Drilling News


Archer releases SPARTAN plug family

Feb 07, 2017

Archer Oiltools, a provider of solutions for well integrity and well performance, has released the SPARTAN plug family, designed to help operators deliver safer wells, boost operational efficiency and reduce costs.   Driven by customer demand and industry challenges…

300 MMbbl Lancaster estimate was "conservative"

Feb 07, 2017

Fractured basement reservoir explorer Hurricane Energy says its previous 300 MMbbl estimate for the Lancaster field, west of Shetland is conservative.  The firm has completed technical analysis of the Lancaster, Lincoln and Warwick assets…

Statoil makes Valemon discovery

Feb 03, 2017

Statoil has made a new 20-50 MMboe gas discovery on the Norwegian North Sea Valemon field, at Valemon West. The well was drilled using the jackup rig West Elara, in 133.5m water depth, 160km north-west of Bergen. It is the seventh exploration…

Drilling into data

Feb 01, 2017

Imagine a library where the books are written in a language so old, few alive can speak it; and the pages crumble to dust when turned. In data terms, this is the state of the UK oil industry’s 50+ years of exploration archives. Elaine Maslin reports on one project aiming to fix it…

Bearing the weight

Feb 01, 2017

Operating in HPHT conditions have led to thicker, heavier subsea equipment that can hold up to extreme environments. Atul Ganpatye and Kenneth Bhalla, of Stress Engineering, discuss challenges associated with the design of this equipment…

Pain points, BOPs and enthusiasm for Big Data

Feb 01, 2017

Scott Weeden drills down with NOV’s Hege Kverneland to find out why she is excited about using Big Data to predict component failures before they occur. Kverneland Just how exciting is Big Data…

Anadarko eyes further Colombia drilling

Jan 31, 2017

Anadarko has its eyes set on Colombia, announcing further drilling plans in the Purple Angel block, and opportunities it has identified through the Esmeralda 3D seismic survey in the area.   Map of Gorgon…

Exxon to start 5 projects by 2018

Jan 31, 2017

US giant ExxonMobil announced it will start five major offshore projects in 2017-2018, in addition to a Q4 2016 earnings of US$3.7 billion, which took a $2 billion impairment charge from its upstream sector. Image from Exxon…

LR starts Subsea Inspection Services

Jan 31, 2017

Lloyd’s Register (LR), a provider of integrity, compliance and specialist risk consulting services, has begun its Subsea Inspection Services to support underwater inspections of subsea pipelines, assets and facilities to energy companies operating offshore…

Eni strikes gas at Merakes 2 off Indonesia

Jan 31, 2017

Italian giant Eni discovered pay at the first appraisal well of its Merakes discovery offshore Indonesia. Image from Eni. The company successfully drilled and tested the Merakes 2 well…

Lundin to drill Edvard Grieg SW well

Jan 30, 2017

Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has granted Lundin consent to carry out exploration drilling of well 16/1-27 on the Edvard Grieg field in the North Sea. Lundin is the operator of the Edvard Grieg field, around 140km west-southwest of Stavanger…

Statoil to use Songa Encourage at Norne

Jan 27, 2017

Statoil has received consent from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to use the Songa Encourage mobile drilling facilityfor well activities at Norne, Norne satellites, and Alve in the Norwegian Sea. Statoil is the operator of the Norne field in the Norwegian Sea…

W&T's latest Mahogany well producing above expectations

Jan 27, 2017

Houston's W&T Offshore latest Gulf of Mexico Mahogany field well has been brought on production and is ramping up to full production, the operator says, as it gears up for more drilling on the field. The Mahogany field is in US Gulf of Mexico block Ship Shoal 349…

MFDevCo, COSL sign MOU over marginal field initiatives

Jan 26, 2017

UK-based MFDevCo, or Marginal Field Development Co., has agreed a collaboration deal with Singapore-based jackup drilling rig operator CDPL, a subsidiary of China Offshore Services Ltd. (COSL).  The move will see MFDevCO use CPDL on a 'one stop shop' basis…

Nido to test Galoc in March

Jan 25, 2017

Nido Petroleum is set to drill its Galoc-7/7ST appraisal well in Block C1 SC 14 offshore the Philippines, starting in March.  The firm has agreed a one-well drilling contract for the Odfjell Drilling operated ultra deepwater drillship Deepsea Metro I for the work…

Current News

Euro Oil Giants Rethink Renewable Balance

Global Offshore Wind Stumbles to the End of '24

Eco Wave Power Gets Permit for Its First US Wave Energy Project

DNV, Seatrium Team for Innovation in Marine and Offshore

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News