Basement reservoirs have been exploited for decades. However, since the mid-1990s, there has been increasing interest following major discoveries in Vietnam and Yemen, combined with the creation of new downhole tools, seismic technics and improved drilling technologies…
Last year, Turkey approved construction of the South Stream pipeline through its territory, which will bring Russian gas across the southern Black Sea and into Europe. Construction should be completed in 2015, with the offshore component costing US$13 billion…
Keppel FELS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), has secured contracts from Mexican drilling company, Grupo R, to build four jackup rigs worth US$820 million. Seadrill's West Ariel jackup rig is a KFELS B Class design (Image: Keppel Corp…
Andrew McBarnet points to the signs that indicate previous enthusiasm for gas hydrate research in the US may be running out of steam. The announcement last month of significant progress in a key gas hydrates research project offshore…
BP and its co-venturers Shell, ConocoPhillips and Chevron announced their decision to proceed with a two-year appraisal program to look at the possibility of developing a third phase of the giant Clair field, west of the Shetland Islands…
WPG Group initiated the acquisition of 2D and 3D surveys last month in Ecuador’s transition and shallow water zones for the State Sevmorgeo Company (SMG). SMG is utilizing Fairfield Z700 oceanbottom nodes in combination with portable sources provided by WPG.
Mexico’s Cotemar Group secured short contract extensions for three Prosafe SE accommodation vessels. The three semisubmersibles are currently stationed at Pemex’s Cantarell field. Bareboat charter contracts for Safe Britannia, Safe Lancia, and…
Chevron subsidiary Chevron China Energy and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) signed production sharing contracts for two shallow water exploration blocks in the South China Sea. Chevron will hold 100% interest during the exploration…
BC Petroleum spud the Spaoh2 well last month. It will target a total depth of 2710m subsea, is the third well in a multiwell appraisal drilling program in the Balai Cluster off east Malaysia.
Saudi Aramco awarded Saipem a lump sum contract extension for the development of the Arabiyah and Hasbah gas fields in the Persian Gulf. The project’s scope includes construction work on the fields’ trunklines.
Australian exploration company Jacka Resources hired the GSP Jupiter jackup rig to drill and test its Hammamet West-3 exploration well off Tunisia, which is expected to spud later this month. The rig is en route to Tunisia and will require the…
Suncor Energy resumed production at the largest of three drill centers at the Terra Nova complex, off Newfoundland, following the completion of dockside maintenance. A second drill center was connected in January and is currently being commissioned.
ExxonMobil and Rosneft signed a new pact last month, enabling ExxonMobil to gain seven new exploration blocks in the Chukchi, Laptev and Kara Seas, an area totaling 600,000 sq km. In turn, Rosneft will have the option to take 25% of ExxonMobil’s…
Cairn India contracted GE Oil & Gas to supply the Ravva oil and gas field off the coast of Andhra Pradesh with HPHT wellhead technology, mudline systems, spare units and services for the field. “We see HPHT technology as a key for the next stage of development…
Production has begun from BP and Sonangol’s PSVM development in block 31, off Angola. The PSVM development, BP’s second operated development in the country, consists of four oil fields: Plutão, Saturno,Vénus, and Marte. Three wells at the Plutão…