Libya’s National Oil Corporation has launched a licensing round aimed at its “prospective gas areas throughout the prolific geologic basins”, including four offshore blocks of some 10,300 square kilometres.

Onshore, the Sirt, Ghadames, Murzuq and Cyrenaican basins were opened for exploration through the mapping of four blocks. Data presentations in Tripoli and London will also reveal the contractual framework and the bidding process for this, Libya’s “Fourth Round”.

Applications were availabe at the company Web site for submission no later than 22 August 2007. Eight days later, qualified companies and consortia will be named.

A statement made it clear that only major oil companies were invited: they must boast “not less than 2 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas” reserves and 2006 gas production of “not be less than 200 million Scf per day”.

Less sizeable oil companies must piggy-back onto field stakes as licensees.