OMV Norge is expected to start drilling on the Hades & Iris prospect in production licence 644 in the Norwegian Sea early next month (December) following approval from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate for well 6506/11-10. Drilling…
Canadian Overseas Petroleum says it and its partner ExxonMobil on block LB-13, offshore Liberia, West Africa, are to relinquish the block. The two have elected not to enter into third exploration period and surrendered their rights to the LB-13 license…
A newly formed Australian gas company has acquired Hess' Equus deepwater project offshore Western Australia. Western Gas said Equus, which covers 11 gas and condensate fields in the Carnarvon Basin, about 200km north-west of Onslow, is development ready…
Baron Oil is to relinquish Block Z-34, which has been in Force Majeure since 2014, offshore Peru. In such a situation, the Z-34 partners are entitled to exercise their right to relinquish Block Z-34 and to request that a $3.6 million work program guarantee bond be released…
Brazil’s National Energy Policy Council has approved acreage to be offered in the 15thRound of Bids for Exploration, scheduled for 29 March, 2018, of the 15th Round of Bids for Exploratory Blocks, and the 4th Round of Bids for production sharing on 7 June 2018…
UK-based independent Genel Energy is to carry out a 3D seismic campaign across the Sidi Moussa acreage offshore Morocco, in place of an exploration well. The firm reached an agreement with the Moroccan government over its remaining exploration…
Tullow Oil and partner Sterling Energy have decided to exit Block C-10 offshore Mauritania after determining the block’s prospects did not commercially justify a third phase of exploration. Block C-10…
Kosmos Energy's Hippocampe-1 deepwater exploration well in Block C-8 offshore Mauritania was dry. The well, drilled in 2600m water depth, in partnership with BP, was designed to test Lower Cenomanian and Albian reservoirs charged from the deeper Valanginian – Neocomian source…
Talos Energy has completed its Tornado II exploration well and side track in the Phoenix field of the Green Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico in about 2700ft water depth. The Tornado II drilling program, using the Ensco 8503 drilling rig…
Houston Energy has been awarded the South Timbalier 235 (ST 235) lease in the US Gulf of Mexico Central Lease Sale 249, says partner Otto Energy. Houston Energy bid US$210,999 in relation to the ST 235 lease, which ajoins with and…
W&T Offshore has started drilling on the ST 224 #1 exploration well in the South Timbalier 224 lease in the US Gulf Of Mexico, according to Otto Energy. Drilling is targeting a large, amplitude supported, high condensate gas ratio exploration prospect located in the prolific Bul…
Equatorial Guinea's Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Ophir Energy and national oil firm GEPetrol have signed a new production sharing contract (PSC) for Block EG-24 offshore Rio Muni. Block EG-24 (formerly Block EG-20 and Block M)…
Independent oil firm African Petroleum has applied to enter a second renewal period at the Senegal Offshore Sud Profond (SOSP) production sharing contract (PSC). The firm is also hoping to swap a commitment to drill a well for a 3D seismic…
Anadarko Petroleum has signed an exploration agreement with the government of Peru to explore 4.7 million acres across three deepwater blocks in the Trujillo Basin offshore Peru. The exploration phase of the agreement is a typical multi-year…
Ocean Rig has signed a contract with Statoil, for a one-well drilling program offshore Tanzania. The contract is expected to start in Q1 2018, and will use the Ocean Rig Poseidon, a 6th generation deepwater drillship based on the enhanced SAIPEM 10000 design…