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 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…
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 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…
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 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…
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…
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 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…
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…
Byron Energy's SM-6 #2 well in the South Marsh Island Block 6 in the US Gulf of Mexico has intersected a number of hydrocarbon bearing sands which may result in an increase in reserves estimates for the block, says partner Otto Energy. Otto…
The UK's new regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), has launched a competition linked to future exploration licensing rounds in order to stimulate further offshore oil and gas exploration activity in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS)…
Sweden's Lundin Petroleum is to plug and abandon its latest exploration well after it was classified as dry. Exploration well 16/4-10 was on the Fosen prospect in PL544 on the southern flank of the Utsira High in the Norwegian North Sea…
Sweden's Lundin Petroleum has discovered 'significant gas shows' in the Maligan exploration well in Block SB307/SB308, offshore East Malaysia. The Maligan well was drilled with the West Prospero jackup rig to a total depth of approximately 1380m…
Dana Petroleum commenced drilling operations at the Manatee-1 exploration well on the Bakassi West block, offshore Cameroon, according to partner SDX Energy. Map of Bakassi West block, from SDX…