Exploration & Production

Kuwait output slips

Josh Lewis — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:11:30 GMT

Opec member Kuwait produced about 2.9 million barrels of oil per day in January, about 100,000 barrels lower than the previous month.

Iraq warns Total over Kurdish deals

Josh Lewis — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:06:31 GMT

Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain Shahristani has warned French major Total would bear the “full consequences” if it signed oil deals with semi-autonomous Kurdistan.

Prices top up Total’s profits

Josh Lewis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:14:09 GMT

French giant Total has posted a 16% rise in profits for 2011 as higher oil and gas prices boosted revenues and offset a slight dip in production.

Talisman hits Polish gas

Josh Lewis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:51:43 GMT

Canada’s Talisman Energy has encountered gas shows in the Rogity-1 well on the Braniewo S concession in Poland’s Baltic basin.

Cobalt Cameia find above expectations

Andrew Hobbs — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:22:21 GMT

Results from pre-salt flow testing at a well offshore Angola have proven to be above the expectations of US-based deepwater explorer Cobalt International Energy, the company has announced.

Octanex kicks off third 3D shoot

Josh Lewis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:32:54 GMT

Melbourne-based Octanex has started its third and final seismic survey in the Southern Bonaparte basin, off Western Australia.

Kuwait Energy makes it three in a row

Josh Lewis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:22:22 GMT

A joint venture led by Kuwait Energy has made a third consecutive oil discovery in the Abu Sennan concession in Egypt.

Jacka signs up for Ruhuhu

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:22:37 GMT

Australia’s Jacka Resources has signed a production sharing agreement covering Tanzania’s entire onshore Ruhuhu basin.

Thailand aims to open up 22 blocks for offers

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:22:07 GMT

Thailand is planning to open the delayed 21st licensing round, which will include offshore acreage offering fast-track development opportunities, either on � 8 March or in early April.

Jack-up bid

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:21:48 GMT

ConocoPhillips is in the market for a jack-up rig for a medium-term drilling programme on its block B production sharing contract off Indonesia.

Ofon in second phase

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:21:05 GMT

France’s Total has officially launched the second phase of its Ofon project in Nigeria’s shallow-water OML 102 licence, which is due on stream in 2014.

Reliance eyes CBM output

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:20:57 GMT

India’s Reliance Industries plans to start gas production of up to 3.5 million cubic metres per day from two coalbed methane blocks in central India during the second half of 2014.

Upgrades slow players’ drill drive off Trinidad

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:20:44 GMT

The Trinidad & Tobago upstream sector is counting on an estimated $2.5 billion to $3 billion in spending this year but the country is experiencing a lull in high-impact explor�ation wells by its major producers as they focus on upgrading ageing infrastructure.

BP agrees terms over two deep-water PSCs

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:20:38 GMT

The Trinidad & Tobago Energy Ministry has agreed terms with BP on production sharing contracts for two deep-water blocks the UK supermajor won during a bid round last year, writes Noah Brenner.

Smaller outfits eye 84 wells

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:20:35 GMT

The gap in drilling in Trinidad by large players has been filled by a handful of smaller operators that are expected to drill as many as 84 exploration wells in shallow water and onshore, writes Noah Brenner.

Total deal

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:19:10 GMT

TOTAL has signed a heads of agreement with Kenya’s Energy Ministry to licence a block in the newly demarcated ultra-deep ahead of formal gazetting.

Duo spuds Nunya-1X

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:19:04 GMT

Italy’s Eni and London-listed Afren have spudded the Nunya-1X exploration well off Ghana using the Transocean semi-submersible rig Marianas.

GE Vetco Grey leads race for Panyu subsea deal

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:18:42 GMT

US offshore equipment supplier GE Vetco Gray is leading the race to supply a subsea production �system for China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)’s Panyu gas development in the South China Sea.

Encouraging results from Black Sea well

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:18:34 GMT

The first deep-water well drilled in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea has yielded encouraging signs of gas for partners Exxon�Mobil and OMV Petrom, although the companies are giving little else away.

Arctic role for Norway

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:18:25 GMT

Norway is pushing further into the Arctic north, with plans for a seismic campaign in the northern part of the previously disputed area in the Barents Sea.

Statoil ramps up output

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:18:22 GMT

Norway’s Statoil saw a big jump in international production late last year, as new and existing fields ramped up in countries including Brazil, �Angola and Azerbaijan.

Neptune to spud Mvule-1

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:17:36 GMT

AIM-listed Tower Resources’ subsidiary Neptune Petroleum will next week spud the Mvule-1 wildcat, its third commitment well in the Rhino Camp basin onshore Uganda in the Albertine Graben.

Newfield set to turn back on Gulf of Mexico assets

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:17:31 GMT

US independent Newfield Explor�ation is planning a potential exodus from the Gulf of Mexico, where it held its first assets.

Extra time at Aruana

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:17:24 GMT

The Brazilian National Petrol�eum Agency (ANP) has given Petrobras until 22 February to conclude its extended well test at the Aruana post-salt discovery in the southern portion of the Campos basin, writes Fabio Palmigiani.

Tardigrado under way

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:17:20 GMT

Canada’s Canacol Energy and operator C&C Energia are preparing to spud the Tardigrado prospect in the northern portion of the Andaquies block in Colombia’s Putumayo basin.

Denbury starts production at Hastings and Oyster Bayou

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:17:15 GMT

Denbury Resources began tapping carbon dioxide-flooded reservoirs last month at the Hastings and Oyster Bayou fields in south-eastern Texas, earlier than scheduled, writes Tom Darin Liskey.

