Marine geophysical company Polarcus completed a 3000sq km 3D sesmic survey in license area EL 0037 in the Walvis basin offshore Namibia for operator Tullow Oil. A second 2D acquisition phase has now started. It will cover approximately 1000km and will take about two weeks to complete…
The first exploration well to be drilled on the Ntem Concession, offshore Cameroon, is to be plugged and abandoned after no commercial hydrocarbons were found. Sterling Energy, partner with Murphy Cameroon Ntem Oil Co., said the well…
An advanced intervention winch system developed by Protea for Helix Well Ops UK Limited (Well Ops) has successfully completed initial operations off West Africa. The system, comprising five winches, active heave compensators, and power and control equipment…
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…
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)…
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…
OMV has taken another step into sub-Saharan Africa by entering an offshore exploration project offshore Namibia. The transaction involves the acquisition of a 65%-interest petroleum exploration license (PEL) 046, containing exploration blocks 2613A and 2613B…
Statoil has signed an agreement to farm down a 15% interest in WRG Angola Block 39 Ltd. offshore Angola in the Kwanza pre-salt basin. WRG is a 50/50 joint venture comprising White Rose Energy Ventures and Genel Energy plc. Statoil is operator of the block…
Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni outlined the Italian company’s exploration progress and activities within the country to the President of the Republic of Mozambique Armando Guebuza. Eni announced that the “possibility of enlarging the shareholder base of Area 4 was favorably received by the President…
Malaysia-based international offshore oilfield services provider, Bumi Armada Berhad has received a letter of intent (LOI) from Eni Angola, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eni, for a contract for the chartering, operation, and maintenance of…
Nigeria-based Lekoil provided an update on activities in oil prospecting license (OPL) 310 offshore Nigeria. OPL 310 contains the Ogo discovery announced last year. The Polarcus vessel MV Polarcus Nadia has started the 3D seismic program…
The National Assembly of the Comoros, a sovereign archipelago island nation east of Mozambiue, Africa, has ratified a production sharing contract with Bahari Resources. The PSC, covering offshore blocks 35, 36, and 37 (previously named blocks A…
Ophir Energy’s deepwater Padouck Deep-1 well, in the Ntsina block, offshore Gabon, has completed drilling and found no significant hydrocarbons. London-based Ophir said the well, drilled with the Vantage Titanium Explorer, was targeting…
Chariot Oil & Gas Limited has been awarded 75% interest and operatorship of the Mohammedia Reconnaissance license offshore Morocco. The Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) will be its partner, holding 25% carried interest…
Cairn Energy has said it is committed to its planned 2014 operations, but that spending beyond then is being looked at closely as its awaits resolution of tax issues in India. The Edinburgh-based firm says spending beyond 2014 would depend…