Unmanned facilities are being given serious consideration offshore Norway. Elaine Maslin reports. Percentage of unmanned platforms per North Sea sector. Unmanned distribution. Image from Ramboll…
ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil Corp. have signed an early termination agreement for the deepwater drillship Maersk Valiant, Maersk Drilling says. The termination, which comes following Conoco's decision to halt Gulf of Mexico deepwater exploration spending…
Shell has made a major discovery in the US Gulf of Mexico (GOM), the firm revealed as part of its 1H results this morning. The firm said initial estimated recoverable resources for the Fort Sumter well is more than 125 MMboe. Further…
Gulf of Mexico-focused Deepwater oil exploration and production company Venari Resources has acquired an additional 7% stake in the Shenandoah field on Walker Ridge Blocks 51, 52 and 53. The company has also reported successful results from the Shenandoah #5 appraisal well…
The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued recommendations for safety measures developed from the investigations into two offshore incidents involving the use of hydraulic casing jacks, where one incident resulted in a fatality…
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is gearing up to hold is first ever lease sale via a live broadcast later this summer that will mark the last lease sale for the Western Planning Area of the current five-year program. Image of Hopper…
Global drilling giant Transocean has announced a string of new contracts and the start of its newbuild drillship Deepwater Proteus on contract. The firm has also stacked six rigs, taking its total number of currently stacked rigs to 28…
Noble Energy started production at Gunflint in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, the Houston-based explorer announced today (21 July). Map of Gunflint, from Noble Energy. The Gunflint oil development…
Well intervention focused firm Helix Energy Solutions Group says it is expecting to see an improvement in activity in the second half of the year, after posting a US$10.7 million Q2 loss ($2.6 million loss in Q2 2015). The firm said its well intervention revenues increased 30% in Q2 of 2016…
Mexico’s Ministry of Energy (SENER) has approved auction terms for the first phase of Round 2, which will auction 15 shallow water areas in the Gulf of Mexico. The round is set to open in late March 2017. Image from CNH…
Offshore drilling services provider Ensco has revealed several global contracts in its latest fleet status report, along with its decision to sell several of its rigs for scrap value. Image from Ensco…
Keppel Offshore & Marine US subsidiary Keppel AmFELS delivered the Uxpanapa jackup to Mexico's Central Panuco, a subsidiary of Perforadora Central. The rig was christened at Keppel AmFELS' yard in Brownsville, Texas. Uxpanapa is the fifth…
Hercules Offshore has sold a jackup drilling unit in a US$3.16 million deal with an undisclosed buyer. The Hercules 267, image from Hercules Offshore. The deal, through the company’s subsidiary Hercules International Drilling…
Searcher Seismic has commenced the acquisition of the Buscador Near-Shore 2D seismic survey, offshore Mexico, using the BGP Pioneer vessel. Map of the Buscador Near-Shore 2D Seismic Survey, from Searcher Seismic…
Reducing drilling and development spend has largely been the focus of services and equipment providers in the Gulf of Mexico – with the aim of lowering costs at the most capital intensive period of asset lifecycles. Often overlooked,…