Progress at Majnoon is slow but sure says Voser

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:16:59 GMT

Shell’s development of Iraq’s �giant Majnoon oil field is progressing slowly, with the company now targeting a production of 175,000 barrels per day in 2013, chief executive Peter Voser said.

Jury still out on costly Saudi Arabia exploration campaign

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:16:54 GMT

Shell is encouraged by the prospect of sour gas development in Saudi Arabia, but the jury is still out on the outcome of its long and costly exploration campaign in the country.

Deadline on Farzad contract

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:16:46 GMT

Iran has given ONGC Videsh (OVL), the overseas arm of India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corporation, a one-month deadline to sign a contract to develop the Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf, at an estimated cost of $5 billion.

Technip takes contracts for Tullow’s Jubilee development

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:16:37 GMT

TECHNIP has won contracts for Tullow Oil’s deep-water Jubilee field Phase 1A oil and gas development worth more than $130 million, to be executed in the second half of this year.

Suncor ramps up in Libya

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:16:34 GMT

Suncor Energy has resumed production at its joint venture operations in Libya from three out of five fields.

Sirius starts on Ororo

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:16:25 GMT

London-listed Sirius Petroleum has started preliminary work on a development plan for its Ororo oilfield in OML 95, off Nigeria’s Ondo state.

Tribe’s court battle to stop wind farm plan

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:15:57 GMT

The Osage Indian tribe in Oklahoma has filed an appeal in a Denver court to stop a planned wind farm in a legal battle that underscores the clash �between mineral owners and renewable power companies in �energy-critical areas of the country.

Petrex in line for jack-up deal with Petroecuador

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:15:48 GMT

Ecuador’s state oil company Petroecuador is close to awarding a unit of Italy’s Saipem a one-and-a-half year contract for a jack-up drilling rig to work on the Amistad offshore natural gas complex.

Drill drive set to boost Ecuador’s rig count

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:15:44 GMT

The award of two contracts for integrated drilling services in two mature fields in Ecuador is likely to significantly increase the country’s rig count, writes Gareth Chetwynd.

Output to start at Telemark

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:15:39 GMT

US junior ATP Oil & Gas expects first production from its Telemark hub in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico later this quarter following ongoing well completion activities.

Billiton goes deep in bid to build reserves

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:14:22 GMT

BHP Billiton is busy drilling large gas prospects in deep water off Western Australia as it seeks to build reserves to meet its liquefied natural gas ambitions.

Malaysian go-ahead

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:14:17 GMT

Malaysian national oil and gas company Petronas and state utility Tenaga are teaming up to build a liquefied natural gas import terminal at �Lahad Datu in Sabah, East �Malaysia.

New gas hit off Israel

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:14:14 GMT

US independent Noble Energy has made a fifth gas discovery off Israel, adding further resources to underpin a proposed liquefied natural gas project.

Petrobras signs up for study into terminal

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:14:03 GMT

Petrobras has signed a protocol of intentions with South Korean players Samsung C&T and Hyundai Merchant Marine to study the technical and economical feasibility of implementing a new liquefied natural gas regasification terminal in Brazil.

Seabird in profit warning

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:12:48 GMT

NORWEGIAN seismic player Seabird Exploration has had a turbulent week after issuing a profit warning and replacing its chief executive, writes Beate Schjolberg.

Driller up

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:12:40 GMT

US DRILLER Patterson-UTI Energy has posted net income of $87.6 million (56 cents per share) on revenue of $725 million.

Political tensions stoke crude

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:12:37 GMT

OIL prices have been at six-month highs this week due to political tensions in the Middle East and improved economic news in China, the US and European Union.

Sandridge shock as it plunges in for US Gulf assets

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:12:24 GMT

SANDRIDGE Energy has surprised the industry with a $1.3 billion dive into the Gulf of Mexico, but some analysts are questioning whether the “contrarian” move is really such a good deal.

Lundin gets nod for Albert probe

Steve Marshall — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:06:50 GMT

Lundin Norway has gained the official nod to sink a wildcat at its Albert prospect in the Norwegian Sea.

Steingeita green light for Det Norske

Steve Marshall — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:48:03 GMT

Det Norske Oljeselskap has been given the go-ahead by Norwegian authorities to drill a wildcat at its Steingeita prospect in the North Sea.

Norway in new Barents seismic swim

Steve Marshall — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:22:22 GMT

The Norwegian government reportedly is looking to spend around Nkr150 million ($26 million) on fresh geological mapping farther north in a newly delimited area of the Barents Sea near the maritime border with Russia.

Tethys puts out call for Tajikistan seismic

Josh Lewis — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:26:35 GMT

London-listed Tethys Petroleum has issued a tender for a 2D seismic shoot in Tajikistan which it will use to identify the location for its first deep pre-salt well in the country.

Sillaro production lower for Po Valley

Andrew Hobbs — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:09:56 GMT

Production from Italy-focused Po Valley Energy’s Sillaro field will remain lower as the company makes a comeback from the extreme weather conditions currently affecting Northern Italy.

Key plans Brockham shut-in

Andrew Hobbs — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:26:39 GMT

Australia-based Key Petroleum will shut-in its wells on the Brockham oilfield, on the onshore Weald basin in the south of England, from 10 February.

NZ to launch licensing round

Russell Searancke — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:08:05 GMT

New Zealand is preparing to launch a licensing round in mid-2012 for about two dozen offshore and onshore blocks in various basins around the country.

Buccaneer gets Alaskan exploration approval

Josh Lewis — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:10:10 GMT

Australia’s Buccaneer Energy has been granted approval to explore for oil and gas across two offshore permits in Alaska’s Cook Inlet.

