Drilling News


Julie Robertson to head Noble Corp.

Jan 11, 2018

Julie J. Robertson will succeed David W. Williams as Noble Corp. chairman, president and CEO, effective February 2018.  Julie Robertson. Image from Noble Corp. UK-based offshore driller Noble…

Zama appraisal to begin late 2018-19

Jan 11, 2018

Premier Oil announced in its trading and operations update that it is working with joint venture partners Talos Energy (operator) and Sierra Oil & Gas to progress the appraisal program for the Zama-1 discovery in block 7 in the Sureste Basin offshore Tabasco…

Stone hits pay at Mt. Providence

Jan 10, 2018

US-based Stone Energy hit oil at its 100%-owned Mt. Providence development well in Mississippi Canyon block 28, in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico. The Mt. Providence well (also known as MC 28 #4) hit approximately 153ft of high quality…

Northern Offshore sells jackups

Jan 10, 2018

Houston-based Northern Offshore has sold two jackup drilling rigs, which are to be turned into platform support units.  The Energy Endeavour, constructed in 1982, and the Energy Enhancer (1982), were sold to Dixstone Holdings, an affiliate of Perenco Group…

Lundin's Barents Sea Hurri well dry

Jan 10, 2018

Lundin Petroleum's Hurri exploration well in the Norwegian southern Barents Sea was dry. The well, 7219/12-3S, drilled using the Leiv Eiriksson semisubmersible drilling rig, in PL533, in the southern Barents Sea, was dry, says operator Lundin…

Florida cut from future offshore drilling

Jan 10, 2018

Just days after announcing the US would make 90% of the country's Outer Continental Self (OCS) open to future oil and gas lease sales, US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said he would take Florida off the table after the state's governor…

Rowan picks up Petrobras jackups

Jan 08, 2018

Rig operator Rowan Companies has purchased two LeTourneau Super 116E jackup rigs, the P-59 and P-60, which were both delivered new into service in 2013, in a public auction from a subsidiary of Petrobras for US$38.5 million per unit. As previously reported in May 2017…

Gas focus for 2017 UKCS exploration

Jan 08, 2018

A 10-year low in oil discoveries in Norway in 2017 doesn’t deter an expected increase in drilling in 2018, whilst performance continues to improve in the UK with the focus switching to gas for 2018, says Westwood Global Energy's Dave Moseley…

Exxon touts further Guyana success

Jan 05, 2018

The sixth time seems to be the charm for Exxon and its partners at the Stabroek block offshore Guyana. The supermajor is celebrating another large find in South American waters, the company announced today (5 January). Stena Carron drillship…

Environmentalists lose Barents Sea suit against Norwegian Government

Jan 05, 2018

A law suit brought by environmental campaigners against the Norwegian Government over its decision to award production licenses in the Barents Sea as part of the 23rd licensing round has been witheld. The 23rd round, which saw licenses awarded in May 2016…

Statoil wildcat well near Gina Krog dry

Jan 04, 2018

A wildcat well drilled by Statoil near the Gina Krog field in the Norwegian North Sea was dry, says the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD).  The well, 15/6-14 S in production license 029 C, was drilled just north of the Gina Krog field about 250km west of Stavanger…

Tullow signs up Maersk drillship for Ghana drilling

Jan 03, 2018

Danish drilling rig operator Maersk Drilling has won a four-year contract with Tullow Oil for use of the deepwater drillship Maersk Venturer offshore Ghana. The contract, signed in December 2017, is expected to start in February 2018…

Hyperdynamics files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Dec 29, 2017

Houston headquartered Hyperdynamics has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief. The firm, which is focused on exploring offshore the Republic of Guinea, says it had reviewed and analyzed its options, including raising more finance, selling assets…

Santos to drill off Indonesia

Dec 29, 2017

Australia's Santos is planning to drill the Paus Biru-1 exploration well on the Sampang production sharing contract offshore Indonesia, says partner Cue Energy Resources. Paus Biru is 27km east from the producing Oyong gas field. The…

VIDEO: Scarabeo 9 clearing Bosphorus Strait bridges

Dec 28, 2017

Saipem's Scarabeo 9 semisubmersible is in the Black Sea, where it is drilling one well, the Maria-1 exploration well in the Zapadno-Chernomorskaya license area, plus one optional well, in deepwater (more than 2000m water depth).  To get there…

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