Exploration News


Mexico's Round One, phase two "a success"

Sep 30, 2015

Nine bidders made up of individual companies and consortia bid in Mexico’s Round One, phase two today (30 September), in what Mexico's National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) is calling a success with three out of five winning bids in the shallow water areas of the Southeast basin…

Lundin hits more oil at Alta

Sep 30, 2015

Lundin Norway encountered oil at two appraisal wells at the Alta discovery in the Barents Sea that proved important for the eastern flank Alta, and will result in further exploration in the area.    Map of the appraisal wells…

Shell to explore Black Sea

Sep 29, 2015

The Bulgarian Ministry of Energy awarded Shell E&P a permit for deepwater exploration of oil and natural gas in Blocks 1-14 Silistar in the Black Sea, according to Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova. Image from Shell…

Petrobras hits oil at Carcará Noroeste

Sep 29, 2015

Brazil’s Petróleo Brasileiro (Petrobras) discovered high-quality light oil potential at the third well in the Carcará pre-salt discovery area offshore São Paulo. Carcará map. From Petrobras. The third well…

Eni in Guendalina gas find

Sep 28, 2015

Eni encountered gas at the Guendalina sidetrack well offshore Italy, according to partner Rockhopper Exploration. The well, located at the Guendalina gas field in the Adriatic Sea, reached its target depth of 3276m measured depth on schedule and budget…

Shell abandons Alaska exploration

Sep 28, 2015

Shell is ceasing further exploration offshore Alaska after the company's Burger J prospect failed to prove oil, resulting in a multi billion dollar write-down. The Transocean Polar Pioneer  “Shell…

Primeline spuds East China Sea well

Sep 24, 2015

Primeline Energy Holdings spudded the LS23-1-1 exploration well on 23 September to tap into resources near its LS36-1 gas field production facility, in the East China Sea. Images from Primeline Energy…

IOG progresses on Skipper

Sep 24, 2015

Independent Oil & Gas (IOG) has made significant progress towards drilling the Skipper well in the Northern North Sea, located in Block 9/21a, in license P1609. Image from IOG. Alpha…

ROC spuds second Bohai Bay well

Sep 23, 2015

ROC Oil commenced drilling operations the second of two planned exploration wells in the Bohai Bay basin, offshore China, according to joint venture partner AWE. Map of Block 09/05. From ROC. The…

Exxon, COPL to return to Liberia

Sep 23, 2015

ExxonMobil and partner Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd. (COPL) are planning to return to the waters offshore Liberia as early as next year after the duo delayed drilling plans due to an Ebola virus outbreak in the region. Map of Block LB-13…

US Gulf of Mexico rig count down 46%

Sep 23, 2015

In response to the decline in crude oil prices since mid-2014, the number of active offshore rigs has declined worldwide, dropping close to 20%, says the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). There were 304 offshore rigs operating in August 2015…

Argos completes Falklands farmout

Sep 22, 2015

Falklands focused Argos Resources has completed a farmout agreement with Noble Energy Falklands and Edison International over license PL001 in the North Falklands Basin. The agreement will allow exploration drilling on the license, which…

Record interest in Irish offshore

Sep 21, 2015

The largest number of applications in an Irish offshore licensing round have been submitted in the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round.  Some 43 applications for licensing options, from majors and independents, were submitted by the Friday 16 September deadline…

Karoon's Kangaroo falls

Sep 18, 2015

Karoon Gas Australia is revising its previous estimates of the Kangaroo field in the Santos basin offshore Brazil that decreases its 2C resources by nearly 39%. The Australian company is also estimating its Echidna’s light oil gross contingent 2C resource volume to be of 75 MMbbl…

WoodMac: Mexico's Round One is internationally competitive

Sep 17, 2015

On 14 September, Mexico's Finance Ministry announced the minimum acceptable bids for the shallow water development opportunities phase of Round One. Image of Round One. From CNH. Wood…

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