Marco Polo Drilling News


Equinor Books Odfjell Drilling’s Deepsea Aberdeen Semi-Sub Rig

Dec 19, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Odfjell Drilling has signed a contract with Equinor for its Deepsea Aberdeen semi-submersible drilling rig, following the letter of intent the companies agreed in November.Equinor will use Deepsea Aberdeen rig to…

Harbour Energy Finds Oil and Gas in North Sea

Dec 19, 2025

Harbour Energy and its partner Petoro have proven gas condensate in the Camilla Nord prospect in the North Sea.The wildcat wells 35/8-8 S and A were drilled in production licenses 248 LS and 248 B, which are part of the Vega Unit in the North Sea…

New Chief Takes Reins at Dolphin Drilling

Dec 18, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Dolphin Drilling has appointed new chief executive officer (CEO) following the resignation of Jon Oliver Bryce.Dolphin Drilling’s board of directors has appointed Michael Boyd, currently the company’s Chief Commercial Officer…

Velesto Agrees $63M Jack-Up Drilling Rig Sale with Indonesian Firm

Dec 16, 2025

Velesto has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with PT Indonesia Drilling Energy for the sale of its jack-up drilling rig, NAGA 3, for a total cash consideration of $63 million.The divestment of NAGA 3, built in 2010, is in line with the group's ongoing fleet optimization…

Deepsea Bollsta Rig Gets New Name as Odfjell Drilling Takes Ownership

Dec 15, 2025

Odfjell Drilling has completed the acquisition of the harsh-environment drilling rig Deepsea Bollsta, including the novation of the rig’s drilling contract with Equinor for a firm period running until early 2028 and with five one-year extension options…

Deepsea Mira Semi-Sub Up for Shell’s Drilling Job off Namibia

Dec 12, 2025

Shell has booked Northern Ocean’s Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig for a drilling campaign offshore Namibia.The Odfjell Drilling-managed rig has been scheduled to start operations in Namibia in April 2026.The contract covers one firm well and includes one optional well…

Shell to Launch Drilling Campaign Offshore Namibia

Dec 11, 2025

Shell is preparing to launch a new drilling campaign in the PEL 39 exploration block offshore Namibia from April 2026 with its partners QatarEnergy and Namibia's national oil company Namcor.Shell's Namibia country chair Eduardo Rodriguez said…

VAALCO Energy Spuds First Well in New Drilling Campaign off Gabon

Dec 09, 2025

Africa-focused oil and gas company VAALCO Energy has started its phase three drilling program offshore Gabon with the spudding of the ET-15 infill well on the Etame platform.As previously announced, the company secured a drilling rig in December…

Equinor Secures Permit for North Sea Drilling Operation

Dec 09, 2025

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor a drilling permit for a wildcat well in the North Sea.The permit is for wellbore 35/11-32 S in production license 090 HS, operated by Equinor with 60% working interest.The other partners in license are Inpex Idemitsu Norge and Vår Energi…

Oman’s Block 50 Offshore Drilling to Advance After $25M Funding Raise

Dec 08, 2025

Jasmine Energy has raised $25 million in senior secured bonds to support a new drilling campaign at the Yumna field in Block 50 offshore Oman, parent company Rex International Holding informed.The three-year bonds are expected to settle on December 12…

Oil Firms in Norway to Drill 18% Less Exploration Wells by 2026, Survey Finds

Dec 04, 2025

A survey on Thursday showed that oil firms in Norway are planning to drill 18% less exploration wells next, as they focus on existing fields. This could undermine the government's aim of maintaining production from Europe's biggest petroleum producer…

ADES Completes Acquisition of Shelf Drilling

Nov 26, 2025

Saudi Arabian oil and gas drilling contractor ADES International Holding has completed the acquisition of rival rig firm Shelf Drilling.The merger, concluded on November 2025, has created a global offshore drilling powerhouse, with the combined…

COSL Drilling Europe Explores Development of Fully Electric BOP

Nov 21, 2025

COSL Drilling Europe is examining the development of fully electric blowout preventer (BOP), a move the company says could lower costs and improve efficiency in offshore drilling and plug and abandonment operations.The concept was originally created by John Dale and Electrical Subsea & Drilling…

Norway Issues Permits for Equinor’s Drilling Ops in North Sea

Nov 20, 2025

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor drilling permits for two wildcat wells in the North Sea.The permits are for wellbore 33/12-N-3 GH in production license 037 B/152 and 33/12-N-3 HH in production license 037 B/277.Equinor is the operator of Equinor of the licenses…

Blackford Dolphin Semi-Sub to Keep Drilling Offshore India

Nov 20, 2025

Oil India has exercised its option to extend the drilling contract with Dolphin Drilling for the semi-submersible rig Blackford Dolphin.Further to the initial three-well firm campaign over an estimated 14-month duration, agreed in March 2024…

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