Baker Hughes issued the May 2014 international rotary drilling rig count today, showing a total of 1024 rigs operating outside the US & Canada. International activity in May was up 4 rigs from the 1020 rigs drilling in April and up 68…
Today's Baker Hughes North American offshore rotary rig count listed 58 rigs operating this week, down 2 rigs from a week ago but up 2 rigs from a year ago (4% year-over-year increase). Gulf of Mexico The majority, 56 rigs, are working in the Gulf of Mexico…
Ocean Rig UDW Inc., a subsidiary of Athens-based DryShips Inc., announced that it signed a six-year contract with Total E&P Angola for drilling operations in Block 32 offshore Angola, using the ultra-deepwater drillship Ocean Rig Skyros…
Limited vessel and rig availability have meant delays on two Alpha Petroleum Resources' UK projects, the Blythe development and appraisal on the Skipper field. The firm is planning to submit a field development plan for the southern North Sea Blythe gas field project Q4…
Statoil terminated its contract with Diamond Offshore Drilling's mid-water semisubmersible the Ocean Vanguard eight months ahead of schedule, the Houston-based shipowner announced on 4 June 2014. Statoil's Communication Manager Ørjan…
The three Norwegian offshore service companies, Bergen Group, Semco Maritime, and Apply Rig & Modules, have joined forces to setup a new partnership, Hanøytangen Rig Services, to meet the growing rigging service market. According to a statement from the three companies…
An appeal by Greenpeace against Statoil’s plans to drill in the Barents Sea has been rejected, but the group is defending its right to occupy the location the rig is due to drill at. Activists scaled the Transocean Spitsbergen semisubmersible drilling rig on Tuesday…
Greenpeace activists who boarded the semisubmersible drilling rig Transocean Spitsbergen (pictured) 300km offshore Norway are now in the hands of Norwegian police, says Statoil. But, Greenpeace's ship, the Esperanza, has moved to the location where Statoil plans to drill…
Fairmount Marine's tug Fairmount Expedition has towed jackup rig Naga 3 from the PV Marine Shipyard in Vung Tau, Vietnam, to the RD-19X Block 15-2 oilfield offshore Vietnam. Last month the tug towed the rig from Singapore to the shipyard…
Rosneft is to take a 'significant equity stake' in drilling firm North Atlantic Drilling (NADL) as part of an agreement between NADL and its majority owner Seadrill, as the Russian firm looks to ramp up its offshore exploration efforts. The agreement…
Houston-based Hercules Offshore has signed a five-year drilling contract with Maersk Oil North Sea UK for a newbuild jackup rig to be owned and operated by Hercules Offshore. The new Friede & Goldman JU-2000E design jackup will be built…
Brazilian independent HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA announced plans to focus on the offshore Polvo field, in the Campos basin. HRT operates the field with 60% interest along with partner Maersk (40%). In 4Q 2013, the National Petroleum Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP)…
A subsidiary of Genel Energy is preparing to start drilling the Hagar Qim-1 well offshore Malta after the rig for the program was accepted under contract. The Noble Paul Romano (pictured) set sail for Block 7, in Area 4 offshore Malta…
Drilling rig giant Transocean says it has picked up new contracts worth about US$953 million since 17 April. Giving its fleet update report, the firm said other highlights include: Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 drillship - Awarded a three year contract offshore Brazil at a dayrate of $440…
UK-based drilling rig operator Awilco says the UK North Sea floating drilling rig market is close to sold out until mid-2015. Announcing its Q1 results, the firm said due to the sustained “high” oil price and increased operator financial discipline…