All eyes are on Mozambique as significant natural gas finds are set to turn the East African country into a major LNG player, but are oil riches on the horizon? Mozambique’s prolific Rovuma basin holds 12 offshore discoveries within a 50km radius…
Lundin Petroleum AB commenced drilling of exploration well 7120/1-3 in PL492 in the Barents Sea. The well will target the Gohta prospect, which is located 150km northwest of the Norwegian coast, approximately 185km northwest of Hammerfest…
London-based Premier Oil plc announced it will sell its 100% stake in subsidiary Premier Oil Vietnam South BV (POVS) for a consideration of US$100 million. POVS holds 30% interest in Block 07/03 off Vietnam, which is located in the Nam Con Son Basin…
Salamander Energy plc announced that its G4/50-4 exploration well on the Rayong prospect in the Gulf of Thailand has been plugged and abandoned following disappointing results. The well, which was drilled to a total vertical depth of 1889m by the Atwood Mako jackup…
Seadrill Ltd has entered into turnkey contracts to build four new ultra-deepwater drillships. Two drillships will be built at the DSME yard and the other two at the Samsung yard, in South Korea. The project value price is estimated to be…
Eni’s CEO Paolo Scaroni, and COO of Exploration & Production Claudio Descalzi, met with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades in the town of Nicosia today (July 11) in order to discuss the Italian explorer’s current and future local projects…
Analysis: Perspectives Independent oil companies have led the way opening new frontiers in recent years, but this may change as companies of all sizes have locked-up huge swathes of frontier acreage, creating opportunities for exploration-driven deals…
DNO increases Tunisia acreage DNO International is increasing its acreage offshore Tunisia and plans to drill next year. Its subsidiary DNO Tunisia AS has entered a farm-in agreement with Atlas Petroleum National des Hydrocarbures et…
Norway's Kongsberg secured contracts with China's CIMC Yantai Raffles and South Korea's STX Offshore & Shipbuilding for the supply of dynamic positioning (DP), automation, new generation safety system, integrated navigation, hydroacoustic positioning…
Baker Hughes announced the availability of a drilling fluid system that can improve drilling economics by enabling operators to manage circulating pressure more efficiently. The Baker Hughes MPRESS™ drilling fluid system allows operators…
In mid-April, there were 122 offshore drilling rigs in Brazil, including 29 under construction and 93 others: 26 drillships, 52 semisubmersibles, 8 jackups, and 7 platform rigs. The status of the rigs not under construction: 77 drilling, 8 on workovers…
Salamander Energy plc began its multi-well exploration program in Block G4/50, Gulf of Thailand. The first well in the program, G4/50-4, spudded on June 27 and is being drilled on the Rayong prospect. Rayong is located in the north east of the block in the Central Kra sub-basin…
A subsidiary of Atwood Oceanics has ordered a fourth ultra-deepwater drillship from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). The vessel, to be named the Atwood Archer, will be identical to the previously ordered Atwood Advantage…
Seadrill Ltd signed new contracts for the construction of two high specification jackup drilling rigs at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Offshore Co., Ltd. (DSIC Offshore) in China. The newbuild rigs are scheduled for delivery during 4Q 2015 and 1Q 2016…
Statoil announced a light, high-quality oil discovery at its Harpoon prospect (EL 1112) in the Flemish Pass basin, off Newfoundland, Canada. The company said it was too early to assess Harpoon's resource potential, but that it is encouraged by the results…