Beach spins Cooper bit

Josh Lewis — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:52:24 GMT

Beach Energy has spudded the third exploration well in a four well exploration program in PEL 106B on the western flank of the Cooper basin in South Australia.

Statoil catches new project wave

Steve Marshall — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:45:14 GMT

Norwegian state oil giant Statoil aims to bring on stream new global projects in two waves over the next five years that will add more than 1.5 million barrels per day of new production capacity, after reversing a laggardly reserves replacement rate last year.

Chariot wraps up Namibia shoot

Josh Lewis — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:09:04 GMT

London-listed Chariot Oil & Gas has completed a 3D seismic survey over its Central Blocks off the coast of Namibia.

Jacka gets Ruhuhu rights

Josh Lewis — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:59:25 GMT

Australian junior Jacka Resources has been awarded exploration and production rights over the entire onshore Ruhuhu basin in Tanzania after reaching agreements on key terms with the Tanzanian government.

Pacific Mistral up and running

Steve Marshall — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:04:25 GMT

Pacific Drilling’s newbuild ultra-deepwater drillship Pacific Mistral has started work for Petrobras off Brazil after a slight delay on the original schedule.

Petrobras 'to lift output bar'

Steve Marshall — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:28:48 GMT

Brazil’s state-owned oil company Petrobras is set to beat its record 2011 oil production this year, departing chief executive Jose Sergio Gabrielli was reported as saying on Tuesday.

Shah Deniz 'set for restart'

Steve Marshall — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:50:56 GMT

Production from the BP-operated Shah Deniz platform in the Caspian Sea is set to resume late on Tuesday after being shut-in the previous evening due to a malfunction during maintenance of the facility, a spokeswoman for the UK supermajor said.

Sami 'bets on' for Big Bear killing

Steve Marshall — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:21:06 GMT

Norwegian independent North Energy has seen a strange reversal in stockmarket fortune despite suffering some bad luck on the exploration front of late.

Tanzania well falters for Aminex

Steve Marshall — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:08:51 GMT

London-listed explorer Aminex saw its share price plunge on Tuesday as an exploration well being drilled in Tanzania fell short of the mark.

Jack-up problems delay Eugene Island sidetrack

Josh Lewis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:45:29 GMT

London-listed Leni Gas & Oil has announced a delay to the start of drilling at Eugene Island Block 184, in the Gulf of Mexico, following a hold-up with the arrival of the jack-up rig.

Empire cheers Appalachia flows

Josh Lewis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:42:07 GMT

Australia’s Empire Energy has flowed oil from the first well in its work-over programme of existing northern Appalachia wells in New York State.

CNPC targets gas output rise

Josh Lewis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:38:27 GMT

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) said it plans to raise its natural gas output to between 79.3 billion and 82.1 billion cubic metres this year.

Statoil takes Indonesia deep plunge

Steve Marshall — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:24:43 GMT

Statoil has kicked off drilling of its first deep-water exploration well off Indonesia.

Premier to abandon East Fyne well

Josh Lewis — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:02:53 GMT

London-listed Premier Oil has decided to plug and abandon the East Fyne appraisal well on Block 21/28a in the UK Central North Sea despite the presence of both oil and gas.

TGS starts US shoot

Josh Lewis — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:26:14 GMT

Norwegian seismic player TGS has kicked off the Bucklin multi-client 3D survey in the Ford and Kiowa Counties in Southern Kansas.

Uganda expects 2013 Tullow production

Andrew Hobbs — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:40:20 GMT

Uganda's energy minister said late on Sunday that commercial oil production could begin as early as next year after London-listed Tullow Oil signed two production-sharing agreements with the country.

Mixed results for Senex with Spitfire-1

Josh Lewis — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:23:50 GMT

Brisbane-based Senex Energy has discovered a new oil accumulation on the western flank of South Australia’s Cooper basin, but the initial exploration well was declared non-commercial.

Pertamina output rise to fall short of target

Josh Lewis — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:39:18 GMT

Indonesia’s state-run Pertamina has forecast output to rise during February but is still expected to fall short of the government’s target.

Central raises Surprise funds

Josh Lewis — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:21:16 GMT

Australia-listed Central Petroleum has raised A$9.9 million (US$10.6 million) to support its current campaign in the Amadeus basin in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Lundin spuds new Sverdrup probe

Steve Marshall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:54:19 GMT

Swedish explorer Lundin Petroleum has kicked off drilling of the fourth appraisal probe on the Johan Sverdrup discovery off Norway.

Wintershall gets Skarfjell nod

Steve Marshall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:07:04 GMT

German explorer Wintershall has been given the green light by Norwegian authorities to drill a wildcat at its Skarfjell prospect in the North Sea.

Wentworth spins Mnazi Bay bit

Josh Lewis — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:08:46 GMT

London-listed Wentworth Resources has spudded the Ziwani-1 exploration well on the Mnazi Bay concession in Tanzania’s Ruvuma basin.

Apache restarts post Iggy

Andrew Hobbs — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:33:35 GMT

Apache has recommenced production from its operations in the northwest of Western Australia as the winds that were Tropical Cyclone Iggy peter out.

Socar in plan to build Caspian semisubs

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:12:56 GMT

Azerbaijan’s state oil company Socar is driving a billion-dollar plan to build up to two semi-submersible rigs at local yards for multi-year charters in the Caspian Sea region.

OGX in new pre-salt find

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:12:09 GMT

Brazilian independent OGX has uncovered pre-salt reservoirs in the shallow-water portion of the Santos basin.

Murphy weighs up possible exit

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:11:21 GMT

US independent Murphy Oil is considering pulling out of the Gulf of Mexico as the volume of production and pace of exploration and development activity begins to wane.

