London-based explorer SOCO has started drilling the Baobab Marine-1 (BABM-1) well on the Mer Profonde Sud Block, in the Lower Congo Basin, offshore Congo. The BABM-1 well, to be drilled on the RR Prospect, is targeting stacked early Miocene…
The SNE oil field offshore Senegal contains more oil than initially estimated, according to a new report commissioned by field partner FAR Ltd. FAR's previous estimates for so-called 2C contingent resources in the Cairn Energy operated field were 330 MMbbl…
Faroe Petroleum’s exploration drilling program for the year will see the UK-based explorer begin drilling at its operated Brasse prospect in the North Sea this summer using the Transocean Arctic rig. Map of Oseberg…
Ocean Rig, a provider of offshore deepwater drilling services, has announced that on 31 January 2016, it has received a notice of breach of material obligations from Premier Oil under the drilling contract for the Eirik Raude. Ocean Rig is…
Planned drilling at Block 12 offshore Cyprus gained a waiver from the government of Cyprus to carry out additional drilling outside of the Aphrodite area, upon the completion of the transfer of 50% of the rights of Noble Cyprus in Block 12 to BG Cyprus…
Open water coiled tubing drilling has been used offshore Norway in an industry first. Elaine Maslin found out more. Island Offshore’s Island Constructor. Images from Centrica Norge Coiled tubing drilling (CTD) isn’t a new concept…
Jerry Lee looks at how to deal with deepwater drilling riser operation in high currents, typhoons and cold fronts offshore Japan. The drilling riser deployment from the Chikyu drillship. Image from Stress Engineering Services…
Weatherford’s Alex Goodwin explains how a RFID circulation sub displaced seawater to facilitate a formation integrity test in the Gulf of Mexico. The JetStream circulation sub can be activated…
Lundin Malaysia commenced drilling of the Maligan exploration well in Block SB307/SB308, offshore East Malaysia. The Maligan prospect is in shallow water and lies to the north of a major producing field in offshore East Malaysia. The well will target hydrocarbons in Miocene aged sands…
Swedish oil exploration and production firm Lundin Petroleum has dropped its capital spending budget 26% compared to 2016, but still expects a positive year as production at Edvard Grieg ramps up. Lundin's exploration spending will drop 64% compared to 2015…
Carnarvon Petroleum has secured 35% stake in license TR/3 in the Barrow sub-basin offshore Austrailia, joining operator Quadrant Energy. Image of the Noble Tom Prosser, courtesy of Noble. The…
Freeport-McMoRan’s (FCX) net loss of US$4.1 billion in Q4 2015 has led to several cuts across the company, including deferring exploration and development activities in the Gulf of Mexico by idling its three deepwater drillships that are currently under contract…
The Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) of Norway has granted Statoil consent to use the Bideford Dolphin mobile drilling facility to drill a sidetrack on the Vigdis field in production license 089. The planned start-up is early February and the activity is estimated to last 8 days…
Kosmos Energy announced a “significant” natural gas discovery at its first exploration well offshore Senegal, in addition to memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development of the cross-border Greater Tortue complex. The Atwood Achiever…
Two elastomers developed by Trelleborg Sealing Solutions , Isolast XploRTM J9523 perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) and XploRTM V9T82 fluoroelastomer (FKM), have now met the ISO 23936 standard as well as revision three of NORSOK M-710. FFKM and FKM…