Exploration News


DW: West Africa deepwater falls a further 44%

Mar 21, 2016

Douglas Westwood (DW) has revised its outlook considerably for West Africa’s deepwater prospects by 44% amid project delays and cancelations.   A year ago, DW said that exploration and production (E&P) companies within West Africa were…

Byron drills GoM appraisal following stuck pipe drill

Mar 21, 2016

Byron Energy has started drilling a sidetrack well to the SM 6#2 well in the Gulf of Mexico, after a drill pipe became stuck with several unsuccessful attempts over a three-day period to free it, according to partner Otto Energy. Map…

Norway opens 2016 APA round

Mar 17, 2016

Norway's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has launched the 2016 Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) licensing round. APA is one of two equal licensing rounds on the Norwegian continental shelf. The scheme was introduced in 2003 to facilitate…

World-scale LNG potential at Mauritanian discovery

Mar 16, 2016

Kosmos Energy says its Greater Tortue Complex offshore Mautitania has the potential to create a new 'world-scale' LNG development, following the results of its latest appraisal well. The firm said the results of its Ahmeyim-2 appraisal well…

Obama bans Atlantic coast drilling

Mar 15, 2016

The Obama Administration has decided to rescind a proposal to drill off the US Atlantic Coast in 13 areas, due to current market dynamics, strong local opposition, and conflicts with competing commercial and military ocean uses, the US Department of the Interior (DOI) said today (15 March)…

Cairn ups deepwater Senegal resource estimate

Mar 15, 2016

UK-based explorer Cairn Energy has increased its resource estimate on the major SNE discovery offshore Senegal by 20%, with potential for it to increase further, following successful appraisal work.  The deepwater field, sitting in about 1100m water depth…

Songa refinances as delays bite

Mar 15, 2016

Songa Offshore is looking to raise US$150 million in cash to help it deliver the fourth and final Cat D new build rig, the Songa Enabler. The firm has been building the rigs for client Statoil. But, lower than expected utilization rates on the first two delivered units…

India's new gas pricing aimed at deepwater

Mar 11, 2016

The government of India approved a natural gas pricing system for gas produced from high pressure high temperature, deepwater and ultra deepwater areas that could attract substantial investment in the country’s upstream sector, as well as generate job opportunities…

Det norske to drill at Ivar Aasen with Maersk Interceptor

Mar 10, 2016

Det norske oljeselskap has gained approval from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) for a drilling permit for well 16/1-26 S, which is part of the Ivar Aasen field, in the North Sea. Well 16/1-26 S will be drilled from the Maersk…

Eni in first Zohr test success

Mar 10, 2016

The first production test at Eni’s Zohr 2X appraisal well delivered some 44 MMcf/d of gas, offshore Egypt. Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi. Image from Eni. The Zohr 2X well, Eni’s first appraisal well on its giant Zohr discovery…

Rosneft spuds off Vietnam

Mar 09, 2016

Rosneft has made its debut as a drilling operator in international waters, as the Russian giant commenced drilling operations at the PLDD-1X well, offshore Vietnam.   The HAKURYU-5 rig, image from Japan Drilling…

Positive results from SNE-3, Senegal

Mar 09, 2016

UK-based explorer Cairn Energy's latest appraisal well on its SNE discovery offshore Senegal has been hailed a success.   Far Ltd, a partner on SNE, has previously estimated the SNE 2C contingent resource at 468 MMbbl. An updated resource…

DW: deepwater spend forecast drops 35%

Mar 08, 2016

Douglas-Westwood (DW) forecasts deepwater expenditure to total US$137 billion from 2016-2020. This represents a 35% decline compared to DW’s previous edition of the deepwater forecast issued March 2015. The prolonged low oil price has impacted the deepwater market…

Shell pipe falls to seafloor off Nova Scotia

Mar 08, 2016

Shell Canada’s operations offshore Nova Scotia were brought to a halt over the weekend due to severe weather, which caused a 2km pipe from the Stena IceMAX drillship to fall to the seafloor. The Stena IceMAX…

Transocean delays five newbuilds to 2020

Mar 08, 2016

Global offshore drilling giant Transocean has set back the delivery date for five new jackup rigs by nearly four years.  In an agreement with rig builder Keppel Offshore & Marine's shipyard, Keppel FELS, delivery of the five Super B 400…

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