Modest rig fleet in need of new units to meet demand

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:10:57 GMT

Azerbaijan’s existing rig fleet is modest, with three semi-submersibles providing services that reach international standards, writes Kama Mustafayeva.

Reports have Shell in five-year deal for Stena ice-class drillship

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:10:36 GMT

Shell is believed to have taken a high-price Stena Drilling ice-class newbuild drillship for five years, with French Guiana on the Anglo-Dutch supermajor’s radar.

Tullow chief executive pushes for cautious approach at Jubilee field

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:10:13 GMT

TULLOW Oil chief executive Aidan Heavey this week dismissed advice to increase production at the flagship Jubilee field off Ghana “just to get high numbers so everything looks great”, cautioning against any moves to “damage the reservoir in the longer term”.

Aurelian assessing its options in Poland

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:09:46 GMT

European onshore-focused Aurelian Oil & Gas has brought in advisers to review strategic options as it looks to progress a gas project in Poland.

Burmese gas goes domestic

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:06:46 GMT

Burma does not plan to export any gas from new projects coming on stream after 2013, with all such subsequent production being used domestically, writes Amanda Battersby.

Yet another deadline for Iraq’s fourth round

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:56:21 GMT

Iraq’s Oil Ministry has once again extended the deadline for the award of 12 blocks in its fourth licensing round to give bidders more time to weigh up a new model contract.

Fast-track for Tabasco Littoral

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:46:13 GMT

STATE-owned Mexican player Pemex has been engaged in pre-tender consultations with key contractors with the aim of finding a way to fast-track building and installation of one major production platform and two compression platforms for the Tabasco Littoral complex.

Gaivota find for Starfish

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:40:19 GMT

Sonangol Starfish, the Brazilian unit of Angola’s state oil company, has reported a technical discovery at the Gaivota wildcat, on Campos basin Block C-M-622.

UK offers 2800 blocks in 27th licensing round

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:25:47 GMT

The UK launched its 27th offshore licensing round this week, placing 2800 blocks on offer to oil and gas explorers.

Jail for four UK oilmen

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:24:26 GMT

Four men have been given prison sentences in the UK after being found guilty of obtaining corrupt payments related to a number of upstream and downstream projects, writes Iain Esau.

Find at Faraday HP-HT well

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:23:40 GMT

GDF Suez E&P UK has made a discovery at with Faraday high-pressure high-temperature well in the UK North Sea.

IGas Energy hopeful of English shale potential

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:23:12 GMT

Coalbed methane-focused IGas Energy has suggested there is shale gas potential at one of its sites in north-west England, writes Rob Watts.

WilHunter suspends drilling

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:22:44 GMT

Awilco Drilling’s semi-submersible WilHunter was forced to suspend drilling for MPX Energy after mechanical problems prompted the use of blowout preventer shear rams to cut through drilling pipe, writes Rob Watts.

Dau orders closure of 200 production wells

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:20:55 GMT

SOUTH Sudan Petroleum & Mining Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau has ordered the closure of more than 200 oil production wells in the Petrodar consortium’s Palaung field in Upper Nile, accounting for half the field’s output of 25,000 barrels per day.

Cove deal for Wentworth

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:20:12 GMT

COVE Energy will divest its minority interest in Maurel & Prom-operated Mnazi Bay production sharing contract in Tanzania to Wentworth Resources (formerly Artumas) in exchange for similar Rovuma basin acreage just across the border, off Mozambique.

Hess wants drill partners

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:19:50 GMT

Hess of the US hopes to have one or more new partners on board when it starts its multi-well exploration campaign off Ghana in March or April.

Ngamia spud

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:19:25 GMT

TULLOW Oil has spudded its Ngamia-1 wildcat on Block 10BB in the Kenyan interior, aiming to reach a projected depth of 2700 metres in Miocene sandstones south of Lodwar in the long-neglected Lokichar basin.

Duo win new PSA awards

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:18:57 GMT

Tanzania has signed two fresh production sharing agreements, days after Heritage Oil was awarded a PSA for a 1400 square-kilometre onshore licence close to Lake Malawi.

Chevron admits routine gas escapes at Funiwa

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:18:35 GMT

Chevron chief executive John Watson has accepted gas escapes did occur from the Funiwa Deep-1a well in the lead-up to the recent blowout off Nigeria that claimed two lives, but said such events are not unusual.

Watson defends supermajor’s response to Frade spill off Brazil

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:18:11 GMT

US supermajor Chevron has rigorously defended its response to the November oil spill from the Frade development off Brazil and asked for a fair treatment from local regulatory bodies.

New frac rules for Canada

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:17:51 GMT

Companies exploring and producing natural gas in Canada will now be required to follow national hydraulic fracturing operating practices announced by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).

OGX finally gets extended test under way at Waimea

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:17:25 GMT

OGX has become the first Brazilian private company to produce oil off the country’s coast, with an extended well test at the Waimea accumulation in the Campos basin’s shallow waters under way after months of delays, writes Fabio Palmigiani.

Petrobras set for well drive at Sapinhoa field

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:17:03 GMT

Brazil’s Petrobras plans to start drilling the first of two development wells approved by market regulator ANP for the new Sapinhoa pre-salt field in the Santos basin this month.

Rosneft gains three blocks in Barents Sea ‘grey zone’

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:15:11 GMT

Russia’s Rosneft has become the country’s first company to obtain exploration and development licences for acreage in the Barents Sea’s former “grey zone”.

Date set for final lease sale in 2007-2012 drive

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:13:15 GMT

US President Barack Obama’s administration has set the date for the final lease sale in the current 2007-2012 Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Natural Gas Leasing Programme.

New guides at C-NSOPB

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:12:29 GMT

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board has revised its guidelines for the issue of exploration licences.

