Drilling Barge News


Shell to Launch Drilling Campaign Offshore Namibia

Dec 11, 2025

Shell is preparing to launch a new drilling campaign in the PEL 39 exploration block offshore Namibia from April 2026 with its partners QatarEnergy and Namibia's national oil company Namcor.Shell's Namibia country chair Eduardo Rodriguez said…

Chevron Among Top Bidders at Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Auction

Dec 10, 2025

BP, Chevron and Shell were among the top bidders on Wednesday at the U.S. government's first sale of oil and gas drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico since 2023.The auction, which ended with $279.4 million in high bids, was the first of 30 mandated by U…

Seatrium Gets Repeat Order from IMI for Arabia 4 Jack-up Rig

Dec 10, 2025

Seatrium Offshore Technology, the flagship offshore jack-up designer for Seatrium Group, has secured a repeat contract from International Maritime Industries (IMI) for the supply equipment and a design license for the Kingdom 4 self-elevating drilling unit…

VAALCO Energy Spuds First Well in New Drilling Campaign off Gabon

Dec 09, 2025

Africa-focused oil and gas company VAALCO Energy has started its phase three drilling program offshore Gabon with the spudding of the ET-15 infill well on the Etame platform.As previously announced, the company secured a drilling rig in December…

US Judge Overturns Trump’s Freeze on Wind Energy Permits

Dec 09, 2025

A federal judge on Monday struck down an order by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to halt all federal approvals for new wind energy projects, saying that agencies' efforts to implement his directive were unlawful and arbitrary.Agencies including the U…

Equinor Secures Permit for North Sea Drilling Operation

Dec 09, 2025

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor a drilling permit for a wildcat well in the North Sea.The permit is for wellbore 35/11-32 S in production license 090 HS, operated by Equinor with 60% working interest.The other partners in license are Inpex Idemitsu Norge and Vår Energi…

Dong Fang Offshore Picks Westcon for New CLV Delivery

Dec 09, 2025

Dong Fang Offshore (DFO), one of Asia’s largest offshore wind service providers, has signed a major shipbuilding contract with Norwegian yard Westcon for a new subsea and cable lay vessel (CLV), set for delivery in 2027.Westcon will take over…

Shell to Take Majority Stake in Orange Basin Block with PetroSA-Backed Deal

Dec 09, 2025

South Africa's legacy national oil company, PetroSA, has approved a deal to give Shell Offshore a 60% stake in its Block 2C, off the country's west coast, a document seen by Reuters showed on Monday.If successfully concluded, the agreement will strengthen oil major Shell's SHEL…

Eni Makes Significant Gas Discovery Offshore Indonesia

Dec 09, 2025

Eni has made a significant gas discovery in the Konta-1 exploration well, drilled in the Muara Bakau production sharing contract (PSC), in the Kutei Basin, offshore Indonesia.Estimates indicate 600 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas initially in…

Borr and Ocean Oilfield to Buy Six Noble Rigs in $424M Transactions

Dec 09, 2025

Noble Corporation has signed definitive agreements to six jack-up rigs - five to Borr Drilling and one to Ocean Oilfield Drilling - in transactions valued at a combined $424 million.Noble said the move is aligned with the company’s strategy…

Transocean’s Ultra-Deepwater Drillship Up for $130M Australian Job

Dec 09, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Transocean has signed a six-well contract with an undisclosed operator for its Deepwater Skyros drillship, offshore Australia.The estimated 320-day campaign is expected to start in the first quarter of 2027 and contribute approximately $130 million in backlog…

Oman’s Block 50 Offshore Drilling to Advance After $25M Funding Raise

Dec 08, 2025

Jasmine Energy has raised $25 million in senior secured bonds to support a new drilling campaign at the Yumna field in Block 50 offshore Oman, parent company Rex International Holding informed.The three-year bonds are expected to settle on December 12…

Chevron Eyes New Nigeria Oil Blocks Aiming for Late-2026 Rig Arrival

Dec 08, 2025

Chevron said on Friday it will participate in Nigeria’s next oil licensing round and plans to deploy a drilling rig in late 2026 as it seeks to expand operations in Africa’s top energy producer.Jim Swartz, chairman and managing director of Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Business Unit…

Equinor’s North Sea Wildcat Wells Yield Oil and Gas Discovery

Dec 05, 2025

Equinor and its partner Aker BP have discovered hydrocarbons in wildcat wells drilled in the North Sea.The gas/condensate discovery was made in the Lofn and Langemann prospects, part of  1140 production license, operated by Equinor with 60% working interest…

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