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…
Maersk Drilling has been awarded a $58million contract from DONG Energy for use of the jack-up drilling rig the Maersk Resolve. The contract, for operations in the Danish North Sea, is expected to start in August 2013, in direct continuation of its current contract in the UK…
One person is missing and another six were injured following the sinking of Saipem's Perro Negro 6 jackup rig off the coast of Angola. The incident began Monday night (July 1) following the collapse of seabed underneath one of the Perro Negro 6's three legs…
Norway's Kongsberg secured contracts with China's CIMC Yantai Raffles and South Korea's STX Offshore & Shipbuilding for the supply of dynamic positioning (DP), automation, new generation safety system, integrated navigation, hydroacoustic positioning…
A subsidiary of Atwood Oceanics has ordered a fourth ultra-deepwater drillship from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). The vessel, to be named the Atwood Archer, will be identical to the previously ordered Atwood Advantage…