Drilling halted at Coronado

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:12:08 GMT

US supermajor Chevron has shut down drilling at its Lower Tertiary Coronado prospect in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico after failing to get the well through the salt formation overlaying the targeted sands, writes Blake Wright.

2017 start-up target for LNG export scheme

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:11:46 GMT

French utility GDF Suez has homed in on a 2017 start-up date at the earliest for its proposed liquefied natural gas export scheme in Cameroon.

Sakhalin 2 to break even well ahead of schedule

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:10:57 GMT

Russian authorities have �revealed increasing returns at the Gazprom-led Sakhalin 2 offshore oil and gas development in the country’s far east.

Restart for Arthit North gas

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:10:12 GMT

The owners of the Arthit gas field in Thailand have found a way to restart production from the mothballed Arthit North satellite field.

BMG hands back FPSO

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:09:24 GMT

The co-owners of the Basker Manta Gummy (BMG) project in Australia have officially handed back the leased floating production, storage and �offloading vessel Crystal Ocean to its owner Sea Production.

Cairn eyes new drill drive to boost output at Ravva field

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:06:34 GMT

Cairn India is planning a fresh drilling campaign at its mature Ravva block off India’s east coast as it looks to halt declining production, writes Nishant Ugal.

Chevron cheers success in South China Sea deep

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:04:56 GMT

US supermajor Chevron has struck hydrocarbons in the South China Sea’s deep water in a drilling campaign that started late last year.

Total and Petronas see poor starts to Brunei drill drive

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:02:55 GMT

France’s Total and Malaysia’s Petronas have both made disappointing starts to their multi-well deep-water exploration campaigns in Brunei, writes Russell Searancke.

Semai V duo are dusters

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:01:10 GMT

US independent Hess has drilled two deep-water dusters in its wholly-owned Semai V licence off West Papua in Indonesia, and is in talks with the government about its third commitment well.

Oilex target

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:01:09 GMT

Australian independent Oilex is targeting the second or third quarter of this year to drill an offshore exploration well in the joint zone off Timor-Leste.

New regulatory process for Canada ‘in months’

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:59:24 GMT

A plan to streamline Canada’s regulatory framework and speed up the review of major projects should be introduced by the federal government this year.

PSAC cuts its forecast

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:58:47 GMT

The Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC) has said that the nation’s drilling activity in 2012 will be lower than it originally forecast.

Funding boost for research

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:56:50 GMT

CANADIAN government funding of more than C$800,000 (US$796,029) has been earmarked for innovative recovery methods in oil and gas production at the Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) and the University of Regina in Saskatchewan.

Shell sees improvementwith speed of approvals

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:40:20 GMT

Shell’s Upstream Americas director Marvin Odum said late last week that his company is seeing “real improvement” with the speed of approvals of new well permits in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oiapoque wildcat challenge

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:39:59 GMT

Brazilian oil giant Petrobras is entering the final drilling phase on a high-profile prospect in the under-explored Foz do Amazonas basin, an area that has yet to present any concrete signs of hydro�carbons shows, writes Fabio Palmigiani.

Woodside considers part sale

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:39:35 GMT

Woodside Petroleum is considering the sale of part of its 50% equity in the Browse liquefied natural gas project in Australia, and has confirmed it has requested an extension of time to make a final investment decision until the first half of 2013, writes Russell Searancke.

Cheniere in deal for Sabine Pass capacity

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:38:24 GMT

US liquefied natural gas specialist Cheniere Energy has sold the entire capacity of its Sabine Pass LNG export plant as the push for US natural gas exports gains steam.

Petronas raises possibility of second FLNG unit

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:37:39 GMT

State-owned Petronas is eyeing a second floating liquefied natural gas vessel for Malaysian waters at the same time as it works on moving its first FLNG unit into the construction phase.

GE lands Ichthys contracts

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:36:50 GMT

Italy-based GE Oil & Gas has landed contracts worth more than $1 billion to supply �Inpex’s Ichthys liquefied natural gas project off Australia.

Dana output is up by 19%

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:32:24 GMT

Sharjah-based Dana Gas saw a 19% increase in 2011 production due to rising gas output in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Crude robust as eyes turn to Iran sanctions

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:31:37 GMT

Oil prices were relatively robust this week, slipping slightly from intra-day highs on Wednesday on news of higher-than-expected US crude inventories.

Crashing back to reality

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:31:12 GMT

US natural gas futures crashed back to reality this week amid continued warm weather and rising gas production, writes Noah Brenner.

Gulfsands to look beyond Syria

Andrew Hobbs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:08:14 GMT

London-listed Gulfsands Petroleum will look at opportunities outside Syria after European Union sanctions forced the company to stop exploring for oil there six weeks ago.

DNO hits Pehkabir pay

Steve Marshall — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:57:33 GMT

DNO International has reported oil shows at the Pehkabir-1 exploration well in Iraqi Kurdistan, although analysts believe the commerciality of the discovery is “uncertain”.

CNOOC aims to triple production

Andrew Hobbs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:35:48 GMT

China National Offshore Oil Corporation aims to double its oil and gas production by 2020 and triple it by 2030 against its 2010 levels, company chairman Wang Yilin said.

ExxonMobil spins PNG bit

Josh Lewis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:53:35 GMT

US supermajor ExxonMobil has spudded the P’nyang South-1 appraisal well on PRL 3 in Papua New Guinea.

Murphy signs rig for African wells

Josh Lewis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:59:55 GMT

US-based Murphy Oil will drill off Africa's coast this year using Diamond Offshore Drilling’s semi-submersible rig Ocean Confidence.

