Royal Boskalis Westminster subsidiary Dockwise has completed a dry dock project using its new transport vessel Dockwise Vanguard. The project was to assist with the repair and maintenance of a semisubmersible drilling rig in the Mediterranean…
HRT Participações em Petróleo has started drilling the Moosehead-1 exploration well offshore Namibia. The well (2713/16-1) is its the third offshore well in HRT's current exploration campaign. It is targeting the Moosehead prospect…
Rig design engineering firm RDS has been awarded two contracts valued at US $42,000,000 for engineering and design services in the North Sea and a global master services agreement (MSA). The first contract is for detailed design and…
Keppel FELS delivered a KFELS B Class jackup rig, to privately-owned Mexican company Constructora y Perforadora LATINA (CP LATINA). The jackup rig was named La Santa Maria at a ceremony in Keppel FELS on August 2. The rig, which is can operate in water depths up to 400ft and drill down to 30…
Houston-based Cobalt International Energy has said it expects the results of two deepwater exploration wells offshore Angola during the second half of this year. It is drilling the Mavinga #1 pre-salt exploratory well with Diamond Offshore's Ocean…
Appraisal drilling on the Barents Sea Norvarg gas discovery has confirmed the “extensive” nature of the field, it has been announced. The well (7225/3-2), in license PL 535 offshore Norway, was drilled in 377m deep water by Total using the Leiv Eiriksson semisubmersible drilling rig…
BG Group has made another gas discovery on its latest exploration well offshore Tanzania, adding to the potential for LNG development in the country. The Mkizi-1 well in Block 1, was drilled by the Deepsea Metro I drillship in 1301m deep water…
Prospector Offshore Drilling has received a conditional letter of award from Total E&P UK for a drilling contract in the UK North Sea. This contract would be for Prospector's third jack-up rig, PROSPECTOR 5, under construction at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co…
The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) approved Walter Oil & Gas Corp.’s permit application to drill a relief well at South Timbalier 220 in the US Gulf of Mexico, using the Rowan EXL-3 jack-up rig. The well is expected to be drilled on Thursday…
Houston-based BassDrill Ltd. is changing its name to Atlantica Tender Drilling Ltd. This change is part of a larger rebranding effort designed to reflect the growing strength of the company. “Atlantica is the name given to an ancient…
Mexican drilling company Grupo R awarded Keppel Offshore & Marine subsidiary Keppel FELS a construction contract worth US$206 million for a newbuild jackup rig. The KFELS B Class design jackup is scheduled for delivery in 4Q 2015. Keppel…
Global demand for ultra-deepwater drilling units remains high with new contracts attracting high day rates, according to Fred. Olsen Energy. The firm, which operates a fleet of seven deepwater and mid-water drilling rigs, says growth in the ultra-deepwater segment is expected continue…
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…
Transocean Ltd. today announced that the ultra-deepwater drillship Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 has set a new world record for the deepest water depth by an offshore drilling rig. The rig recently spudded a well in 10,411ft (3174m) of water…
Dolphin Drilling, part of Fred. Olsen Energy ASA, signed contracts worth US$67 million for use of its Blackford Dolphin semisubmersible rig. The Blackford Dolphin will drill one well a piece for MPX North Sea ltd in the UK sector and Cairn subsidiary Capricorn Ireland Ltd…