Granby, the oil and gas exploration and production company with interests in the UK North Sea and the Philippines, has been offered 15 additional blocks and part blocks to be held under 7 licences in the North Sea as part of the 24th UKCS Licensing Round announced by the DTI.

Granby has been offered the highest number of operated blocks and part blocks in the Round. This award increases Granby's acreage position in the North Sea to 33 blocks and part blocks in 17 licences in total.

Granby has been offered 3 traditional licences, 2 of which require 2D seismic work programmes, and 4 promote licences with work programmes which include reprocessing and re-evaluation of pre-existing datasets. As a result of these awards, and including the relinquishment of certain 22nd round licences and one 23rd round licence, Granby's net unrisked and net risked prospective resources have increased to 566 mmboe (+78%) and 106 mmboe (+63%) respectively.

Gas Plus Italiana S.p.A. ('GasPlus') will participate as a co-venturer in all the licences with Granby. GasPlus has contributed to the cost of data purchase and to Granby's technical work in evaluating the licence round blocks. The geophysical company TGS-NOPEC is a co-venturer with Granby in one traditional and one promote licence. Nautical Petroleum will also participate as a co-venturer with Granby in one of the promote licences.