Noble 'eyes' new Cyprus round

Steve Marshall — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:05:03 GMT

US explorer Noble Energy is reportedly looking to participate in a second licensing round off Cyprus, likely to be launched later this month, after making the Mediterranean island state’s first gas discovery recently.

Tethys forges Uzbekistan ties

Steve Marshall — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:25:56 GMT

Central Asia-focused Tethys Petroleum is teaming up with Uzbekistan’s state oil company Uzbekneftegaz for joint exploration in the country’s North Ustyurt basin.

Kea eyes Taranaki well

Josh Lewis — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:52 GMT

London-listed Kea Petroleum is preparing to spud the first well of its 2012 drilling programme in PEP 51153, in New Zealand’s onshore Taranaki basin.

New Falklands probe under way

Steve Marshall — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:54:46 GMT

London-listed Borders & Southern Petroleum has kicked off drilling at its Darwin prospect off the Falkland Islands.

Beach plugs Cooper well

Josh Lewis — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:05:51 GMT

Australian independent Beach Energy has plugged and abandoned the Admella-1 well in PEL 106B on the western flank of Australia’s Cooper basin after initial gas shows proved to be non-commercial.

Santos Winchester well delayed

Andrew Hobbs — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:01:34 GMT

Santos will delay its planned drilling of the Winchester prospect in the Dampier sub-basin offshore Western Australia until the fourth quarter of this year, according to its project partner.

Santos starts Wortel production

Andrew Hobbs — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:14:47 GMT

Australian company Santos has started gas production from its Wortel discovery on the Sempang production sharing contract, off Indonesia, following the completion of two development wells last month.

Senex signs Orca deals

Josh Lewis — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:44:25 GMT

Australia’s Senex Energy has entered separate agreements to earn an additional 22% interest in PEL 115, in South Australia’s Cooper basin, and acquire shares in joint venture partner Orca Energy.

QGC takes Drillsearch slice

Josh Lewis — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:41:22 GMT

The Australian subsidiary of UK giant BG Group will gain a 9.4% stake in Sydney-based Drillsearch Energy after exercising options granted as part of the A$130 million (US$138.2 million) joint venture the duo entered last year.

Wintershall spuds Maria probe

Steve Marshall — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:09:15 GMT

German explorer Wintershall has spudded the Maria Appraisal well in the Norwegian Sea.

Jack-up rates 'to rise' as cash tide turns

Steve Marshall — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:41:34 GMT

Dayrates for jack-ups are forecast by an Oslo-based investment firm to rise this year on buoyant demand, as fears the Eurozone debt crisis could hit the drilling campaigns of smaller independents are retreating.

Repsol 'spill threat' over Cuba drilling

Steve Marshall — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:26:09 GMT

A US Congressman believes Spanish explorer Repsol should be “bled” for maximum compensation in the event of an oil spill from drilling operations off Cuba that could devastate the Florida coastline, according to a report.

Gulfsands hits pay in Syria

Josh Lewis — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:08:48 GMT

London-listed Gulfsands Petroleum has encountered hydrocarbons in the Khurbet East-102 appraisal well in Syria.

Demand hits Beach's sales

Josh Lewis — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:56:59 GMT

Lower gas demand hit Beach Energy’s revenues during the final quarter of 2011 as sales volumes slumped 13%.

One killed at Texas wellsite

Josh Lewis — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:55:56 GMT

One worker has died in an accident during drilling operations at the Peeler-4 well site in McMullen County, Texas.

Det Norske spuds Big Bear

Steve Marshall — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:28:22 GMT

Det Norske Oljseselskap has kicked off drilling of its Storebjorn (Big Bear) wildcat in the southern North Sea.

OGX production starts at Waimea

Andrew Hobbs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:21:44 GMT

Oil production has started at Brazilian independent OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes’ Waimea prospect in the Campos basin, on the date announced after being set back earlier this month.

Cooper banks on basin boost

Andrew Hobbs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:31:31 GMT

Australia-based Cooper Energy expects annual production from its Cooper basin interests to be 23% higher than its initial expectations on the back of strong December quarter results.

Wentworth increases Mnazi Bay stake

Josh Lewis — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:27:30 GMT

Tanzania-based Wentworth Resources has reached an agreement with London-listed Cove Energy which will see it acquire all of the latter’s interest in the Mnazi Bay concession in Tanzania.

Fields remain shut as Iggy heads to sea

Josh Lewis — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:32:08 GMT

A number of oilfields off Australia’s north-west remain shut-in as Cyclone Iggy stalled and slowly began to head away from the coast on Monday.

South Sudan shuts output

Josh Lewis — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:40:21 GMT

South Sudan has totally shut down oil output in a row with Sudan over export transit fees and will only restart after the two reach a deal covering border security and the disputed Abyei region.

'EU shale gas regime adequate': study

Steve Marshall — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:57:06 GMT

Europe’s current regulatory regime for shale gas exploration is adequate for the time being, according to a study commissioned by the European Union, despite calls for tighter environmental rules over the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing.

Statoil spuds Skrugard appraisal

Steve Marshall — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:34:33 GMT

Statoil has reportedly spudded the first appraisal well at its Skrugard discovery as it targets additional resource potential at the breakthrough find in the Barents Sea.

Murphy boosts Rotan FLNG plan

Russell Searancke — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:58:41 GMT

Murphy Oil has made a new deep-water gas find near its Rotan discovery in Block H off Malaysia where the company is pursuing a floating liquefied natural gas project led by Petronas.

Pemex eyes subsidiary with jack-up trio tender

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:49 GMT

Mexico’s Pemex is poised to invite bids for the supply of three jack-up rigs that are expected to provide the state company with the high-specificiation units it needs to launch a drilling subsidiary — a first for the company.

