China’s BGP Pioneer completed Perenco Oil & Gas Gabon 3D seismic acquisition project of approximately 1500sq km offshore Gabon. The project included undershoot operations between platforms and was to be run in water depth varying between depth between 15 to 55m…
The Mariner development concept. Images from Statoil. The Mariner heavy oil field took 40 years, 12 oil companies, five seismic surveys, and 18 exploration/appraisal wells to get to where it is today…
The Cygnus Alpha wellhead platform during installation offshore. Photo from GDF Suez E&P. A new impetus to explore the UK North Sea could help to unlock some of the basins’ underexplored plays…
Sander Vergroesen, IRO’s managing director Dutch offshore suppliers are innovating to keep ahead, providing solutions in ever deeper and colder waters globally. IRO’s Sander Vergroesen spoke to Elaine Maslin…
TGS announced it will conduct three new multi-client surveys; a 3D survey offshore Australia, a 2D survey offshore New Zealand and a 3D survey in the West of Shetland region. Nerites Season 2 is the largest 3D survey TGS has acquired to date in the Asia Pacific region and will cover 13…
SeaBird Exploration Plc announced that the survey vessel, Aquila Explorer, received a letter of award for a 2D seismic survey in Australasia. The survey will cover a minimum of 10,000km and will have an estimated value of approximately US$11 million…
Canada’s Antrim Energy Inc. announced that recent evaluations have shown frontier exploration license (FEL) 1/13 in the Porcupine basin off Ireland’s west coast to contain what could be massive resources: an estimated unrisked prospective resource potential of 1…
Portugal-based Galp Energia’s recent drilling campaign at the Tao-1 exploration well in the Tarfaya block off Morocco was unsuccessful, partner Tangiers Petroleum announced 28 July 2014. Australian-based Tangiers Petroleum, which holds 25% interest in the Tarfaya block…
A 2D seismic acquisition program has started in the Kara Sea, said Russia's Rosneft, a partner with ExxonMobil in the area. The program started 24 July using the research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin. The survey, covering 7000sq km…
Launched in 2010, CGG’s Oceanic Vega is a purpose-built high-capacity seismic vessel optimized for reduced noise and fuel consumption. It carries DNV-CLEAN notation for the lowest environmental impact. Photo from CGG…
A July 2014 poll revealed that if the US produced more oil and natural gas, it would greatly benefit job creation, increase government revenue and strengthen national security. API and Harris Interactive Poll According to a recent…
TGS has is to start two multi-client geochemical seafloor sampling and seep studies offshore Canada and in the Barents Sea. Sampling locations for both programs were identified using recently acquired multi-client seismic data. The Labrador…
Colombia's National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) received bids from four companies for just five of 19 offshore areas offered in its 2014 licensing round. Spains's Repsol, as operator, was awarded the COL4 license, in the Caribbean Sea, with partners Statoil and ExxonMobil Exploration Colombia…
London-based independent Tullow Oil agreed to acquire up to 40% interest in the Cooper block, block 2012A, in the Walvis basin offshore Namibia, Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas announced on 17 July 2014. The terms of the farm-in includes Eco…
High costs and regulatory and fiscal uncertainties could have caused a drop in exploration and deal activity on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), according to business advisory firm Deloitte. The firm’s Petroleum Services Group…