Drilling News


Shell Books Valaris Drillship for Operations in Sao Tome and Principe and Namibia

Aug 18, 2021

Offshore drilling firm Valaris has secured contracts with Shell Namibia Upstream B.V. and Shell Sao Tome and Principe B.V. offshore Namibia and Sao Tome and Principe, respectively, for its drillship VALARIS DS-10.The contracts for the 2017-delivered offshore rig are each for one well…

Biden Administration Appeals Court Decision to Block Oil, Gas Leasing Pause

Aug 17, 2021

The Biden administration on Monday challenged a federal judge's decision in June to block the Interior Department's pause on oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters - a critical piece of its climate change policy - but will proceed with leasing during the appeals process…

Oil Industry Groups Sue Biden Administration over Drilling Auctions Halt

Aug 17, 2021

Major U.S. oil industry groups on Monday sued the Biden administration for halting drilling auctions on federal lands and waters this year, arguing the government is required by law to hold regular sales.The American Petroleum Institute (API)…

Challenger Energy Believes in The Bahamas Offshore Potential Despite Dry Well. Seeks Partner, License Extension

Aug 16, 2021

Challenger Energy, the company until recently known as the Bahamas Petroleum Company, is seeking an extension to the license period for its offshore blocks in the Bahamas after it earlier this year drilled an offshore well that failed to unearth commercial quantities of oil…

Lukoil Starts Drilling at Block 12, Offshore Mexico

Aug 16, 2021

Russian oil firm Lukoil said Monday it had started drilling its first exploration well at Block 12 offshore Mexico.The block is located 50 km off the coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, near the State of Tabasco, Mexico. It covers an area of 521 square meters…

Offshore Driller Vantage Posts Q2 Loss, but Wins Big in Qatar

Aug 13, 2021

Offshore drilling contractor Vantage drilling this week posted a net loss of $29 million in the second quarter of 2021, but its CEO was optimistic on the back of several important jack-up drilling rig contracts secured recently, especially in Qatar…

The Gambia's A1 Offshore Block Up for Grabs as BP Exits

Aug 13, 2021

The Gambia's A1 offshore block is back on the market for licensing, the petroleum ministry said on Thursday, three days after BP agreed to a $29.3 million settlement for failing to meet its drilling obligations there.The British oil major violated…

Vår Energi Gets OK to Drill at Rødhette Prospect in Barents Sea

Aug 13, 2021

Norwegian oil and gas exploration and production company Vår Energi has obtained regulatory consent to drill an exploration well in the Barents Sea, off Norway.The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway on Thursday said it had given Vår Energi its…

Borr Drilling Secures More Work for Jack-up Rig in Malaysia

Aug 11, 2021

Oslo-listed drilling firm Borr Drilling has secured a Letter of Award for its jack-up drilling rig 'Gunnlod' from an undisclosed operator in Malaysia. The drilling campaign is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2021 in direct continuation…

Sapura Hires Halliburton for Offshore Drilling Services Support

Aug 11, 2021

Malaysian offshore drilling contractor Sapura Drilling has awarded oilfield services giant Halliburton an offshore integrated contract.Sapura Drilling will, with Halliburton as its technical partner, execute an Integrated Rig Drilling Completion…

The Gambia: BP to Pay $29.3M No-drill Fee

Aug 11, 2021

The Gambian government said on Tuesday BP has agreed to settle a $29.3 million outstanding commitment to drill an exploration oil well in the West African country's offshore A1 block, which the company was awarded two years ago.BP broke its…

Lime Petroleum Farms Into Aker BP Offshore Block Duo in Norway

Aug 11, 2021

Oil firm Rex International's subsidiary Lime Petroleum has signed an agreement with the Norwegian oil company Aker BP to acquire 20 percent in two offshore blocks in the North Sea. The transfer of the interests in the licenses PL867 and PL867B is pending regulatory approval…

DNO Spuds Gomez Offshore Well

Aug 10, 2021

Norwegian oil and gas company DNO has started drilling at the Gomez exploration well on the PL006C license offshore Norway.The well was spudded over the weekend using the Borgland Dolphin semi-submersible drilling rig. It will be drilled to a depth of around 3…

Cameroon: Tower Resources to Farm Out Stake in Thali Block to Beluga

Aug 10, 2021

Africa-focused oil and gas firm Tower Resources has signed an agreement to farm out some of its stake in the Thali block offshore Cameroon to Beluga Energy Limited.Under the binding Heads of Agreement, Beluga will take a 49% non-operating working interest in Thali Production Sharing Contract…

Williams Inks Deal for Whale Deepwater Transport Services

Aug 05, 2021

Williams (NYSE: WMB) reached an agreement with Shell Offshore Inc. and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. to provide offshore natural gas gathering and crude oil transportation services as well as onshore natural gas processing services for the Whale development…

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