BRIEFS

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:44 GMT

china

Deep campaign is set for six-to-eight wells

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:40 GMT

Pemex plans to drill six to eight deep-water wells in the Mexican sector of the Gulf of Mexico, including two near Shell’s Perdido development along the US maritime border, writes Noah Brenner.

Yme facing more delays as SBM blames Talisman

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:36 GMT

First oil from Talisman Energy’s Yme project off Norway may be delayed yet again.

Fred Olsen seeking DP 3 semisub after ditching drillship

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:32 GMT

Oslo-listed Fred Olsen Energy is sounding out the market for a semi-submersible drilling unit after ditching an option on a newbuild drillship, writes Tan Hwee Hwee.

Mixed results in Q4

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:25 GMT

Major US operators reported mixed fourth-quarter earnings with increases in domestic production often offset by declines abroad, writes Noah Brenner.

Chevron’s focus is on killing blown-out well

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:16 GMT

Chevron Nigeria’s managing director Andrew Fawthrop told a Nigerian senate committee hearing this week that the company’s primary focus is on killing the well as quickly and safely as possible, writes Rob Watts.

Blowout rig had ‘control problems’ days before

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:13 GMT

The drilling crew on the stricken jack-up KS Endeavor encountered well-control problems several days before the blowout that destroyed the rig and claimed two lives, Upstream can reveal.

CCS plan is set to go ahead

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:52:03 GMT

The Persian Gulf’s first large-scale carbon capture and storage project is set to go ahead with the help of finance from carbon markets, writes Terry Slavin.

Stone sets out capital plans

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:51:55 GMT

US independent Stone Energy plans $625 million of capital expenditure this year to help boost its oil and gas production to between 240 million and 275 million cubic feet equivalent per day, an increase of 12% to 29% compared to an estimated 214 MMcfde production for 2011.

$690,000 for Eirik Raude rig

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:51:47 GMT

Ocean Rig is understood to have landed a $690,000 dayrate plus bonus contract for its semi-submersible drilling rig Eirik Raude off Equatorial Guinea, writes Eoin OCinneide.

Circle set for boost at Sebou

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:51:29 GMT

London-listed Circle Oil expects to more than double gas production from its Sebou permit in Morocco early next month when a new pipeline becomes operational, writes Nassir Shirkhani.

Gracas Foster can be boon for Brazil

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:51:26 GMT

A management shake-up at Petrobras — starting with the imminent replacement of chief executive Jose Sergio Gabrielli by gas and energy director Maria das Gracas Foster — was welcomed by stock markets this week, spurring the Brazilian giant to advances on a scale rarely seen over the past two years.

Gas players fight to beat record low price

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:50:10 GMT

US producers have started to shut in dry gas production as operators look to combat record-low natural gas prices during one of the warmest winters on record.

Chesapeake’s plans to shut-in wells spurs slumping US market

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:50:05 GMT

Plans by US producer Chesapeake to shut in up to 1 billion cubic feet per day of output, about 1.5% of total US production, gave a fillip to the slumping US natural gas market this week, writes Noah Brenner.

Pemex confirms foreign invitations in shale drive

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:49:52 GMT

Pemex has confirmed speculation that it will invite foreign players to tap its shale reservoirs for both oil and gas by offering up contracts in its prospective shale plays.

Mexicans set for first Drillmec land rig

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:49:37 GMT

Pemex is about to take delivery of the first of three new 1500 horsepower land rigs built by Italian rig fabricator Drillmec at its Houston yard as part of a push to secure 30 more land rigs and upgrade its fleet this year, writes Noah Brenner.

BP going deep off Brazil

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:49:33 GMT

UK supermajor BP is breaking into the ultra-deep waters of the north-east Ceara basin off Brazil after acquiring a �minority 40% participation �interest in Block BM-CE-1 from Petrobras.

Shell makes new playfor condensate at Crux

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:49:26 GMT

Shell has made a play in Australia for the condensate reserves at the Crux wet gas field off the north-west coast that Nexus Energy has been trying to monetise for years.

Oil Search targeting LNG plan

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:49:21 GMT

Papua New Guinea’s Oil Search said it believes the offshore Gulf of Papua could contain enough gas to support a new standalone liquefied natural gas project, writes Russell Searancke.

Horizon PNG acreage gain

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:49:13 GMT

Australian independent Horizon Oil has boosted its acreage position in the region of Papua New Guinea where the company is aiming to build two production hubs for its Stanley and Elevala-Ketu fields.

Five still in contention to provide Belida FSO replacement

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:49:08 GMT

Five companies remain in the running for a contract with US supermajor ConocoPhillips on a replacement unit for Tanker Pacific’s Intan floating storage and offloading vessel at the producing Belida oilfield off Indonesia, writes Tan Hwee Hwee.

January sale boost for BC

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:51 GMT

British Columbia generated C$32.1 million (US$31.2 million) in bonus bids during its January petroleum and natural gas sale.

Santos abandons NE Sangu-1

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:43 GMT

Santos’ first well in an exploration programme off Bangladesh has failed to find hydrocarbons.

Gazprom in Bangladesh deal

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:39 GMT

Russia’s Gazprom has entered into a deal with Petrobangla to drill 10 wells onshore Bangladesh.

New rig for PetroFrontier

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:31 GMT

Canada’s PetroFrontier has secured a drilling rig for two horizontal wells in the remote Southern Georgina basin in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Greater Laverda success

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:27 GMT

Perth-based Woodside Petrol�eum has scored drilling successes in its Greater Laverda oil area off Western Australia where a new standalone development is on the cards, writes Russell Searancke.

