to these blocks, he said.

– But we are surprised that the Norwegian government is so eager to let Statoil drilling in the ice edge that they take a chance on both environmental degradation and international political conflict.

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Buying up in checkout

in another license which is entirely located within Svalbard Treasury Statoil has acquired up from 35 percentage to 80 percent. This is one of the licenses in Hoop area.

Eek says that the group has no plans to drill in this license next year.

Totland says:

– Statoil had not bought up without having to believe that there are resources in this license. At some point, enough Statoil drilling there.