Drilling News


Britain Eases Opposition to New Oil, Gas Permits

Nov 26, 2025

Britain will allow some new oil and gas production on or near existing fields, the government said on Wednesday, easing its stance on new licences while dashing oil and gas producers' hopes for an early end to windfall taxes on their sector…

Vantage Drilling Reports Q3 2025 Results

Nov 26, 2025

Vantage Drilling International Ltd. reported a net income attributable to shareholders of approximately $67.2 million or $4.97 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2025, based on the weighted average shares outstanding…

ADES Completes Acquisition of Shelf Drilling

Nov 26, 2025

Saudi Arabian oil and gas drilling contractor ADES International Holding has completed the acquisition of rival rig firm Shelf Drilling.The merger, concluded on November 2025, has created a global offshore drilling powerhouse, with the combined…

Equinor Bets on Long Fossil Fuel Demand with Plan for 250 New Wells

Nov 25, 2025

Equinor will drill 250 oil and gas exploration wells in Norwegian waters in the next 10 years to fulfil a goal of sustaining output in 2035 at 2020 levels, driven by expectations of prolonged fossil fuel demand, its CEO said on Tuesday.The Norwegian…

TotalEnergies Exits Nigeria's Deepwater Field as Eni and Shell Boost Stakes

Nov 25, 2025

TotalEnergies has completed the divestment of its non-operated interest in the Bonga deepwater field offshore Nigeria, selling its share to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and Eni.SNEPCo, a subsidiary of Shell, completed…

Vår Energi Hires Well Expertise for Drilling and Subsurface Ops Support

Nov 25, 2025

Well Expertise Consultancy, a subsidiary of Well Expertise, has signed a frame agreement with Vår Energi for the provision of drilling and wells and subsurface specialists to support the operator’s onshore and offshore operations in Norway.The contract was secured in collaboration with OREC…

Suriname Puts 60% of Offshore Acreage Up for Oil and Gas Exploration

Nov 24, 2025

Suriname’s state-run energy company Staatsolie has launched the ‘Open-Door Offering’, an initiative aimed at unlocking new oil and gas exploration opportunities in the Guiana Basin.Approximately 60% of Suriname’s offshore acreage is available…

Florida Republicans Oppose Trump's Offshore Oil Leasing Plan

Nov 23, 2025

Florida Republicans, led by Governor Ron DeSantis have said that they are opposed to a plan of the Trump administration which could allow for new oil and natural gas drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast.The reactions were in response to a proposal by the Interior Department published on Thursday…

COSL Drilling Europe Explores Development of Fully Electric BOP

Nov 21, 2025

COSL Drilling Europe is examining the development of fully electric blowout preventer (BOP), a move the company says could lower costs and improve efficiency in offshore drilling and plug and abandonment operations.The concept was originally created by John Dale and Electrical Subsea & Drilling…

Trump Proposal Opens California Coast to Drilling, Drawing Fierce Opposition

Nov 21, 2025

President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday unveiled a plan for a dramatic expansion of oil and gas drilling rights auctions in U.S. waters, including in California, where state officials strongly oppose energy development along its world-famous coastline…

Norway Issues Permits for Equinor’s Drilling Ops in North Sea

Nov 20, 2025

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor drilling permits for two wildcat wells in the North Sea.The permits are for wellbore 33/12-N-3 GH in production license 037 B/152 and 33/12-N-3 HH in production license 037 B/277.Equinor is the operator of Equinor of the licenses…

Blackford Dolphin Semi-Sub to Keep Drilling Offshore India

Nov 20, 2025

Oil India has exercised its option to extend the drilling contract with Dolphin Drilling for the semi-submersible rig Blackford Dolphin.Further to the initial three-well firm campaign over an estimated 14-month duration, agreed in March 2024…

Aker BP Extends Deepsea Nordkapp’s Stay off Norway

Nov 20, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Odfjell Drilling has received confirmation from Aker BP that it will extend the firm contract period for use of the Deepsea Nordkapp semi-submersible rig by one year.With this signed confirmation, the Deepsea Nordkapp extends its firm contract backlog to the end of 2027…

Shelf Drilling’s Jack-Up to Restart Ops for Aramco as Suspension Ends

Nov 19, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Shelf Drilling has received a notice from Saudi oil and gas giant Aramco to resume operations for the Harvey H. Ward jack-up rig in the Middle East.The rig’s operations were previously suspended by Aramco, effective September 2024…

BW Energy Confirms Liquid Hydrocarbons in Namibia’s Kudu Block

Nov 19, 2025

BW Energy has completed drilling operations on the Kharas-1 appraisal well in the Kudu license area, offshore Namibia, confirming the presence of hydrocarbons.The well, drilled with Odfjell Drilling-managed Deepsea Mira rig, reached a total depth of 5…

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