Pay attention to what traders actually do, not what they say, is one of the most important principles for successful oil market analysis.Despite all the bullish commentary around oil prices in recent weeks, there was plenty of forewarning prices were primed for a setback…
U.S. crude, gasoline inventories rise unexpectedly as Brent-WTI spread nears widest margin in three years. Oil prices recorded their largest one-day drop in two weeks on Thursday, with expectations building that OPEC will end an output deal…
Winners of the 2018 Offshore Achievement Awards were announced last night {22 March} in a celebration of industry talent, innovation and enthusiasm.The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section revealed the 11 winners to an audience of more than 450 people…
The West Hercules semi-submersible rig has been contracted for drilling two exploration wells in the Barents Sea in 2018, and options to drill another five exploration wells. Statoil and the licence partners have signed a contract with North…
ExxonMobil has down-manned facilities offshore Canada in advance of a winter storm expected to sweep through the area, says the Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB). The National Oceanic…
Finalists for this year's Offshore Achievement Awards, hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section, have been revealed today. The annual awards recognise the best talent, performance and innovation in the industry…
Repsol's Norwegian subsidiary has set out plans to decommission its Rev field in the Norwegian North Sea. The Rev field, in Production Licence 038C, Block 15/12 on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, comprises four seabed installations split into two separate areas…
A recent report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticized two agencies – the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) – for slow and disfunctional processes leading to delays in permitting for offshore seismic surveys…
The highest number of licenses ever have been awarded in Norway's latest licensing round, with 75 licenses awarded to 19 operators, led by Norwegian major Statoil. The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy says 34 oil companies…
US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke unveiled a draft proposed program (DPP) for offshore oil and gas leasing for 2019-2024 will make available over 90% of US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) acreage, and more than 98% of undiscovered, technically…
Houston headquartered Hyperdynamics has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief. The firm, which is focused on exploring offshore the Republic of Guinea, says it had reviewed and analyzed its options, including raising more finance, selling assets…
Jurong Shipyard, part of Sembcorp Marine, has signed an agreement to sell the semisubmersible rig West Rigel for US$500 million. West Rigel was originally contracted by North Atlantic Rigel (NARL), a subsidiary of North Atlantic Drilling (NADL) and Seadrill…
The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued a safety alert regarding gas release hazards, following a compliance and incident data review that turned up 31 incidents by 14 operators in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo from BSEE…
Statoil awarded Transocean a 22-well contract in the Norwegian North Sea for the harsh environment semisubmersible Transocean Spitsbergen with an estimated duration of 33 months; plus two one-well options. The estimated firm backlog associated…
The ROV market isn’t out of the woods yet, with plentiful supply in the market dampening any perceived uptick in activity. But, offshore wind might offer some respite. Elaine Maslin reports (first published in the January 2018 OE, access full issue here)…