Exploration News


The fruits of Mexico’s labor

Aug 01, 2017

Mexico’s energy reform efforts have been realized with recent successes from prior bid rounds. Now, Mexican national Pemex has added a steady schedule of farm-outs in shallow and deep water. Audrey Leon surveys the plays on the agenda. Juan…

Statoil gains Barents wildcat permit

Jul 31, 2017

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Statoil a drilling permit for wildcat well 7435/12-1 in the Barents Sea. Map of 7435/12-1, from NPD. Well 7435/12-1 in production…

Blue Whale semi starts sea trials

Jul 31, 2017

CIMC Raffles has started sea trials for the ultra-deepwater drilling rig Blue Whale II, following the completion equipment testing. The sea trials are expected to last for three weeks. Designed to operate in water depths of 3658m and drill to depths of up to 15…

Rouge Rock farms into Vulcan prospects

Jul 26, 2017

Rouge Rock has formally notified Melbana Energy of the exercise of its options to acquire a 45% participating interest in the AC/P50 and AC/P51 exploration permits in the Vulcan sub-basin off the North West coast of Australia. Map of AC/P50 and AC/P51…

Tullow to drill off Suriname, resume at TEN

Jul 26, 2017

Tullow Oil has revealed its plans for the rest of the year to drill offshore Suriname, and resuming at the Tweneboa, Enyenra, Ntomme (TEN) fields offshore Ghana. Image from Tullow Oil. In the company’s half year 2017 report…

Exxon's hit at Payara-2 ups resources

Jul 25, 2017

ExxonMobil has discovered additional oil at a Payara appraisal well offshore Guyana, upping the ultra deepwater discovery's resources to about 500 MMboe. Map of Stabroek, from Exxon. The…

Pondering further Russian sanctions

Jul 25, 2017

With US lawmakers prepared to hit Russia with more sanctions*, the domestic oil and gas industry is bracing for what potential impacts may come. Karen Boman lays out concerns voiced at a July Atlantic Council Event. [*Update] The US Senate…

Shell to use Island Constructor at Draugen

Jul 24, 2017

Island Constructor. Image from Island Offshore. Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has granted Norske Shell consent to use the Island Constructor mobile drilling facility for the start-up of well 6407/9-G-5 on the Draugen field…

AGR bags Dana deal off Egypt

Jul 21, 2017

Global energy services and technology company AGR, has signed a SaaS (software as a service) contract with Dana Gas PJSC to supply the latest version of its P1 software for deepwater exploration efforts offshore Egypt. Petter Mathisen…

Subsea 7 inks extensions off Brazil

Jul 21, 2017

Petrobras has awarded Subsea 7 extensions for three pipelay support vessels (PLSVs) currently on long-term day-rate contracts offshore Brazil, with a total combined value of about US$250 million. The firm contract periods for the Seven Waves…

Statoil to drill in PL 124 with Deepsea Bergen

Jul 18, 2017

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Statoil a drilling permit for wells 6507/8-9 and 6507/8-U2 in the Norwegian Sea. The wells will be drilled with the Deepsea Bergen drilling facility, after concluding the drilling…

SolstadFarstad wins Cooper deal off Australia

Jul 18, 2017

SolstadFarstad has secured a contract with Cooper Energy to support drilling operations within the Bass Strait region of Australia. The contract consists of the Far Statesman and Far Senator towing the Ocean Monarch from the North West Shelf of Australia to the Bass Strait…

Quadrant secures rig for Phoenix-3 drilling

Jul 18, 2017

Quadrant Energy has agreed a contract with Transocean to drill the Phoenix South-3 well in the WA-435-P exploration permit on the North-West Shelf of Australia.   Drilling is due to start between 1 February and 1 April 2018 using the GSF Development Driller-1…

Statoil hits gas at Blåmann in Barents

Jul 17, 2017

Statoil and partners Eni and Petoro have made a small gas discovery in the Blåmann well, between the Snøhvit and Goliat fields in the Barents Sea, despite having been looking for oil. The Songa Enabler…

Total to continue drilling off Bulgaria

Jul 14, 2017

Total has hired Noble Corp.'s Noble Globetrotter II to drill one well offshore Bulgaria, beginning in September. Noble Globetrotter II. Image from Noble. The contract is estimated…

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