BP bidding for oil projects off Greenland - paper

LONDON Aug 25 (Reuters) - Oil giant BP (BP.L) is among 12 companies bidding to develop offshore exploration blocks off Greenland's coast, a newspaper report said on Wednesday.

The news comes as UK oil explorer Cairn Energy (CNE.L) on Tuesday said it was encouraged by drilling results in Greenland, despite failing to find oil. [ID:nLDE67N06V]

Britain's Times newspaper said other companies bidding for the licences -- which cover the area spanning the northern part of Baffin Bay in the Arctic Circle -- include Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) and Norwegian state oil producer Statoil.

Jorn Skon Neilsen, deputy head of Greenland's Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum, told The Times a decision will be announced soon, but did not reveal which companies had applied.

BP was not immediately reachable for comment. (Reporting by Karolina Tagaris; Editing by Gary Hill)