Thirteen activists in kayaks intercepted Shell's drilling rig, the Polar Pioneer, in Seattle's Puget Sound as the rig prepared to depart for the Arctic as part of Shell's US$1 billion Arctic exploration and drilling program. Kayaktivists…
Noble Energy started drilling on the potentially play-opening Humpback prospect in the south Falklands basin on Saturday, according to partner Falkland Oil and Gas (FOGL). According to Noble, Humpback holds 250 MMbbl estimated gross…
Houston-based Paragon Offshore entered into a US$300 million sale-leaseback agreement with SinoEnergy for two heavy-duty harsh environment jackup rigs. Propsector 1. From Paragon. According to the terms of the agreement…
US-based Noble Energy acquired from Argos Resources a 75% interest and operatorship of 285,000 gross acres in the PL001 license in the North Falkland basin, northwest of the PL032 license that includes the Sea Lion oil discovery. Edison International SpA obtained the remaining 25%…
Houston-based Paragon Offshore has launched a bid to take over Prospector Offshore Drilling by buying 55.8% of the Oslo stock market-listed drilling firm's stock. Paragon, which spun out of Noble Corporation in August this year, said…
A joint industry project on jacking system maintenance and inspection has resulted in a new DNV GL Recommended Practice. This provides guidance to ensure the correct and safe functioning of rack and pinion style jacking systems. The objective is to reduce the risk of gear failure…
Three newbuild jackups based on the XL Enhanced design will hit the market in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Photo from Maersk Drilling. A number of rig providers are increasing their fleet with builds over the next three years…
The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) board of directors has elected John T. Rynd as chair of NOIA and Cindy B. Taylor as vice chair of NOIA for the upcoming 2014-2015 term. Rynd and Taylor assumed their positions at the NOIA Annual Meeting…
Noble Corp. today reported Q4 2013 net income of US$174 million, and for Q3 2013, the company reported net income of $282 million. Net income for the full year 2013 totaled $783 million, on revenues of $4.2 billion, compared to net income of $522 million on revenues of $3…
Baker Hughes drilling rig count for 22 Nov 2013 shows 57 rigs drilling off the US, including two rigs each off California and Florida, three off Texas, and 50 off Louisiana. This is three fewer than last week, but four more rigs drilling offshore than a year ago…
Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc.'s Ocean Saratoga semisubmersible drilling rig spudded a well on Noble Energy's Tyra Bank concession off Nicaragua in mid August. The rig is under contract to Noble Energy for US$323,000/d and is expected to finish in late November…
The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) North Sea Chapter Safety Awards celebrated its member companies for safety performance in 2012. Northern Offshore and Ensco won in the jackups category while Noble Drilling and Stena Drilling were acknowledged for semisubmersibles…
European editor Elaine Maslin went to visit Huisman’s yard in Schiedam, Netherlands, as the finishing touches were being carried out on the Noble Globetrotter II. When offshore lifting, pipelay and drilling firm Huisman decided…
The IADC (International Association of Drilling Contractors) North Sea Chapter recognised the very best in safety performance at its annual Safety Awards Ceremony held in Aberdeen recently. “The Safety Awards Dinner is our opportunity…
Utilization trends for the worldwide mobile offshore drilling fleet are slightly depressed of late. Overall utilization dipped to an average of 69% last month. Global utilization rates for semis are 78%, below the average for the prior six month period of 82%…