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 (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 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…
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…
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…
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…
A drill stem test (DST) on the Brasse well in the Norwegian North Sea has shown high flow rates and excellent reservoir properties, says UK-based independent Faroe Petroleum. The Brasse appraisal program will now continue with the drilling of a side-track well…
Statoil and partners ENI and Petoro have made a 25-50 MMboe oil discovery in the Kayak exploration well in the Barents Sea, close to the Johan Castberg project. Eni said preliminary estimates of the size of the discovery are between 100 and 180 MMbo in place (25–50 MMbo recoverable)…
Zennor Petroleum has completed the acquisition of interests in Petroleum Production License P359, in the UK North Sea, from Esso Exploration and Production UK. These interests comprise a 40.0002% working interest in Block 23/16b Area A (Arran North) and a 66…
EIC’s Andrew Scutter details the challenges and opportunities present offshore Senegal and Mauritania. Senegal Discoveries Map.Image from Far Ltd. During a challenging period for the industry…
Lundin Petroleum has received permission from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to drill an exploration well in the Barents Sea using the semisubmersible Leiv Eiriksson. The company will start drilling next month at Block 7220/6…
Island Drilling has been awarded a drilling contract with OMV Norge for one well on the Wisting license in the Norwegian Barents Sea. OMV will use the Island Innovator semisubmersible drilling rig, starting in Q3 this year. The Island Innovator is currently in warm lay-up at Hanøytangen…
Eni has lined up a series of agreements with the Astana government that will see the Italian giant have the rights to explore the Isatay block in the Caspian Sea. Descalzi. Image from Eni. Eni…
The UK's Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has announced a suite of measures designed to make data openly available and stimulate interest in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) ahead of the 30th Offshore Licensing Round. The 30th Offshore Licensing…
Aker BP has drilled a dry hole close to the Volund field in the Norwegian North Sea, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). Well 24/9-11 S was drilled using the Transocean Arctic semisubmersible drilling rig in 122m water depth…