Angus Rodger and Matt Howell discuss the exploration environment as well as the potential impact from the recent fall in oil prices on Australian and New Zealand projects. Graphs from Wood Mackenzie. Australia…
The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway granted Statoil consent to drill well 15/6-13 Gina Krog East 3 in the central North Sea. Drilling operations with the Songa Trym semisubmersible are expected to begin in April 2015 for approximately 50 days…
Total E&P Norge received approval from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway to drill two wells in production license 627 in the central North Sea. Blocks 25/6-5 S and 25/6-5 A Skirne Øst will be drilled with the Leiv Eiriksson semisubmersible to investigate the find's potential…
Santos and INPEX were awarded two exploration permits offshore Western Australia. Image from INPEX. Blocks WA-513-P and WA-514-P are located about 500km north-northeast of Broome and cover areas of 335sq km and 415sq km…
Oil & Gas UK’s new report on offshore exploration, investment and production provides striking evidence of how rising costs, taxes and inadequate regulation have taken their toll on the UK industry’s international competitiveness. The…
The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway granted Talisman Energy Norge AS consent for exploration drilling of well 15/12-24 at the Snømus prospect. Image of the Maersk Giant jackup. From Maersk. The well is located in production license 672…
Statoil has agreed to buy stakes in production license 602, close to the Aasta Hansteen development project, in the Norwegian Sea from Norwegian exploration firm Rocksource and Faroese explorer Atlantic Petroleum. Statoil will take Rocksource’s 10% stake in PL602 and 2…
According to the United States Geological Survey, the area above the Arctic Circle holds approximately 90 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and an estimated 1,670 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of technically recoverable natural gas…
Noble Energy is suspending any further investments in the expansion of Tamar, and initial development of Leviathan until regulatory issues are resolved with Israel. Image of the Tamar field. From Delek…
The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway is investigating a man-overboard incident from the Scarabeo 8 ultra deepwater semisubmersible on the Eni-operated Goliat field in the Barents Sea. Image from Saipem…
FEI introduced its new HeliScan microCT advanced imaging system during the grand opening of its Digital Rock Lab in Houston. Raw tomogram image (no post processing) of Austin Chalk formation highlighting 1…
Petronas' bid to farm in to a Celtic Sea block offshore south east Ireland has been approaved by the Irish Government - the firm is now firming-up drilling plans. Through its 100%-owned subsidiary Kinsale Energy, the Malaysian firm will…
Atlantic margin focussed exploration firm Chariot Oil & Gas has, with partners AziNam (20%), NAMCOR (10%) and Ignitus (5%), started a 2D seismic acquisition survey over about 1700km in the Central Blocks 2312 & 2412A offshore Namibia. SeaBird Exploration will carry out the survey…
Centrica has cut its exploration and budget 40% saying that it thinks oil prices will remain low for the rest of 2015 and potentially also into 2016 and 2017. The comments, made by the firm's CEO Iain Conn, echo BP CEO Bob Dudley's…
Lime Petroleum Norway is to acquire an additional 20% in production licenses (PL) 591, 591B and 591C in the Norwegian Sea from Tullow Oil, increasing its holding in each to 25%. The licenses are operated by Tullow and an exploration well…