Drilling News


The Ceona Amazon

Mar 03, 2015

Ceona Offshore’s deepwater multi-purpose Ceona Amazon, is close to undertaking its first job in record time from drawing board to mobilization. The contract for the construction of the vessel was signed in July 2013, just over a year after the company was formed…

LUKOIL sets horizontal drilling world record

Mar 02, 2015

LUKOIL-Nizhnevolzhskneft established a new world record in horizontal drilling with a significant bottom displacement. Well No. 108, drilled from an offshore ice-resistant stationary platform at Yuri Korchagin field in the Caspian Sea, went down 4908m in the 9…

Red Emperor farms in SC55

Mar 02, 2015

Otto Energy Philippines Inc. signed a farm-in agreement with Red Emperor Resources NL for a 15% working interest in SC55, offshore the Philippines. The Maersk Venturer. From Otto.   SC55…

Kosmos makes Morocco play-opener

Mar 02, 2015

Kosmos Energy is to plug and abandon its CB-1 well in the Cap Boujdour permit area offshore Morocco after gas and condensate was found – but not in commercial quantities. Despite the non-commerciality of the well, Kosmos CEO Andrew Inglis says the results are positive…

Eni Ghana contract secured for Maersk Voyager

Mar 02, 2015

Maersk Drilling has been awarded a contract from eni Ghana Exploration and Production Ltd., an Eni subsidiary, for use of the newbuild drillship Maersk Voyager. The firm contract period is 3.5 years with an option to extend by one year…

When automation, not if

Mar 01, 2015

Automation on the drillfloor has been slow to take off – but it is coming as advances in enabling technologies are made. Elaine Maslin looks at work ongoing in the field. Automation on the drillfloor has been slow to take off – but it’s coming and there will be no going back…

Constructing Mariner

Mar 01, 2015

The Mariner heavy oil discovery on the East Shetland Platform in UK block 9/11 will be one of the largest offshore developments on the UK Continental Shelf in more than a decade. Meg Chesshyre checks on its progress. Chris…

RED gets ready

Mar 01, 2015

Resonance enhanced drilling could help speed up drilling time and efficiency. Elaine Maslin reports. Professor Marian Wiercigroch with the vertical RED full scale experimental rig.  Images from the University of Aberdeen…

Australian and New Zealand offshore exploration

Mar 01, 2015

Angus Rodger and Matt Howell discuss the exploration environment as well as the potential impact from the recent fall in oil prices on Australian and New Zealand projects. Graphs from Wood Mackenzie.   Australia…

Saudi Aramco cancels Hercules contract

Feb 26, 2015

Hercules Offshore received a notice from Saudi Aramco to terminate its drilling contract for the Hercules 261, effective 27 March 2015. Hercules says it is in the process of seeking a basis for continuing the Hercules 261 contract. The…

Statoil to drill Gina Krog well

Feb 26, 2015

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway granted Statoil consent to drill well 15/6-13 Gina Krog East 3 in the central North Sea. Drilling operations with the Songa Trym semisubmersible are expected to begin in April 2015 for approximately 50 days…

Total E&P gets two well approval

Feb 26, 2015

Total E&P Norge received approval from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway to drill two wells in production license 627 in the central North Sea. Blocks 25/6-5 S and 25/6-5 A Skirne Øst will be drilled with the Leiv Eiriksson semisubmersible to investigate the find's potential…

Rig operators look for silver lining

Feb 26, 2015

Offshore drilling rig operators have put a positive spin on the tough market conditions, suggesting that the downturn could improve the global fleet and offer opportunities to buy distressed assets.  Seadrill CEO and President Per Wullf said while…

Odfjell sinks but inks Johan Sverdrup contract

Feb 25, 2015

Norwegian drilling contractor Odfjell Drilling has sunk into the red and suspended 2014 dividents after taking a major write-down on its Deep Sea Metro assets.  The firm's US$27 million loss comes despite the firm today (25 February) also announcing a large contract win on the giant $15…

Lundin farms-out Gemini

Feb 24, 2015

Lundin Petroleum, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lundin Norway, entered into an agreement to farm-out a 30% working interest in PL338C to Lime Petroleum Norway. PL338C contains the Gemini prospect, which is currently being drilled with the Island Innovator rig…

Current News

Elliott Affiliate's Citgo Bid to be Challenged

Euro Oil Giants Rethink Renewable Balance

Global Offshore Wind Stumbles to the End of '24

Eco Wave Power Gets Permit for Its First US Wave Energy Project

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News