Exploration News


Italy to Block Exploration Permits

Jan 09, 2019

The Italian government is planning to block the issuing of about 36 permits to look for oil and gas as part of plans to cut the country's carbon footprint, the industry ministry said on Wednesday.In a statement the ministry said upstream oil…

Spirit Energy Gets Nod for Oda Development

Jan 07, 2019

North Sea explorer Spirit Energy has been given the green light from Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) to start up its first operated development in Norway.Oda is a subsea development where the wellstream is sent on to the Ula platform for processing and transport…

Wellesley Green Lighted to Drill in the North Sea

Jan 07, 2019

Norway's Petroleum Safety Authority has given consent to Norwegian based Wellesley Petroleum to drill exploration well 25/1-13 in the North Sea.Wellesley is the operator for production licence 871 in the North Sea.Well 25/1-13, named Balcom…

India Plots Exploration Licensing Round

Jan 04, 2019

India will start auctioning for 14 oil and gas blocks in its second exploration licensing round on Monday, giving freedom to the companies to carve out areas they want to drill.The blocks together hold undiscovered reserves of about 14,995 million tonnes of oil equivalent…

Ghana Exploration Licensing Round Attracts Global Majors

Dec 24, 2018

Sixteen oil and gas firms have submitted applications for one or more of five Ghanaian offshore blocks in the West African country's first exploration licensing round, its energy ministry said.The interest is a major vote of confidence in Ghana…

Lebanon 2nd Offshore Licensing Announced

Dec 23, 2018

The Ministry of Energy & Water in Lebanon together with the Lebanese Petroleum Administration announced via their website the recommended blocks for bidding during the Lebanese 2nd licensing round for hydrocarbon exploration offshore Lebanon…

Norwegian Sea Well Comes up Dry for Lundin Petroleum

Dec 20, 2018

Europe's oil and gas exploration and production company with operations focused on Norway Lundin Petroleum AB  said that its wholly owned subsidiary Lundin Norway AS  has completed the drilling of the Silfari exploration well 6307/1-1S located in PL830 in the Norwegian Sea…

CNOOC Plans Exploration Spending Boost

Dec 18, 2018

China's CNOOC Ltd indicated a renewed commitment to oil and gas exploration on Tuesday as its chairman said it would raise spending to a record while signing strategic exploration agreements with nine firms for the South China Sea.The strategic…

BP Nears FID at Platina Field Offshore Angola

Dec 17, 2018

Angola’s Sonangol and British supermajor BP on Monday signed an agreement to progress to final investment decision (FID) for the development of the Platina field in the BP-operated deepwater Block 18, offshore Angola.Platina would be BP’s first…

Sonangol, ExxonMobil Ink Exploration Deal

Dec 14, 2018

Angola's state oil company Sonangol and ExxonMobil on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding for oil exploration in the country's Namibe basin, the two firms said.Angola, Africa's second-largest crude producer, is facing a steep output…

Hess, Conoco Raise 2019 Production Outlook

Dec 10, 2018

Oil and gas producer Hess Corp and Conocophillips both expect production for 2019 to be higher than this year even as they spend roughly the same amount of money on exploration, the companies said on Monday.Investors have been urging U.S. oil…

Talos Energy Begins Zama Discovery Appraisal Program

Dec 05, 2018

Talos Energy  has spudded its Zama-2 appraisal well, beginning the Zama discovery appraisal program, which will consist of three reservoir penetrations, including two wells and one sidetrack.The Zama discovery, which is located in Block 7 in the Sureste Basin…

Hess Made 10th Discovery at Stabroek Offshore

Dec 04, 2018

American global independent energy company Hess Corporation announced a tenth discovery offshore Guyana at the Pluma-1 well on the Stabroek Block.The company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas said that as…

Petrobras, Murphy to Explore in GoM

Dec 03, 2018

Brazil's state-controlled Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) said on Monday it had sealed a joint venture with Murphy Exploration & Production Company to explore oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a securities filing.Petrobras received $795 million for the deal…

Gabon Offers 22 Offshore Blocks

Nov 28, 2018

Gabon's Minister of Oil and Hydrocarbons Pascal Houangni Ambouroué has unveiled a new offshore licensing round covering 12 shallow-water and 23 deep-water blocks.A report from global law firm Dentons pointed out that this new bid round for offshore…

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