As the deepwater prospects being drilled today address ever more complex conditions, the drilling industry needs to adjust its technology to address the challenges that arise. The use of conventional “open to atmosphere” drilling methods…
SapuraKencana Energy Sarawak Inc. (SKE) announced the discovery of four non-associated natural gas wells in the SK408 Production Sharing Contract (PSC) area. These are the first four wells of a 10-well commitment in the SK408 PSC, a 4480sq km area…
UK-based exploration firm Hurricane Energy has completed the drilling phase of the ongoing operation to drill and test a horizontal appraisal well on its Lancaster discovery, West of Shetland. The well has been drilled to plan and a 1km…
EnergyMakers' Russ Capper interviews SBM Offshore's Group Technology Director Michael Wyllie about the company's very high pressure (VHP) fluid swivel technology. The swivel earned SBM Offshore a Spotlight award at the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston…
Baker Hughes issued the May 2014 international rotary drilling rig count today, showing a total of 1024 rigs operating outside the US & Canada. International activity in May was up 4 rigs from the 1020 rigs drilling in April and up 68…
Today's Baker Hughes North American offshore rotary rig count listed 58 rigs operating this week, down 2 rigs from a week ago but up 2 rigs from a year ago (4% year-over-year increase). Gulf of Mexico The majority, 56 rigs, are working in the Gulf of Mexico…
The magnitude of the Libra area was the main highlight of Wednesday, May 7 at Brattec Offshore 2014, an event organized by the Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce. Petrobras’ executive manager for Libra, Anelise Lara, talked about the reservoir’s characteristics and the area’s development prospects…
Ocean Rig UDW Inc., a subsidiary of Athens-based DryShips Inc., announced that it signed a six-year contract with Total E&P Angola for drilling operations in Block 32 offshore Angola, using the ultra-deepwater drillship Ocean Rig Skyros…
Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane announced the award of nine new permits located in Commonwealth waters offshore Western Australia, Victoria, and the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands as part of round one of the Australian government’s 2013 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release…
Repsol restarted drilling on the deepwater Welwitschia-1A well in Walvis Bay, offshore Namibia, on 4 June, according to partner Tower Resources. Repsol is operator of Namibia PEL0010, containing Welwitschia. Drilling on the first Welwitschia well…
Statoil terminated its contract with Diamond Offshore Drilling's mid-water semisubmersible the Ocean Vanguard eight months ahead of schedule, the Houston-based shipowner announced on 4 June 2014. Statoil's Communication Manager Ørjan…
The doors leading to the exhibit halls, where more than 1355 exhibitors were present. Images from SPE. Sarah Parker Musarra reviews the 2014 International Association of Drilling Contractors/…
PROD on a rare sunny day west of Shetlands. Photo from Benthic. Benthic's Alan Foley, discusses the company's seabed drilling and sampling system, the Portable Remotely Operated Drill (PROD)…
Australia-based Tangiers Petroleum says the Ralph Coffman jackup rig is on location offshore Morocco and close to spudding the Tao-1 well in the Tarfaya Offshore Block. The rig was loaded onto the heavy lift vessel MV Transshelf on the 25 May 2014…
Australia’s AWE Limited announced that drilling on the Oi-1 exploration well in the Tui area oil fields, located off New Zealand in the Taranaki Basin, commenced on 30 May with the semisubmersible Kan Tan IV. Oi-1 is located approximately…