Baker Hughes Inc. issued the September 2014 international rotary drilling rig count today, showing a total of 1323 rigs operating internationally in September 2014, outside of the US & Canada. The worldwide rig count for September 2014 was 3659…
UK-based Cairn Energy and its Senegalese partners have made an oil discovery, which has the potential to be a “significant standalone development”, on the deepwater FAN-1 well. The well, drilled using the semisubmersible Cajun Express…
Stone Energy Corp. contracted the ENSCO 8503 dynamically-positioned deepwater drilling rig for Stone Energy's multi-year drilling program in the Gulf of Mexico. The 30-month contract will commence during 2Q 2015 at a rate of approximately US$350…
Since the first successful oil well was drilled by Shell-BP in 1956 at Oloibiri, Nigeria has acclaimed the status of Africa’s largest oil producer and the sixth largest in the world. However, the Nigerian oil and gas industry has been engulfed in challenges with few success stories…
Centrica Energy's Norwegian outfit has started drilling on the Ivory prospect in production license 528 in the Norwegian Sea, according to partners Rocksource and Atlantic Petroleum, Exploration well 6707/10-3 S is being drilled using the West Navigator drillship…
Jeremy Berry examines the trend occurring off West Africa where exploration success continues to be confined to those countries that already have significant production. Fig. 1: West Africa production…
Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Petroleum has spudded two more wells on the Manora field off Thailand. Drilled with Atwood Oceanics’ jackup Atwood Orca, the MNA-04 and MNA-05 wells represent the fourth and fifth wells, respectively, of a planned 15 developmental well campaign set to end 1Q 2015…
Eleven Japanese companies including oil and gas exploration firm Inpex have joined forces to create a new firm focused on methane hydrate extraction. Japan Methane Hydrate Operating Co., (JMH) was formally established 1 October specifically…
ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson (pictured) said on Thursday that the Ebola virus has disrupted plans to drill off Liberia, Reuters reported. Plans to drill the Mesurado-1 wildcat, located in block LB-13, were delayed in July, according to partner Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd…
In May 2014, Schlumberger announced the introduction of its GeoSphere reservoir mapping-while-drilling service. Claudio Paschoa discussed the new technology with Jean Seydoux, well placement and reservoir positioning program manager for Drilling & Measurements…
Chevron and Statoil are launching new solutions to a growing challenge in the Gulf. Bruce Nichols reports. The GE (Hydril) MaxLift pump aboard the Pacific Santa Ana drillship. Photos: Pacific Drilling…
Oil and gas companies are turning to new high-tech gadgets for workplace solutions. Audrey Leon spoke with Houston-based FuelFX to see how this new reality can be implemented. FuelFX’s Oliver Diaz demonstrates the Oculus Rift system…
For all the technological advances that have been made in drilling and completing wells offshore, wellbore integrity remains the single, most important aspect of well construction. Without it, there is no guarantee of safety, productivity…
Noble Energy will resume exploratory drilling in the Falkland Islands next year after acquiring and reviewing extensive 3D seismic of its 10 million acre-position. In late February 2014, London-based joint venture partner Falkland Oil…
Dana Gas Egypt signed a gas production enhancement agreement (GPEA) with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. (EGAS) and the Egyptian General Petroleum Co. (EGPC). According to the agreement, announced 30 September, Dana Gas will begin a 7-year program in the next few months…