Nigeria, Algeria and Niger today signed an agreement to build a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline across the Sahara that could send up to 30 billion cubic metres a year of supplies to Europe.

Poland may prolong its gas contract with Russia until 2035, the prime minister's energy adviser was quoted as saying today.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) are battling for approval to bid for the Argentinean unit of Spanish oil major Repsol, sources said today, in a deal that could be worth around $17 billion.

Norway’s Seadrill said today that it has exercised its right to repurchase the jack-up drilling rig West Ceres from Ship Finance International for the pre-agreed price of $135.5 million, and will subsequently re-sell the unit for $175.

UK-based Hallin Marine may invest in two more vessels to be built based on a new design touted as a low-cost alternative to large diving support vessels and semi-submersibles.

Australia’s Incremental Petroleum has spudded the Kuzey Ikihoyuk-1 well at the Edirne licence in Turkey.

AGR Field Operations has bagged a two-year extension on a contract it has with Norwegian giant StatoilHydro.

Subsea 7 has bagged a $40 million engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning job on BP's Valhall Flank gas lift pipelines and wellhead platform riser caisson project.

Singapore listed Otto Marine said its joint venture with GC Rieber has cancelled a newbuild order worth €23.5 million ($33.1 million) with its shipyard.

Norwegian giant StatoilHydro has named Jakob Stausholm a new member of its board of directors.

Canada-based Vangold Resources is seeking oil and gas exploration rights for Rwanda's Lake Kivu following successful air and satellite surveys.

Output from the Ormen Lange gas field off Norway is still crimped after Shell started maintenance at the field earlier this week.

Russia has offered Turkey a role in its South Stream gas pipeline to Europe, Russian news agencies reported yesterday, marking another Russian attempt to undermine the European Union's rival Nabucco project.

The Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) has appointed Gro Braekken to succeed Per Terje Vold as chief executive with effect from 1 January 2010.

The Norwegian government has kicked off seismic surveys in the Troms II area near the scenic Lofoten islands, which environmental groups say should be permanently out of bounds to oil and gas drilling.

Poland hopes to sign an agreement with Russia's Gazprom by the end of August to increase gas supplies by 2 billion to 3 billion cubic metres from 2010, a PGNiG official said today.

Repsol subsidiary YPF has won a bid to explore for oil in offshore blocks near the coast of Uruguay, the company said.

Norwegian industrial group Aker has unveiled a corporate reshuffle which sees chief financial officer Bengt Rem leave the company and Karl Erik Kjelstad named executive vice president and member of Aker Solutions' executive management team.

UK-based BG Group exercised an option for a gas development block offshore southeast Trinidad, preempting a $142.5 million offer by Centrica.

Norwegian group Boa Offshore has established a new offshore contracting unit based in Houston named Boa Marine Services under former Aker Marine Contractors US president Helge Roraas.

Norwegian seismic outfit Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) has named its newest vessel, the Ramform Sterling, at the shipyard where it is being built in Tomrefjord, Norway.

One of the main unions representing the UK offshore oil and gas industry responded angrily today to plans from oil giant BP and its contractors to reduce wages in order to cut costs.

London-based subsea services company Acergy said today it has won a SURF contract from BHP Billiton for construction support services for a floating production storage offloading project off Western Australia.

Norway's Siem Offshore said today it has raised Nkr900 million ($140.9 million) in a private placement at Nkr8.5 per share, providing it with finance for its entire newbuilding programme.