Operator Maersk Oil is to use a new standalone installation to develop the ultra-high-pressure, high-temperature (uHP/HT) Culzean gas field in the central North Sea about 145 miles east of Aberdeen. The field, one of the largest gas discoveries of recent years in the UK North Sea…
Maersk Drilling has again warned about a slowdown in the deepwater market, but says it still has a positive long term view on the deepwater market. The company is investing $US5.2 billion in eight new rigs, which are being delivered between 2014 and 2016…
A walking jackup platform called WaveWalker 1 has been awarded a Product and Equipment Innovation Award at the Ground Engineering (GE) Awards ceremony in London (14th May.) WaveWalker 1, developed by Fugro and Van Oord, is an eight-legged…
Norway's Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) has a contract with North Energy ASA worth US$1.7 million (NOK 10 million) to provide 3D EM data acquisition in the North Sea. The survey was to begin in early May, using the BOA Thalassa…
Australia's ADX Energy has won 100% stake in an exploration permit offshore Italy, which it will operate through its wholly owned Italian subsidiary. The offshore exploration permit d 363 C.R-.AX was awarded by the Italian Ministry of…
Fugro is expanding its survey fleet in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) to include a new AUV, Echo Surveyor VII, and a new vessel, R/V Fugro Americas. “These impending launches indicate our strong capabilities and commitment to our clients in the GoM and internationally…
Drilling on the deepwater Welwitschia-1 prospect in Walvis Bay, offshore Namibia, might be delayed until the end of May after the wellhead housing “slumped” and issues with the blow out preventer (BOP) control system were discovered. Operator…
Norway's Dolphin Geophysical announced that the high-capacity 3D seismic vessel, Polar Marquis, has a new contract with GC Rieber Shipping for 3.5 years with 2+2 years options. The vessel has just completed a significant seismic and propulsion upgrade…
The US Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) of the 113th Congress will conduct a hearing in Washington, DC on 21 May, about using new ocean technologies…
Houston-based Hercules Offshore has signed a five-year drilling contract with Maersk Oil North Sea UK for a newbuild jackup rig to be owned and operated by Hercules Offshore. The new Friede & Goldman JU-2000E design jackup will be built…
Subsea 7 has been awarded its largest UK engineering, procurement, installation, and commissioning (EPIC) services contract, by Premier Oil. The contract, worth more than US$460 million, will be for work on Premier Oil's Catcher Area development…
DOF Subsea has been awarded a contract for installation of the turret mooring and riser system for the Gina Krog FSO by Teekay Shipping Norway. The scope of work includes installation of 12 suction anchors complete with chain/wires, STL buoy hook-up…
Norway’s Statoil is to keep its Snorre B platform shut in until an investigation finds the cause of a pit which formed at a subsea template. The pit, described as “an abnormal erosion of mass under the template” was discovered on Saturday (17 May)…
Woodside Energy has axed its plans to purchase a sizeable stake in Israel’s Leviathan gas project, terminating its February memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the joint venture participants, the Australian company announced 20 May. This…
W&T Offshore Inc. subsidiary, W&T Energy VI, acquired Woodside Energy's deepwater Gulf of Mexico assets for US$51 million, the company announced on 20 May 2014. The transaction includes a 20% non-operated working interest in the producing Neptune field (Atwater Valley Blocks 574…