Australian explorer Far Ltd. reported on 10 June that the Cairn-operated FAN-1 exploration well offshore Senegal is delayed for maintenance work and the drilling program was being modified. 'Having set 13-3/8in. casing in the FAN-1 well ahead of drilling into the two main objectives…
Eni has gained operatorship and a 40% interest in exploration right permit 236 (ER236) off the eastern coast of South Africa from Sasol, the Italian company announced today. Under the terms of the agreement, Eni has acquired 82,000sq…
As the deepwater prospects being drilled today address ever more complex conditions, the drilling industry needs to adjust its technology to address the challenges that arise. The use of conventional “open to atmosphere” drilling methods…
Baker Hughes issued the May 2014 international rotary drilling rig count today, showing a total of 1024 rigs operating outside the US & Canada. International activity in May was up 4 rigs from the 1020 rigs drilling in April and up 68…
Bluewater Energy Services has been picked by Saipem to provide engineering, procurement and construction work on the turret systems on Total's two Kaombo converted floating production units, destined for offshore Angola. Bluewater will…
UK-based, Somalia-focused exploration firm Soma Oil & Gas Exploration has completed an offshore seismic acquisition program, which commenced in February 2014. The acquisition program was carried out by SeaBird Exploration and concluded in June 2014…
Ocean Rig UDW Inc., a subsidiary of Athens-based DryShips Inc., announced that it signed a six-year contract with Total E&P Angola for drilling operations in Block 32 offshore Angola, using the ultra-deepwater drillship Ocean Rig Skyros…
Repsol restarted drilling on the deepwater Welwitschia-1A well in Walvis Bay, offshore Namibia, on 4 June, according to partner Tower Resources. Repsol is operator of Namibia PEL0010, containing Welwitschia. Drilling on the first Welwitschia well…
Ophir Energy announced that partner and operator BG Group made a new gas discovery in Block 1, located in the Mafia Deep basin off Tanzania. The Taachui-1 well’s net pay amounted to 155m, with estimates for the mean recoverable resource placed at 1Tcf…
Deep Sea Supply has agreed a deal to buy 10 platform support vessels (PSVs) for US$366 million. The move will increase the firm's fleet from 30 to 40 vessels. Deep Sea Supply says the 10 PSVs will achieve attractive cash break even rates…
Seadrill has won a contract with Total Upstream Nigeria for use of its newbuild ultra-deepwater drillship West Jupiter (pictured), in support of the Egina ultra-deep offshore project in Nigeria. The contract is for five years and is worth about US$1…
The Centennial J tanker will be converted by MODEC for Tullow's TEN field. Photo by: Tullow Oil Plc/Joseph Lynch. E&P companies will continue to invest in deepwater exploration and development…
The National Oil Corp. (NOC), the national oil company of Libya, has signed an agreement with ION Geophysical Corp. and North Africa Geophysical Exploration Co. (NAGECO) to acquire 21,000km of 2D seismic data in Libya. Known as LibyaSPAN…
Rowan Companies plc said the Rowan Renaissance drillship has been pulled from service off West Africa after experiencing equipment problems, the company announced in its monthly fleet status report released on 27 May 2014. Rowan said…
Specialist downhole tool provider Peak Well Systems has relocated its European regional headquarters to a newly constructed, office and workshop facility in Aberdeen which will meet the needs of its expanding North Sea business. Peak’s investment…