West Hercules News

 

From Regional Champion to Global Powerhouse: Inside ADES and Shelf Drilling Fleet Merger

Oct 24, 2025

ADES is the largest jackup drilling contractor globally, with 44 rigs owned, and four under its management, and a fleet valued at $1.98 - $2.2 billion. Shelf Drilling, also among the TOP 5 jackup drilling contractors, has a modern 32-rig competitive fleet valued at $1.42 - $1.57 billion. Now, through a NOK 3.9 billion ($380 million) all-cash transaction, the two are forming a combined entity that not only redefines scale but marks a shift in global offshore drilling power…

TenneT Completes Grid Connections for Hollandse Kust (West Beta)

Oct 28, 2025

Grid operator TenneT has completed the standardized 700MW grid connections for the Hollandse Kust (West Beta) offshore wind farm and has received the grid readiness certificate from DNV.The project was completed five months ahead of schedule…

Shell to Appeal South African Court Ruling Blocking Exploration

Oct 22, 2025

Shell has applied to gain the right to appeal against the decision of a South African court to block exploration in the offshore block 5/6/7, a Shell spokesperson said on Wednesday.'Shell has filed an application for leave to appeal alongside…

Saipem Scoops $135M in New Drilling Rig Contracts and Extensions

Oct 22, 2025

Saipem has strengthened its offshore drilling order intake with new contract awards and extensions worth a total amount of approximately $135 million, further reinforcing its presence in key strategic areas such as West Africa, the Mediterranean…

Viridien to Shed More Light on Malaysia’s Offshore Oil and Gas Potential

Oct 21, 2025

Viridien, in partnership with Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), a unit of Petronas, is finalizing an integrated geological study aimed at uncovering new exploration opportunities in the underexplored Langkasuka Basin in the Malacca Strait…

US Exports Record Levels of Natural Gas to Mexico

Oct 21, 2025

U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico averaged 7.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in May 2025, the most of any month on record as Mexico's demand for natural gas increases, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Monday.On an annual basis…

US Pressure on India Could Propel Russia's Shadow Oil Exports

Oct 20, 2025

Donald Trump is putting more pressure on India to slash its Russian oil purchases. This could deprive Moscow of vital revenue, but it will mostly just push more Russian oil into an increasingly large shadow market.The U.S. president said on…

Seadrill Adopts igus’ Modular Energy Chains to Cut Offshore Downtime and Costs

Oct 16, 2025

The igus e-loop replaced traditional service loops being installed on Seadrill’s West Polaris drillship (Credit: Supplied by igus)A modular cable management system, designed by German-based supplier igus, has been implemented by offshore driller Seadrill to reduce downtime…

ABL Secures Rig Moving Assignment with India's ONGC

Oct 15, 2025

ABL has been appointed through United India Insurance (UIIC) to oversee India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) rig moves between September 2025 and May 2026.Under the contract, ABL will act as marine warranty surveyor for an anticipated 25 ONGC rig moves…

Valaris Drillship to Return to Egypt Under New $140M Contract with BP

Oct 13, 2025

Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has secured a five-well contract with BP’s subsidiary BP Exploration Delta for VALARIS DS-12 drillship in Egypt.The contract is expected to begin in the second quarter 2026 and has an estimated duration of 350 days…

TotalEnergies Names Senior Vice-President for Oil and Gas Exploration

Oct 06, 2025

TotalEnergies has appointed Nicola Mavilla as Senior Vice President Exploration.Effective November 1, 2025, Nicola Mavilla is replacing Kevin McLachlan, who held this position since 2015.Mavilla has 25 years of experience in the oil and gas…

Court Rules Biden Ban on Offshore Drilling Illegal

Oct 06, 2025

Former U.S. President Joe Biden exceeded his authority by withdrawing large areas along U.S. coastlines from future offshore oil and gas development, a federal judge in Louisiana ruled on Thursday.U.S. District Judge James Cain in Lake Charles…

TotalEnergies Sells Minority Stake in North Sea CCS Project to CarbonVault

Oct 02, 2025

TotalEnergies, through its affiliate TotalEnergies E&P Denmark, has sold part of its stake in the Bifrost carbon capture and storage (CCS) project to CarbonVault, the Danish affiliate of the German cement producer SCHWENK.Under this agreement…

TotalEnergies Sells Stakes in Three Mature Norwegian Fields to Vår Energi and Orlen

Oct 01, 2025

TotalEnergies EP Norge has signed an agreement for the divestment of its non-operated interest (39.89%) in the West Ekofisk and Albuskjell fields to Vår Energi and has also concluded an agreement with Orlen Upstream Norway for the divestment of its non-operated interest (20…

Eni Sells 30% Stake in Baleine Project off Ivory Coast to Vitol

Sep 25, 2025

Italian energy giant Eni has completed the sale of 30% stake in the Baleine project, located off the Ivory Coast, to energy and commodity trading company Vitol.The Baleine project is the West African country’s main offshore development and is now owned by Eni (47…

Current News

Incat Crowther Designs OSV for Carpentaria Marine

Incat Crowther Designs OSV for

LLOG Exploration Explores Possible Sale Valued at $3b

LLOG Exploration Explores Poss

Pakistan Awards Offshore Oil Exploration Blocks, First in Decades

Pakistan Awards Offshore Oil E

Emerson Launches WirelessHART Non-Contacting Radar Level Transmitter

Emerson Launches WirelessHART

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News

 
Offshore Engineer Magazine