Drilling News


Vår Energi Strikes Oil North of Duva Field Offshore Norway

Jun 27, 2024

Norwegian oil and gas company Vår Energi has made an oil and gas discovery just north of the Duva field in the North Sea, using Odfjell Drilling’s Deepsea Yantai semi-submersible drilling rig.The discovery was made in well 36/7-5 S Cerisa and sidetracks 36/7-5 A…

Seadrill Completes Jack-ups Sale in Qatar

Jun 25, 2024

Offshore drilling contractor Seadrill on Tuesday announced it has completed the sale of its three rig jack-up fleet in Qatar.The previously disclosed sale sees the company divest the West Castor, West Telesto and West Tucana, as well as its…

Green Light for Equinor to Drill Wildcat Well at Heisenberg Discovery

Jun 24, 2024

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) has issued a permit to operator Equinor to drill another exploration well in the Heisenberg Discovery, offshore Norway.The permit has been issued for the 35/10-13 S exploration well in the production license 827 SB…

Masirah Oil Wraps Up Multi-Well Campaign at Field Offshore Oman

Jun 24, 2024

Masirah Oil, a majority-owned subsidiary of Rex International, has completed the multi-well campaign at Yumna field offshore Oman.Masirah Oil said the multi-well program at the field in Block 50 concession has been completed ahead of the 90-day schedule and below budget…

Esgian Week 25 Report: Mixed Results in Exploration Drilling

Jun 23, 2024

Esgian provides an update on exploration drilling in its Week 25 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryDrilling Activity and DiscoveriesOslo-listed BlueNord announced on Monday the start-up of drilling operations on the Harald East Middle Jurassic well (HEMJ) in the Danish North Sea…

Aker BP Finds Gas at Ferdinand Nord Prospect in Barents Sea

Jun 20, 2024

Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP has made a gas discovery in an exploration well at Ferdinand Nord prospect in the Barents Sea, drilled with Saipem’s Scarabeo 8 semi-submersible rig.The exploration well 7324/6-2 is the first well in production license 1170…

Converted MOPU Starts Self-Powered Ops at Perenco’s Field Offshore Congo

Jun 20, 2024

UK oil and gas company Perenco has brought online the Tchendo 2 mobile offshore production unit (MOPU), bringing energy independence to Likouala, Emeraude and PNGF fields offshore Congo.Tchendo 2 is a former drilling rig successfully converted into a MOPU by Dixstone…

Brazil Agency Nears Decision on Offshore Equatorial Margin

Jun 19, 2024

The head of Brazil's environmental agency said on Wednesday that he expects a decision soon on state-owned oil company Petrobras' request to conduct exploratory studies in a region known as the Equatorial Margin, as both the company and the government push for a drilling license…

Equinor's Wildcat Well Comes Up Dry in Barents Sea Snøras Prospect

Jun 19, 2024

Equinor has drilled a dry wildcat well in the Snøras prospect, located in the Barents Sea, offshore Norway.The well, 7220/2-2, drilled by the Transocean Enabler rig, is located in production license 1080, which was awarded in the Awards in Predefined Area (APA) in 2020…

Wintershall Dea Finds Oil at Cuvette Well Near Vega Field Off Norway

Jun 19, 2024

German oil and gas company Wintershall Dea has made a discovery of gas, condensate and oil in an exploration well next to the Vega field in the North Sea, using Transocean’s Transocean Norge semi-submersible rig.The Cuvette discovery was made in production license 248…

Diamond Offshore Shuts Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig

Jun 17, 2024

Oilfield services company Diamond Offshore Drilling this month said it would permanently shut its West Vela rig, which had operated in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, resulting in 190 job losses, according to a regulatory filing.The job cuts will be effective Aug…

BlueNord Spuds Harald East Well in Danish North Sea

Jun 17, 2024

Norway-based oil and gas company BlueNord has started drilling operations at the Harald East Middle Jurassic well (HEMJ), which could start delivering gas by the end of 2024, set to be exported through the Tyra East facilities.The HEMJ was spudded in the Harald East area…

Esgian Week 24 Report: Noble and Diamond Offshore Announce Merger Plans

Jun 16, 2024

Esgian provides an update on Noble and Diamond Offshore’s announcement of merger plans in its Week 24 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsADES has completed the signing of a drilling contract for a jackup with Suez Oil Company (SUCO) in Egypt…

Noble Corporation and Diamond Offshore Enter Merger Creating 41 Rig Units Fleet

Jun 10, 2024

Noble Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Diamond Offshore, creating a fleet of 41 rigs - including 28 floaters and 13 jack-ups, and a combined backlog of approximately $6.5 billion.Noble will acquire Diamond in a stock plus cash transaction…

Esgian Week 23 Report: Semisub Action in Norway, Australia

Jun 09, 2024

Esgian provides an update on semisub activities in Norway and Australia in its Week 23 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsTransocean has announced contract fixtures for three harsh environment (HE) semisubmersibles. Together…

Current News

INEOS Orders CO2 Carrier

UK Approves Five Subsea Power Cable Projects

BP’s Renewables Scale-Back Won't Affect Wind JV

Importance of Proactive Security Monitoring to Beat Cyber Security Threats

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News