The US Department of the Interior (DOI) is reviewing Shell's Arctic drilling plans, according to a recent Reuters report. On 31 March, DOI issued a record of decision affirming Shell’s Arctic leases from the Chukchi Sea OCS oil and gas lease sale 193 from 2008…
The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released proposed regulations for exploratory drilling activities on the US Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) concerning exploratory…
Petrobras has made a new heavy oil discovery in concession BM-C-35 (exploratory block C-M-535), in the Campos Basin post-salt layer. The discovery was made while drilling well 1-BRSA-1289-RJS (ANP nomenclature) / 1-RJS-737 (Petrobras nomenclature)…
The 2015 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) will kick off on Sunday, 3 May, in Houston with the Annual OTC Dinner to honor the recipients of this year’s Distinguished Achievement Awards. OTC will recognize Elmer (Bud) Danenberger III for individual achievement…
Colombia’s oil industry has railed against a proposed tax reform presented on Saturday to the country’s congress, Reuters reported. The proposed regime aims to raise $53 trillion Colombian pesos (just over US$26 billion) from 2015-2019. Image…
Noble Energy will resume exploratory drilling in the Falkland Islands next year after acquiring and reviewing extensive 3D seismic of its 10 million acre-position. In late February 2014, London-based joint venture partner Falkland Oil…
Russian oil exploration giant Rosneft has said it and partner ExxonMobil have made an oil discovery on the Universitetskaya-1 well in the Arctic, despite US and European Union sanctions. Rosneft said the well, in the East-Prinovozemelskiy-1 license in the Kara Sea…
Site survey work has started at the Parkmead Group-operated Skerryvore oil prospect in the central UK North Sea. The Skerryvore prospect has the potential to contain up to 122MMbo on a most likely, P50 basis, according to Parkmead. The…
Rosneft, Seadrill Ltd. and North Atlantic Drilling Ltd. (NADL) entered into a framework agreement. The cooperation would see the Russian producer exchanging assets for shares in the Norwegian drilling company, which specializes in harsh environment operations…
Three Japanese exploration companies, led by project operator Idemitsu Kosan Co., announced the discovery of natural gas and condensate at the fourth well in Blocks 05-1b and 05-1c offshore southern Vietnam. The discovery was in the Dai Nga structure in Blocks 05-1b and 05-1c…
Shell's Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Project marks the first time 3D wide azimuth (WAZ) Seismic technology was used in Canada. This technology provides much clearer data in water depths of 1500m to 3500m, 250km to 350km offshore Nova Scotia…
ExxonMobil began exploratory drilling operations in the Kara Sea’s Universitetskaya structure in the East Prinovozemelskiy area on 9 August, defying Western-imposed sanctions against Russian state-owned Rosneft. Drilling on the Universitetskaya-1 well…
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will extend its public comment period for its new five-year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leasing plan for 2017-2022, the agency announced on 30 July 2014. BOEM says the decision…
London-based independent Tullow Oil agreed to acquire up to 40% interest in the Cooper block, block 2012A, in the Walvis basin offshore Namibia, Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas announced on 17 July 2014. The terms of the farm-in includes Eco…
Gazprom Neft subsidiary Gazpromneft-Sakhalin has started drilling an exploratory well in its Dolginskoye field, located 75km off Russia in the Pechora Sea, the operator announced today. It is the fourth well drilled at the site, after two drilled in North Dolginskoye and one in South Dolginskoye…