Exploration News


Byron abandons GoM well, moves to next

Mar 30, 2016

Byron Energy’s attempt to drill a sidetrack well to SM 6#2 after a drill pipe became stuck has turned out to be unsuccessful in the Gulf of Mexico, with the company abandoning the well and moving on to another. The Hercules 205…

Petrobras cuts rig, reduces rates on second

Mar 30, 2016

Petrobras has agreed an early terminatation on its contract for Sevan Drilling's cylindrical drilling rig, the Sevan Driller. The two firms also agreed to reduce rates on a second Sevan drilling rig, the Sevan Brasil, also on contract to Petrobras…

Dana fails at Manatee-1

Mar 29, 2016

Dana Petroleum and its partners failed to make an oil discovery at the Manatee-1 exploration well, offshore Cameroon, according to partner SDX Energy. The well, located in the shallow waters in the prolific Niger Delta basin, was spud on 2 March using the Paragon M825 jackup rig…

Eni JV wins Cape Three Points license

Mar 29, 2016

A consortium led by Eni and comprising of GNPC, Explorco, Vitol, and Woodfields, has been awarded a new exploration license, Cape Three Points Block 4, located in the Tano Basin, offshore Ghana. GNPC, Vitol and Eni are already developing…

Petrobras takes biggest fall

Mar 22, 2016

Amid Petróleo Brasileiro’s (Petrobras) largest net quarterly loss in its history of US$10.2 billion (36.9 billion BRL), the Brazilian giant also confirmed its biggest oil column discovery at its Libra field. Petrobras headquarters…

New Zealand offers four blocks in 2016

Mar 21, 2016

New Zealand is offering four offshore blocks in its 2016 block offer petroleum tender. 2016 block offer map, from New Zeland Petroleum & Minerals. The four offshore release areas have a total acreage of 525…

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…

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