Drilling News


Floating Drilling Rig Utilization Surges to Over 85%, Sparking Potential for Newbuilds

Jun 12, 2023

Active floating drilling rig utilization has rebounded from a low of 65% in 2018 to over 85% in 2023, energy intelligence group Wood Mackenzie said Monday, adding that the growth in demand and rates could even spur construction of new offshore rigs…

First Well Spudded in Danish Underground Consortium's North Sea Infill Campaign

Jun 12, 2023

Drilling operations have started on the HBA-27B well offshore Denmark, with the first of two wells successfully spudded by the jack-up rig Shelf Drilling Winner (ex-Noble Sam Turner).BlueNord (ex-Noreco) and its partners December 2022 reached…

Apache Suspends UK North Sea Drilling, Cuts Jobs Citing High Taxes

Jun 12, 2023

U.S. oil producer Apache Corp on Friday said it was suspending drilling in the North Sea and reducing its British workforce because high taxes have made the operation less competitive.The unit of APA Corp did not say how many workers would be cut as a result of the move…

Aker BP Breaks Offshore Drilling Record with Longest Well Offshore Norway. Makes Significant Oil Find

Jun 09, 2023

Norwegian oil company Aker BP said Friday it had the drilling of the Øst Frigg Beta/Epsilon exploration well in the Yggdrasil area, the longest exploration well ever drilled on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, resulting in a significant oil discovery…

Vår Energi, Halliburton in Drilling Services Partnership

Jun 08, 2023

Norwegian offshore oil and gas producer Vår Energi said Friday it had entered a long-term strategic partnership with the U.S. oilfield services company Halliburton for drilling services to improve drilling and well performance and enhance value creation…

Equinor's Eggen Wildcat in North Sea Proves Dry

Jun 01, 2023

Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor has drilled a dry well in the production license 923, in the North Sea, offshore Norway.The information was shared by the Norwegian Petoleum Directorate on Thursday.According to the NPD, the wildcat well 31/2-23 S (prospect name Eggen)…

Vestigo Petroleum Books Jack-up Drilling Rig for 5-Well Program

Jun 01, 2023

Malaysian offshore drilling firm Velesto Drilling has received the Letter of Award from Vestigo Petroleum for the provision of jack-up drilling rig.The contract is for Velesto's jack-up drilling rig NAGA 2, with an estimated contract value of $10…

Petrobras Eyes Global Expansion as Brazil Hopes Fade, Sources Say

Jun 01, 2023

Brazil's Petrobras may look abroad for future growth, two sources with knowledge of the state-run firm's plans told Reuters, after environmental regulators dashed its hopes of exploring near the Amazon River where it had aimed to make its first major domestic oil discovery in over a decade…

Petrobras, TotalEnergies, Shell, Others, Pen Production Sharing Contracts for Blocks Offshore Brazil

May 31, 2023

Brazilian oil firm Petrobras on Wednesday signed Production Sharing Contracts for offshore blocks, awarded in the Open Acreage under Production Sharing Regime – 1st Cycle held by Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP) in December 2022.Petrobras…

VIDEO: Noble Innovator Rig Departs Port of Aberdeen for Central North Sea Decommissioning Project

May 31, 2023

Noble Corp.'s jack-up drilling rig, the Noble Innovator, which in February arrived in the Port of Aberdeen, has now left the port after a 105-day stay to complete a special periodic survey.The Noble Innovator jack-up rig sailed away from Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour last Friday…

Petrobras Confirms Filing Request for License to Drill in Amazon Mouth River, Denies Reports on Expected Timeline

May 31, 2023

Brazilian oil firm Petrobras denied media reports claiming that the oil company expected to obtain the environmental license to drill a well in the FZA-M-059 block, offshore Brazil, in up to six months.As previously reported, Brazil's environmental…

ConocoPhillips Books Semi-submersible Drilling Rig For Norwegian Sea Project

May 31, 2023

Norwegian offshore drilling company Odfjell Drilling has secured a contract with ConocoPhillips for the Deepsea Yantai semi-submersible drilling rig.The contract, which Odfjell Drilling agreed on behalf of the rig owner CIMC Raffles, includes the drilling of one firm well…

Semi-submersible Drilling Rig Assigned for Kjøttkake Exploration Well Offshore Norway

May 30, 2023

Oil and gas company Longboat Energy said Tuesday that a semi-submersible drilling rig had been assigned for the drilling of the Lotus (Kjøttkake) exploration well in Norway. Longboat Energy has a 30% stake in the DNO-operated project.The Lotus…

A Decade in the Making: Stena Evolution Drillship Prepares for Gulf of Mexico Debut in 2024 as Contract Secured

May 29, 2023

Offshore drilling contractor Stena Drilling has secured a contract with Shell for the Stena Evolution drillship.The Stena Evolution, built by Samsung Heavy Industries, was originally ordered by Ocean Rig, and named Ocean Rig Crete.Ocean Rig ordered the drillship in 2014…

Brazil's Petrobras Renews Bid to Win Offshore Oil Well License Near Amazon Mouth

May 26, 2023

Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras has asked to resume a process for a license to drill a controversial well near the mouth of the Amazon river, the company's chief executive said late on Thursday. CEO Jean Paul Prates' statement regarding…

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Seatrium Delivers Fifth Jack-Up to Borr Drilling

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