Drill Bits News


Saipem’s Jack-Up Rig Goes Back to Work with Aramco off Saudi Arabia

Jan 09, 2026

Italian offshore services firm Saipem has informed that its jack-up rig Perro Negro 7 will resume operations off Saudi Arabia for Aramco, starting January 2026.The contract for Perro Negro 7 was awarded to Saipem in 2011 and extended in June 2023 for 10 years…

ANP Halts Petrobras Drilling at Foz do Amazonas Basin After Fluid Leak

Jan 08, 2026

Brazilian oil regulator ANP has halted Petrobras from restarting offshore drilling at the Foz do Amazonas basin until it provides information on what caused a synthetic fluid to leak in the waters of the environmentally sensitive region, documents seen by Reuters show…

Probable Gas Found in All Target Reservoirs at ConocoPhillips' Otway Well

Jan 07, 2026

ConocoPhillips has identified probable gas across all targeted Waarre sandstone reservoirs at its Charlemont-1 exploration well in Australia’s Otway Basin, resuming drilling after an earlier pressure-related pause before suspending operations again due to higher-than-anticipated formation pressures…

Petrobras Halts Drilling in Environmentally Sensitive Area After Fluid Leak

Jan 06, 2026

A synthetic fluid leak of about 15 cubic meters (15,000 liters) has halted Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras' drilling of a well in the environmentally sensitive Foz do Amazonas Basin, the company said on Tuesday.In a statement, Petrobras…

Halliburton Launches Shankless Matrix-Body Drill Bit to Cut Well Time

Jan 06, 2026

U.S. oilfield services provider Halliburton has introduced the HyperSteer MX directional drill bit, a shankless matrix-body bit designed to improve durability, enhance directional control, and reduce well construction time.The new bit delivers longer drilling runs…

Borr Drilling Locks In Mexico Extension, New US Contract for Two Jack-Ups

Jan 06, 2026

Offshore drilling contractor Borr Drilling has secured new contract commitments for two of its premium jack-up rigs, adding firm work in Mexico and the United States.Borr Drilling’s jack-up rig Ran has received a one-well extension from Italy’s Eni in Mexico…

Transocean Nets $168M in Two Drilling Rig Contracts

Jan 05, 2026

Offshore drilling contractor Transocean has secured a new contract and an extension for two of its rigs, adding approximately $168 million to its firm backlog.In Brazil, the Deepwater Mykonos was awarded a contract by BP for an estimated 302-day campaign beginning in the third quarter of 2026…

ASRY Completes Multiple Rig Upgrades for ADES

Dec 30, 2025

The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) has completed several rig repair and upgrade projects for Saudi-based ADES Holding, strengthening the partnership between the two companies.In 2025, several ADES jack-up rigs underwent major works at ASRY’s facilities in Bahrain…

Surprise Gas Hit Adds Momentum to ConocoPhillips’ Australian Drilling Ops

Dec 30, 2025

An offshore gas exploration well operated by ConocoPhillips Australia has intersected unexpected gas in the Otway Basin off southeastern Australia, prompting a temporary pause in drilling while partners assess changes to the well design.The Charlemont-1 exploration well…

Petronas Drills First of Four Wells in Block Offshore Suriname

Dec 29, 2025

Petronas has completed drilling of the Caiman-1 exploration well in Block 52 offshore Suriname, marking the first well in its four-well 2025–2026 drilling campaign in the block.The Caiman-1 well was spudded on July 21, 2025 and safely plugged and abandoned on December 6…

PV Drilling’s Jack-Up Rig Returns to Asia Ahead of April Drilling Ops

Dec 26, 2025

Vietnam’s PV Drilling has informed that its jack-up rig PV DRILLING IX arrived to Vietnam, after completing a two-month transport voyage from Europe, marking a key milestone ahead of its planned return to drilling operations in 2026.The rig reached Vung Tau on December 25…

Technical Drilling Campaign Difficulties Push Back Benin Field Start Up

Dec 24, 2025

Akrake Petroleum, Rex International's indirect subsidiary, has encountered technical difficulties during its drilling operations at Sèmè field off Benin, pushing back the production start beyond 2025.Akrake Petroleum, owned by Rex's Lime Petroleum…

Norwegian Sea Delivers Fresh Oil and Gas Discovery

Dec 22, 2025

Equinor and its partners have made a new oil and gas/condensate discovery near the Tyrihans field in the Norwegian Sea.The discovery, made via the exploration well 6407/1-B-2 H, lies in the Tyrihans Øst prospect, about 250 kilometers southwest of Brønnøysund…

Archer to Remain North Sea Drilling and Maintenance Duty for Aker BP

Dec 19, 2025

Aker BP has exercised the three-year extension option under the long-term contract with Archer for the provision of platform drilling operations and maintenance services in the North Sea.The long-term contract was originally awarded in November…

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