FAR Ltd. reported that the Cairn-operated FAN-1 exploration well resumed drilling on the North Fan prospect in 1500m water depth, offshore Senegal on 28 July. Drilling to date has reached 3000m with a planned TD of approximately 5300m using Transocean’s fifth-generation semisubmersible…
The Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) launched the 5th Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR5) on 9 May 2014, and scheduled international roadshows in Texas (12-16 May 2014), Singapore (10-14 June 2014), and Turkey (14-17 September…
Italian authorities are starting to actively progress offshore permit approvals that have been outstanding for some years, according to an operator in the region. Northern Petroleum's CEO made the comments after the company was awarded two exploration permits in Italy…
Centrica Resources Norway, operator of production license 405, in the southeastern part of the Norwegian North Sea, has completed drilling wildcat well 8/10-6 S. The well is dry, said the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. The well was drilled 13 km southwest of the Ula field…
Det norske oljeselskap has spudded exploration well 2/9–5 S in production license 494, in the Norwegian North Sea, targeting the Heimdalshø prospect using the Maersk Giant jackup rig. The well spudded 21 July, said Fortis Petroleum, a partner on the project…
West Africa-focused Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited (COPL) says drilling plans for offshore Liberia have been delayed due to an Ebola virus outbreak in the region. The firm is in a partnership with ExxonMobil (operator and 83% equity holder) on Block LB-13 offshore Liberia…
Statoil Petroleum has made a small gas discovery on the 7325/1-1 well on production license (PL) 615 in the Barents Sea. The well was drilled about 56km northeast of the Wisting Central oil discovery 7324/8-1, operated by OMV, in the Barents Sea…
BG Group used Odfjell's Deepsea Metro I drillship for the Sunbird-1 in Block L10A this year. Photo from BG Group. Offshore East Africa is among the newest frontier exploration regions, with results of wildcats eagerly awaited…
The Republic of Gabon’s Ministry of Petroleum announced today that it has selected seven companies to participate in a final round of negotiations for deepwater blocks in the offshore licensing tender round from October 2013. The Ministry said Impact Oil & Gas…
The Congolese Minister of hydrocarbons, André Raphael Loemba, and Eni CEO, Claudio Descalzi, in the presence of President of Congo, Dennis Sassou Nguesso, and the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, have signed a cooperation agreement,…
Drilling has started at the Domino-2 appraisal well in the deepwater sector of the Neptun Block offshore Romania in the Black Sea, says OMV Petrom. OMV Petrom is a partner on the block with ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania…
Lundin Norway's first appraisal well in the Barents Sea Gohta oil discovery offshore Norway has confirmed the presence of oil and gas, says a partner on the well Noreco. Two production tests were also undertaken, the firm said today (21 July)…
Tullow Oil Norge's Lupus well, in production licence (PL) 507, in the Norwegian North Sea, is to be plugged and abandoned after failing to find hydrocarbons. The well (31/10-1), which was 35km southeast of the Oseberg Sør Field and 110km west of the island of Sotra…
Atwood Oceanic’s Atwood Achiever drillship, nearing completion at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering’s yard in Korea. Photo from Atwood Oceanics. Exploration offshore Ireland has yet…
OMV Petrom has made an oil discovery in an exploration well drilled in the Istria XVIII offshore Perimeter (shallow water) in the Romanian Black Sea. Marina 1 was drilled 60km offshore, to a depth of about 2150m below the seabed in about 50m water depth…