OSLO, Sept 9 (Reuters) - A total of 43 oil firms have asked
for drilling permits in Norway's annual round of license awards
in so-called mature areas of its continental shelf, down from 47
last year, the country's Oil and Energy Ministry said in a
statement.
Statoil STL.OL , BP BP.L and Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L
were among the applicants, it added.
The government is expected to decide on the allocation of
resources in early 2016.