Market drivers point to a slowdown in new project activity, Ian Simpson and James Graf of ABS report. Changes in the drilling rig market are indicators of industry ups and downs. A look at today’s numbers indicates that the most recent upswing is about to change direction…
The US Energy Information Administration’s new “Today in Energy” brief looks at how US oil imports were down in 2013, but the share of imports last year from the United States' top three foreign oil suppliers—Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico—was the highest in at least four decades…
Infield analyst Edward Richardson examines whether the newbuild rig market is heading for deeper waters. History shows us that when oil prices are high operators seek to expedite the development of existing reserves and prove up additional resources…
The Wood Review proposes a new regulator for the North Sea. Elaine Maslin looks at SIr Ian Wood's recommendations and why a regulator is necessary. Nearly 50 years after the first major discoveries in the North Sea, the basin’s UK industry…
US rakes in $850million for lease sale The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) received 380 bids for 326blocks in the central Gulf of Mexico, totaling more than US $850 million. Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 231 attracted operators to bison almost 40 million acres…
On 2 Jan 2014, Divetech Marine announced the successful underwater and surface reinstallation of six Rolls-Royce azimuth thrusters on Transocean's Deepwater Millennium drillship in Singapore. Divers and coordinators from Divetech Marine…
New Zealand's Minister of Energy and Resources Simon Bridges announced the country's third block offering. Up for grabs is a total of 405,000sq km, including both on and offshore acreage. Offshore release areas include the Reinga-Northland Basin…
Lukoil Overseas completed drilling on its first offshore exploration well, Capitaine East-1X, at block CI-101 in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, the Russian company announced 2 April 2014. The well penetrated through 140m of sandstone from a Turonian formation…
6.6MM Gazprom’s estimated annual production potential for the Prirazlomnoye field. US$1.9billion The estimated ROV market in 2017. 900 tons The weight of the deck on the Jalilah B platform. 54 rigs were counted offshore the US…
Rapidly-growing subsea services and technology products company Cortez Subsea has secured a six-figure contract with BHP Billiton Trinidad for inspection services in Trinidad and Tobago. A dedicated team of eight personnel from the Aberdeen-based company will begin the work in June 2014…
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) announced on 2 April 2014 that it is investing up to US$600,000 for targeted oil spill response research in drift ice conditions. In a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) released on the federal government's business opportunities website…
A joint venture (JV) comprising two companies, both led by former BP group chief executives, has agreed to buy stakes in two blocks offshore Angola. The JV has been formed by Genel Energy, whose chief executive is ex-BP exec Tony Hayward (pictured right)…
The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has announced the APA 2014 in the predefined areas on the Norwegian Shelf. Awards are projected to be announced in 1Q 2015. The APA system has been extended with the addition of three blocks in the Barents Sea near Snøhvit field…
INPEX has marked the first dry dock hull block erection on the Ichthys LNG project central processing facility (CPF) at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Samsung Heavy Industries’ (SHI) shipyard in Geoje, South Korea. With 150m x 110m topside dimensions…
Chariot Oil & Gas and partner ONHYM have started a 1700sq km 3D seismic survey across its areas of interest offshore Morocco. The survey will be carried out by Dolphin Geophysical using the Sanco Swift vessel. The survey will cover…