Norwegian oil major Statoil is preparing to spud the first of a three-well exploration campaign, including the high-impact Verbier prospect, on the UK Continental Shelf. Early this month, the Transocean Spitsbergen semisubmersible drilling rig will spud the first well…
A drill stem test (DST) on the Brasse well in the Norwegian North Sea has shown high flow rates and excellent reservoir properties, says UK-based independent Faroe Petroleum. The Brasse appraisal program will now continue with the drilling of a side-track well…
Statoil and partners ENI and Petoro have made a 25-50 MMboe oil discovery in the Kayak exploration well in the Barents Sea, close to the Johan Castberg project. Eni said preliminary estimates of the size of the discovery are between 100 and 180 MMbo in place (25–50 MMbo recoverable)…
Zennor Petroleum has completed the acquisition of interests in Petroleum Production License P359, in the UK North Sea, from Esso Exploration and Production UK. These interests comprise a 40.0002% working interest in Block 23/16b Area A (Arran North) and a 66…
EIC’s Andrew Scutter details the challenges and opportunities present offshore Senegal and Mauritania. Senegal Discoveries Map.Image from Far Ltd. During a challenging period for the industry…
Lundin Petroleum has received permission from Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) to drill an exploration well in the Barents Sea using the semisubmersible Leiv Eiriksson. The company will start drilling next month at Block 7220/6…
Island Drilling has been awarded a drilling contract with OMV Norge for one well on the Wisting license in the Norwegian Barents Sea. OMV will use the Island Innovator semisubmersible drilling rig, starting in Q3 this year. The Island Innovator is currently in warm lay-up at Hanøytangen…
Eni has lined up a series of agreements with the Astana government that will see the Italian giant have the rights to explore the Isatay block in the Caspian Sea. Descalzi. Image from Eni. Eni…
The UK's Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has announced a suite of measures designed to make data openly available and stimulate interest in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) ahead of the 30th Offshore Licensing Round. The 30th Offshore Licensing…
Aker BP has drilled a dry hole close to the Volund field in the Norwegian North Sea, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). Well 24/9-11 S was drilled using the Transocean Arctic semisubmersible drilling rig in 122m water depth…
Russia's Rosneft says it has made a new oil discovery in the Laptev Sea, in the Russian Arctic. Rosneft says the Tsentralno-Olginskaya-1 well is the first in the Laptev Sea, and the northernmost exploratory well on the Eastern Arctic shelf…
Tullow Oil has contracted US-driller Noble Corp. for an exploration well on its 'game changer' Araku prospect offshore Suriname, South America. Tullow has contracted the Noble Bob Douglas drillship from early October to early November…
The Australian government will complete a study into offshore gas basins in Southern Australia, as part of a US$90 million investment in domestic gas security and supply. Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Senator Matt Canavan said the study of the Gippsland…
JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) started gas production from the Layang Field, offshore Malaysia, with an estimated 12,000 boe/d. Map from JX Nippon. Layang is about 7km east of the producing Helang Gas Field in Block SK10…
Energy XXI Gulf Coast (EGC) has spudded its first well of the year at West Delta 30 off the coast of Louisiana, as the company announced an 18% workforce reduction. Image of West Delta operations…