Shelf Drilling News


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…

DeepOcean Set for Long-Term IMR Duty with Vår Energi

Dec 17, 2025

Ocean services provider DeepOcean has secured a new long-term inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) frame agreement with operator Vår Energi.The contract has a firm duration of five years, running until end of October 2030, with options to extend for up to an additional four years…

Fugro Nets Mubadala Energy’s Deepwater Gas Job in Asia

Dec 17, 2025

Fugro has secured a large contract with Mubadala Energy to deliver advanced soil investigation services for the South Andaman Deepwater Development, located offshore Indonesia.The strategic project will inform the Front-End Engineering Design Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) award…

Vår Energi Starts Up Another North Sea Project

Dec 17, 2025

Norwegian oil and gas firm Vår Energi has put the Balder Phase V project into production, while also completing of Åsgard Low Pressure Production Phase 3 (LPP3) scheme, bolstering its North Sea production.With the Åsgard LPP3 project start-up scheduled for December…

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…

Serica Boosts North Sea Portfolio with Spirit Energy Assets Purchase

Dec 16, 2025

Britain’s Serica Energy has agreed to acquire a portfolio of Southern North Sea gas assets from Spirit Energy and affiliates for $74 million, expanding its U.K. upstream footprint and lifting reserves and production.The deal, signed through…

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…

BW Energy Inks Long-Term Lease for Maromba Drilling Platform

Dec 15, 2025

BW Energy has signed a long-term lease agreement for the Maromba drilling and wellhead platform, converting a short-term lease for the Super Gorilla class jack-up rig BW MAROMBA B into a project lease with Minsheng Financial Leasing (MSFL).The…

BOEM Initiates Process for Potential Mineral Lease Sale Offshore Virginia

Dec 12, 2025

To advance President Trump’s national strategy for securing America’s critical mineral supply, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has initiated the process for a potential mineral lease sale in federal waters off the coast of Virginia. This…

Shell Picks Valaris Drillship for Work Offshore Brazil

Dec 12, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has secured a multi-year contract with Shell for its VALARIS DS-8 drillship, which will be put to work offshore Brazil.The contract is expected to start in the first quarter of 2027, with an estimated duration of approximately 800 days…

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…

DeepOcean Extends IMR Services Deal with Equinor

Dec 11, 2025

Ocean services provider DeepOcean has secured an extension to its existing frame agreement with Equinor for the provision of subsea inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) services.As a part of the renewal, DeepOcean will deploy specialized IMR vessels…

BP Produces First Oil from Gulf of America Platform Ahead of Schedule

Dec 11, 2025

BP has delivered first oil from the Atlantis Drill Center 1 expansion project in the U.S. Gulf of America, two months ahead of plan.The project is expected to add 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) gross peak annualized average production at the existing Atlantis platform…

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…

Current News

Transocean to Acquire Valaris for $5.8B

ADNOC, RWE Explore LNG Supply Deal as Germany-UAE Deepen Ties

Eni’s Congo LNG Phase 2 Begins Exports with First LNG Cargo (Video)

Perenco Installs Kombi-II MOPU Offshore Congo

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