Baker Hughes announced the availability of a drilling fluid system that can improve drilling economics by enabling operators to manage circulating pressure more efficiently. The Baker Hughes MPRESS™ drilling fluid system allows operators…
In mid-April, there were 122 offshore drilling rigs in Brazil, including 29 under construction and 93 others: 26 drillships, 52 semisubmersibles, 8 jackups, and 7 platform rigs. The status of the rigs not under construction: 77 drilling, 8 on workovers…
Salamander Energy plc began its multi-well exploration program in Block G4/50, Gulf of Thailand. The first well in the program, G4/50-4, spudded on June 27 and is being drilled on the Rayong prospect. Rayong is located in the north east of the block in the Central Kra sub-basin…
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…
Seadrill Ltd signed new contracts for the construction of two high specification jackup drilling rigs at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Offshore Co., Ltd. (DSIC Offshore) in China. The newbuild rigs are scheduled for delivery during 4Q 2015 and 1Q 2016…
Statoil announced a light, high-quality oil discovery at its Harpoon prospect (EL 1112) in the Flemish Pass basin, off Newfoundland, Canada. The company said it was too early to assess Harpoon's resource potential, but that it is encouraged by the results…
Noble Corp. was awarded a four-year drilling contract from Statoil for work on the UK North Sea Mariner project using a new Cat J jackup. The contract is worth $655 million and includes a two-year option. Work will start in 2016.
AWE Ltd. reported a second successful drillstem test (DST) at the Lengo-2 appraisal well 25 miles north-northwest of Tuban, Indonesia, with a maximum gas flow rate of 21.2 MMcfd. Gas samples were gathered for analysis. Partners in the Bulu PSC are: KrisEnergy Satria Limited (operator) 2…
Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) has commenced drilling of the first development well on the Brynhild field in PL148, located in the Norwegian North Sea.Brynhild field is adjacent to the Norway-United Kingdom border, about 210 km from the Norwegian mainland…
Carrolton, Texas,-based Varel International l a u n c h e d i t s Katana-series steel body polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits. Varel’s PDC Product Manager Cary Maurstad describes the line as a definitive enhancement for the company’s fixed cutter…
The complexity of well design and drilling requires teams of talented individuals, yet individual decisions can make or break a well. We have learned that any individual on the team can be liable for the well and that we need even stronger…
Noble Energy announced a non-commercial hydrocarbon find at its second deepwater Gunflint appraisal well in the US Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi Canyon 992 #1, located one mile west of the original discovery well, encountered 109 ft of net pay and was drilled to a total depth of 32…
European editor Elaine Maslin went to visit Huisman’s yard in Schiedam, Netherlands, as the finishing touches were being carried out on the Noble Globetrotter II. When offshore lifting, pipelay and drilling firm Huisman decided…
On June 5, Houston-based Atwood Oceanics Inc. announced a new drilling services contract with Eni S.p.A. for the Atwood Beacon. The independent leg cantilever jackup rig is currently working offshore Israel but will finish by July 2013. The…
Statoil announced it will delay an investment decision on its Johan Castberg project in the Norwegian Barents Sea due to unease regarding recent move by the Norwegian government to increase taxes on oil and gas producers. In addition to the tax rise…