Drilling News


Petrobras takes biggest fall

Mar 22, 2016

Amid Petróleo Brasileiro’s (Petrobras) largest net quarterly loss in its history of US$10.2 billion (36.9 billion BRL), the Brazilian giant also confirmed its biggest oil column discovery at its Libra field. Petrobras headquarters…

Premier Oil to spud Bagpuss

Mar 22, 2016

Premier Oil anticipates to spud the Bagpuss well on 7 July, located in the UKCS Block 13/24c on the Halibut Horst, in the UK North Sea, according to partner North Sea Energy. An option has been exercised for the Ocean Valiant semisubmersible rig to drill the well…

Fugro inks Dana Western Isles gig

Mar 22, 2016

Dana Petroleum awarded Fugro to supply ROV drilling support services on board the Ocean Guardian MODU at the Dana-operated Western Isles developments in the northern North Sea. Operating one of its fleet of FCV 600 ROVs, specifically designed for North Sea drill support activities…

Woodside switches Atwood rigs

Mar 21, 2016

Atwood Oceanics’ Australia subsidiary has amended its drilling services contract with Woodside Energy for the semisubmersible Atwood Eagle.  The contract for the Atwood Eagle has been suspended by mutual agreement effective 19 March,…

New Zealand offers four blocks in 2016

Mar 21, 2016

New Zealand is offering four offshore blocks in its 2016 block offer petroleum tender. 2016 block offer map, from New Zeland Petroleum & Minerals. The four offshore release areas have a total acreage of 525…

Byron drills GoM appraisal following stuck pipe drill

Mar 21, 2016

Byron Energy has started drilling a sidetrack well to the SM 6#2 well in the Gulf of Mexico, after a drill pipe became stuck with several unsuccessful attempts over a three-day period to free it, according to partner Otto Energy. Map…

CentraMax RT1 finds success in GOM

Mar 18, 2016

Antelope Oil Tool (AOT), a manufacturer and supplier of casing and cementation equipment, has successfully run their CentraMax RT1 centralizer in ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico, in a deviated and under-reamed wellbore. A customer faced…

World-scale LNG potential at Mauritanian discovery

Mar 16, 2016

Kosmos Energy says its Greater Tortue Complex offshore Mautitania has the potential to create a new 'world-scale' LNG development, following the results of its latest appraisal well. The firm said the results of its Ahmeyim-2 appraisal well…

Obama bans Atlantic coast drilling

Mar 15, 2016

The Obama Administration has decided to rescind a proposal to drill off the US Atlantic Coast in 13 areas, due to current market dynamics, strong local opposition, and conflicts with competing commercial and military ocean uses, the US Department of the Interior (DOI) said today (15 March)…

Cairn ups deepwater Senegal resource estimate

Mar 15, 2016

UK-based explorer Cairn Energy has increased its resource estimate on the major SNE discovery offshore Senegal by 20%, with potential for it to increase further, following successful appraisal work.  The deepwater field, sitting in about 1100m water depth…

Songa refinances as delays bite

Mar 15, 2016

Songa Offshore is looking to raise US$150 million in cash to help it deliver the fourth and final Cat D new build rig, the Songa Enabler. The firm has been building the rigs for client Statoil. But, lower than expected utilization rates on the first two delivered units…

Wintershall eyes Vikafjell North drilling

Mar 14, 2016

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Wintershall a drilling permit for wildcat well 35/8-6 S, in block 35/8 of production license 248. Well 35/8-6 S will be drilled from the Borgland Dolphin drilling facility, a semisubmersible…

West Epsilon to P&A on Huldra

Mar 14, 2016

The Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway has given Statoil consent to use the West Epsilon jackup drilling facility for permanent plugging of wells at Huldra 30/2-A, in production license 051. Statoil has allocated 215 days for the activity…

Det norske to drill at Ivar Aasen with Maersk Interceptor

Mar 10, 2016

Det norske oljeselskap has gained approval from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) for a drilling permit for well 16/1-26 S, which is part of the Ivar Aasen field, in the North Sea. Well 16/1-26 S will be drilled from the Maersk…

Eni in first Zohr test success

Mar 10, 2016

The first production test at Eni’s Zohr 2X appraisal well delivered some 44 MMcf/d of gas, offshore Egypt. Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi. Image from Eni. The Zohr 2X well, Eni’s first appraisal well on its giant Zohr discovery…

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