Deepwater drilling rig contractors are facing an uncertain future, with an increasingly fragmented market favoring those who contract the vessels, according to an analyst. The comments follow market updates from rig operators including Transocean Ltd…
Malaysia-based offshore oilfield services firm Bumi Armada Berhad has been awarded three contracts by LUKOIL-Nizhnevolzhskneft LLC to provide three Ice-Class vessels to service offshore platforms in the Filanovsky field, in the Caspian Sea…
The Arctic hosts harsh environments, minimal daylight and HSE concerns. Anthresia McWashington examines a case study and explains the data acquisition methods necessary to explore in one of the world’s most brutal regions. Exploration…
Hans-Joachim Polk took over as managing director for Hamburg-based RWE Dea AG’s UK subsidiary in August. Polk, a 22-year veteran of the German exploration company, began his career in 1991 as a production operations engineer. He eventually…
E&P majors BP and Statoil presented their views on future exploration prospects in the Arctic. Meg Chesshyre reports. Representatives from BP and Statoil discussed both the challenges associated with and future plans for developing Arctic…
Fugro announced that it has wholly-acquired Advanced Geomechanics Pty Ltd. (AG) to become part of its global geoconsultancy practice. The nearly 20-year-old, Perth-based AG provides geotechnical and geophysical engineering and consulting services…
Oilfield services company Archer is to cut staff and close some bases as part of a restructuring plan. The firm, which provides drilling and well services, said to accelerate margin improvements and adapt to the “highly competitive North American land market”…
Colloquy: Editor’s Column A lot of time and money can be wasted waiting on weather. Down time is expensive. Wave height and period determine vessel motion and when they exceed operating limits, work slows or stops. Working in rough weather can lead to injuries and damage equipment…
More offshore wind projects could be scrapped in the UK, an official has warned, after it was announced that technical challenges had brought a halt to a 1200 MW project in the UK’s Bristol Channel. RWE Innogy said its planned Atlantic…
The Arctic is one of the few areas remaining with large finds to be made. In order to operate and develop fields in the Arctic, new technologies are needed and are being developed, from ice-management systems to innovations in drilling. The…
Baker Hughes drilling rig count for 22 Nov 2013 shows 57 rigs drilling off the US, including two rigs each off California and Florida, three off Texas, and 50 off Louisiana. This is three fewer than last week, but four more rigs drilling offshore than a year ago…
New Jersey-based National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility is one-of-a-kind in US. On 24 October 2013, US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the Bureau of Safety and Environmental…
Over recent months, IHC Merwede’s Offshore Division has been successful in securing orders for the design, engineering and construction of a total of 10 pipe-laying vessels. These vessels will be built in the covered hall at the IHC Krimpen facility…
The Canadian province of British Columbia released a comprehensive study assessing current marine-spill preparedness and response capabilities on 10 October 2013. The study also outlines necessary improvements to achieve a world-class system to ensure B…
Australia’s Pura Vida has agreed a farm-in deal giving it a 50% stake in the Ambilobe area office Madagascar, east Africa. The firm has also finalized a farm-out deal offshore Morocco. Pura Vida will take a 50% stake in the Ambilobe block…