Exploration News


Aker BP to drill at Hyrokkin with Maersk Interceptor

Jul 13, 2017

Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has given Aker BP consent to drill two wildcat wells in the North Sea at the Hyrokkin prospect. Aker BP consent to drill exploration wells 25/4-11 and 25/4-12, which is north of Alvheim. The…

BOEM approves Eni's Alaska drilling plans

Jul 13, 2017

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved Eni’s exploration plan (EP) to drill four wildcats at the company’s Spy Island Drillsite (SID) in the Beaufort Sea. Map of Spy Island…

Eni ups Mexico's Amoca to 1 billion boe

Jul 12, 2017

Eni has increased its estimate of resources in place at the Amoca field offshore Mexico to 1 billion boe, following a successful appraisal well that is prompting the Italian giant to accelerate its development plan. Map from Eni…

Borr bags Total Nigeria deal

Jul 11, 2017

Newcomer Borr Drilling has landed its first deal with a supermajor. Borr and its Nigerian partner company Valiant Energy Services West received a letter of commitment from Total E&P Nigeria for the Frigg jackup. The deal is for a firm one-year period with a possible extension…

Ensco lands three West Africa contracts

Jul 11, 2017

Ensco has been awarded three drillship contracts offshore West Africa, representing an aggregate three years of contracted term and more than six additional years of options. ENSCO DS-4 is expected to start a two-year contract with Chevron offshore Nigeria in August 2017…

Lundin Norway hires COSLInnovator

Jul 11, 2017

COSL Drilling Europe has been able to rescue to of its rigs from warm stacking this month. The company announced a new contract from Lundin Norway for the use of the COSLInnovator to drill one well, with the addition of an option of eight wells…

Statoil to drill at Koigen Central in Barents

Jul 10, 2017

Noway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has approved for Statoil to drill exploration well 7317/9-1 in the Barents Sea. The wildcat is in a prospect named Koigen Central, in production license 718, in which Statoil is the operator. Drilling will begin in August 2017 at the earliest…

Statoil's Flemish Pass campaign disappoints

Jul 10, 2017

Statoil and partner Husky Energy have failed to discover hydrocarbons in the Flemish Pass Basin, offshore Newfoundland, the Norwegian giant announced today (10 July). The West Aquarius. Image from Seadrill…

North Energy quits NCS efforts

Jul 07, 2017

North Energy has decided to divest the last of its Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) assets in order to recover from offshore tax losses amid low activity levels in the area, and the drop in oil prices. Map of PL 805…

Otto gains 25% South Timbalier stake

Jul 06, 2017

Otto Energy has farmed into the South Timbalier 224 (ST 224) lease, taking 25% stake in the Gulf of Mexico, with drilling expected to start later this year, and first production set for the end of 2018. Map of SM 71 (left) and ST 224 (right)…

OMV to drill Barents wildcat

Jul 06, 2017

OMV (Norge) AS has received consent from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to drill an exploration well in block 7324/8 in the Barents Sea. Island Innovator. Image from Island Drilling…

Timor-Leste prospectivity rises

Jul 06, 2017

Timor GAP, the national oil company of Timor-Leste, has identified 'world-class prospectivity' southeast of the island that the company believes to be a game changer for explorations in the region. Located in the Timor-Leste Exclusive Area…

Odfjell inks Total South Africa work

Jul 05, 2017

Deepsea Stavanger. Image from Odfjell. Total E&P South Africa has awarded Odfjell Drilling a one well plus one optional well to be drilled by the sixth generation semisubmersible…

ONGC buys into Namibian offshore

Jul 04, 2017

India's ONGC Videsh has signed definitive binding agreements with Tullow Oil to acquire a 30% stake in a license offshore Namibia, marking its entry into the Namibian offshore. Namibia Petroleum Exploration License 0037 covers Blocks 2112A…

Statoil readies for three-well UKCS campaign

Jul 03, 2017

Norwegian oil major Statoil is preparing to spud the first of a three-well exploration campaign, including the high-impact Verbier prospect, on the UK Continental Shelf. Early this month, the Transocean Spitsbergen semisubmersible drilling rig will spud the first well…

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