Drilling News


Galp Spuds New Appraisal Well Offshore Namibia

Oct 25, 2024

Portuguese oil company Galp has started second exploration and appraisal campaign at Orange Basin block, offshore Namibia.The appraisal campaign is being conducted at blocks 2813A and 2814B, part of PEL 83 license, where Galp is the operator with 80% stake…

OKEA Secures Permit for New Brage Field Drilling Operation

Oct 24, 2024

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted OKEA a drilling permit for a new wildcat well at Brage field in the North Sea.The permit is for a wellbore 31/4-A-23 F in production license 055.OKEA is the operator of the license with 35.2% stake…

Impending Shortage of Jackups within Ageing Asia Pacific Fleet

Oct 24, 2024

While utilization for marketed jackup rigs is at a healthy 100% in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, it is an ageing fleet that will ultimately be unable to fulfil operator age requirements.Westwood’s RigLogix records 39 marketed jackups in APAC…

Norwegian Authorities Clear Shelf Drilling’s Jack-Up for Work with Equinor

Oct 24, 2024

Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) has issued the Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) for the Shelf Drilling Barsk jack-up rig, which can now proceed to start operations with Equinor on the Sleipner Vest field, off Norway.Earlier in 2024…

More Wells Come Onstream as Drilling Ops Wrap Up at BW Energy-Operated Block Off Gabon

Oct 22, 2024

BW Energy and its partners have completed production drilling campaign at Dussafu Marin Permit offshore Gabon, bringing the oil production at the development to the highest quarterly rate since the start-up in 2018.Dussafu Marin Permit, operated by BW Energy with 73…

Transocean Scoops $193M Ultra-Deepwater Drillship Deal

Oct 17, 2024

Offshore drilling contractor Transocean has secured a one-year contract for the Deepwater Conqueror drillship with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.The contract is expected to start in October 2025 and contribute approximately $193 million in backlog…

Northern Ocean to Enhance Capabilities of Semi-Sub Rigs with Kinetic’s Equipment

Oct 15, 2024

Offshore drilling contractor Northern Ocean has entered into a letter of intent (LoI) with Kinetic Pressure Control to outfit its two sixth generation semi-sub drilling rigs with new blowout equipment.Northern Ocean plans to install Kinetic’s…

Esgian Week 41 Report: Operators in Norway Preparing for Drilling

Oct 13, 2024

Esgian highlights that operators in Norway are preparing new wells for Odfjell Drilling, COSL and Saipem semisubs in its Week 41 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsShelf Drilling has secured new contracts for its 350-ft jackups…

Shelf Drilling Scoops $234M in West Africa Drilling Contracts

Oct 10, 2024

Offshore drilling firm Shelf Drilling has secured $234 million in contracts and extensions for two of its jack-up drilling rigs - Shelf Drilling Achiever and Adriatic I - for work offshore West Africa.The company has now fully executed a three…

KCA Deutag’s Backlog of Drilling Contracts Exceeds $900M

Oct 10, 2024

Oil and gas drilling services company KCA Deutag has secured a backlog exceeding $900 million in new contracts and extensions for land and offshore drilling projects across Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan, Angola, and Europe.In offshore drilling segment of the backlog…

Norway Grants Two-Well Drilling Permit to Vår Energi

Oct 10, 2024

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Vår Energi a drilling permit for two wildcat wells in the Barents Sea.The permit has been issued for wells 7122/7-8 and 7122/8-3 S in production license 229.The license is operated by Vår Energi…

Esgian Week 40 Report: TotalEnergies Sanctions New Development

Oct 06, 2024

Esgian highlights news from TotalEnergies in its Week 40 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryDrilling Activity and DiscoveriesThe Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) has given Aker BP consent to use the 492-ft jackup Noble Invincible…

Sea1 Offshore Secures Work for AHTS Fleet in Australia

Oct 04, 2024

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Sea1 Offshore, formerly Siem Offshore, has secured a multi-well project for three anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels in Australia.The contract begins in second to third quarter of 2025, for a firm period of around 380 days up to 670 days per vessel…

Equinor Starts Exploration Drilling at Løvmeis Prospect in Norwegian Sea

Oct 03, 2024

Equinor and its partners Petrolia Noco and PGNiG have started drilling the exploration well at Løvmeis prospect in the Norwegian Sea, using Transocean Encourage semi-submersible drilling rig.The well, 6608/10-R-2 H, is part of the production license 1013…

Aker BP Confirms Gas Discovery in Norwegian Sea

Oct 03, 2024

Aker BP has proven gas in an appraisal well in the Norwegian Sea, confirming also the size of previous discoveries made in 2022.The 6507/2-7 S well, located around 12 kilometers west of the Skarv field, was drilled to confirm the size of the…

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