Exploration News


First cut is the deepest

Jan 01, 2016

OE reached out to analysts Wood Mackenzie and IHS Energy to find out the view on the next 12-18 months. And the outlook is not so great for exploration spend. Audrey Leon and Elaine Maslin report. Wood Mackenzie Image from iStock…

Middle Eastern resilience

Jan 01, 2016

Both maintaining and launching new offshore production is high on the agenda in the Middle East, not least in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran. IHS’ Mirzi Moralde outlines current activity in the region. Total’s…

Offshore’s opportunity?

Jan 01, 2016

Innovate, collaborate, standardize; lead with lean.   One could argue that the future of the global offshore E&P business, particularly deepwater development, is ours to create. Confronted…

Bringing subsea projects “in the money”

Jan 01, 2016

Jon Fredrik Müller and Audun Martinsen, of Rystad Energy, take a look at rising costs and the downturn and share how these two will affect the subsea market going forward. An illustration of the Johan Sverdrup field center…

IOG gains North Sea extensions

Dec 31, 2015

Independent Oil & Gas (IOG) has received extensions from the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) for its Cronx and P2085 licenses located in the North Sea. Cronx OGA has extended the Cronx license by one year to 9 January 2017. In addition…

Vitol dry off Ivory Coast

Dec 31, 2015

Map of CI-508. From Genel. Vitol Energy is plugging and abandoning the Aigle-1X exploration well off the Ivory Coast after failing to encounter hydrocarbons, according to partner Genel Energy…

Retreating from the US Arctic

Dec 18, 2015

The US is losing its opportunity to lay claim to Arctic exploration, falling behind countries such as Norway and Russia. Now with Shell and Statoil exiting Alaska’s offshore, many in the industry and in politics are wondering how to salvage Alaskan offshore exploration…

UKCS Exploration: "Could do better"

Dec 17, 2015

Better success rates from North Sea exploration drilling could be achieved if historical well data was stored and shared better, according to the results of a review of well data published. The Oil and Gas Authority says a lack of quality geoscience and geophysics work…

BP Caspian work for KCA Deutag

Dec 17, 2015

Drilling and engineering contractor KCA Deutag has been awarded two contracts with BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) with about US$360 million for the initial contract or $1 billion including all options. The first contract has been awarded…

Faroe inks rig for Brasse drilling

Dec 17, 2015

UK-based explorer Faroe Petroleum has awarded a rig contract for the drilling of Brasse exploration well in the Norwegian North Sea. The firm also says production has restarted from the Enoch field, in which it has a 13.86% stake.  The…

Petrobras in further Espírito Santo find

Dec 16, 2015

Petrobras hit a new oil discovery in the Espírito Santo Basin offshore Brazil, according to partner Inpex. Map of the BM-ES-23 concession. From Inpex. The discovery contains oil…

Vaalco hits at North Tchibala 2-H

Dec 14, 2015

Vaalco Energy’s North Tchibala 2-H well, the second development well drilled by Vaalco in the North Tchibala field, was brought online, offshore Gabon. The well was stabilized at rate of approximately 500 b/d, gross. The well was drilled to a measured depth of 16…

Minor oil find for Wintershall

Dec 10, 2015

Germany's Wintershall has made a minor oil discovery on the Syrah exploration well in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.  The operation, in production license 248, included wild cat well 35/11-18, targeting Middle Jurassic rocks in the Brent group…

IOG agrees Skipper drilling deal with AGR

Dec 10, 2015

Independent Oil and Gas has executed a well management contract with AGR Well Management for the drilling of the North Sea appraisal well on Skipper, which is on track to spud in late January or early February 2016.  As part of its payment…

Apache puts focus on drilling

Dec 08, 2015

Apache is to increase investment in drilling to 78% of its annual capital spending in 2016-2020, compared to 51% in 2012-2015, a business breakfast was told in Aberdeen this morning.  Investment in seismic will double, from 5% of its capital spending to 10%…

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