EnQuest is Kraken operator

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:22 GMT

EnQuest is set to take over operatorship of the Kraken oil discovery in the UK North Sea after agreeing a deal that will see it spend up to $240 million to acquire another 25% stake in the field.

Gazprom and Novatek in talks on co-operation

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:14 GMT

Russia’s state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom has again highlighted its interest in independent gas producer Novatek as a partner in greenfield projects, including the planned Yamal liquefied natural gas scheme.

Deo pushes Perth plans

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:10 GMT

London-listed Deo Petroleum has submitted an environ�mental impact assessment for its Perth field as its pushes forward with the floater-based development off the UK.

Shell goes fourth with Nova Scotia deep water

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:06 GMT

Shell has given a huge boost to Nova Scotia’s offshore sector by bidding close to a billion dollars to secure four deep-water blocks in the Scotian margin off the eastern Canadian province.

Taskforce for New Brunswick

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:02 GMT

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) is forming a taskforce aimed at encouraging onshore development in New Brunswick, writes Tonya Zelinsky.

Corridor aiming to suspend activity at Old Harry licence

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:47:57 GMT

Corridor Resources plans to suspend activity on its Old Harry exploration licence off Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, pending approval from regulators.

Forent eyes Alton

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:47:52 GMT

calgary-based Forent Energy will begin drilling its first potential reef oil well on the Alton block in Nova Scotia, Canada, at the end of February.

Total in tests at Absheron

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:47:46 GMT

France’s Total is set to test the most promising objective in the Absheron X-2 well off Azerbaijan, where it unveiled a significant natural gas discovery late last year.

Partners eye Georgia spud

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:47:39 GMT

The Range Resources and Red Emperor Resources partnership has carried out final preparations to spud its second exploration well in Georgia by mid-February.

No room for complacency on safety

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:47:22 GMT

It is now almost two years since the Macondo blowout and explosion claimed 11 lives and caused the worst oil spill ever in US waters.

Differing opinions in view

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:47:12 GMT

“A ONE size fits all approach to safety is impractical due to each region’s unique geography and conditions,” says American Petroleum Institute president Jack Gerard.

Recorded incidents set for five-year low

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:47:08 GMT

The number of recorded safety incidents on drilling rigs in US waters is on pace to set a five-year low, even as operators begin to ramp up operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Battle lines drawn for SEMS attack

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:47:02 GMT

OFFSHORE industry representatives are challenging US regulators to either change or scrap some of the provisions of the newly revised safety and environmental management system (SEMS) rule, arguing that it is becoming too prescriptive.

Cleaning up the US inspections process

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:57 GMT

US regulators say progress has been made in revamping an offshore inspections programme heavily criticised in the wake of the 2010 Macondo disaster.

New centre takes fresh approach to deep safety

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:52 GMT

An industry-led group proposed in the fallout of the 2010 Macondo disaster is taking shape with a fresh approach to deep-water oil and gas safety, writes Kathrine Schmidt.

Finding the cap that fits

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:49 GMT

Beyond the Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC) and the Helix Energy Group, other companies, contractors and industry groups have taken the initiative post-Macondo to come up with their own solutions for the potential need to capture and divert oil and gas flowing from a blown-out deep-water well.

Fast response is key for MWCC and Helix

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:35 GMT

Gulf of Mexico operators have a pair of cap and contain solutions they can chose to participate in as required by US regulators in the post-Macondo world, writes Blake Wright.

BP’s safety team takes a sweeping policing role

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:32 GMT

THE direction of BP has been transformed by the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, one in a series of fatal accidents in the UK supermajor’s recent history.

Still room for improvement in Norway’s industry

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:26 GMT

Norway’s oil industry enjoys levels of health and safety that put many other petroleum nations to shame — but there is always room for improvement.

Classification outfits push for safer tools

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:17 GMT

Classification societies such as Norway’s DNV, Lloyd’s Register in the UK and Houston-based ABS are all developing tools and concepts aimed at managing risk and improving safety across the offshore industry.

HSE sets its sights on stopping leaks

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:11 GMT

Reducing the number of unplanned hydrocarbon leaks is the fundamental issue facing the UK oil and gas industry, according to the country’s top offshore safety official.

Staff shortage could worsen at HSE as more inspectors retire

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:46:01 GMT

The UK offshore safety regulator is in the midst of a staffing shortage which, if not halted, could leave its quota of inspectors down by about a quarter, writes Rob Watts.

Union remains concerned for safety of staff

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:56 GMT

Many men and women on the frontline of the UK’s oil and gas industry continue to face unnecessary safety risks because they are not properly engaged in health and safety matters, a trade union official says.

Workers say NRB still in play

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:49 GMT

Two experienced UK offshore workers — both of whom wanted to remain anonymous — insist that cultures of fear do exist on many North Sea installations that prevent safety concerns being raised, writes Rob Watts.

The legacy of Osprag

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:43 GMT

The UK offshore industry moved swiftly after the 2010 Macondo blowout to form the pan-industry Oil Spill Response Advisory Group (Osprag) as a focal point to review the country’s oil spill prevention and response measures.

Battling to stop a new Montara

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:37 GMT

Australia is the Oceania region’s leading oil and gas producer, ahead of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, and each country is putting regulatory frameworks in place to avoid another Montara incident.

Nopsema takes reins in Australian offshore

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:32 GMT

The chief executive of Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety & Environmental Management Authority (Nopsema) would welcome changes to legislation and regulations to allow the regulator to share more information and enhance transparency in the country’s offshore industry.

Setting an industry standard

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:29 GMT

New Zealand and Papua New Guinea plan to increase their offshore petroleum operations and are tailoring safety regulations to suit an expected boost in offshore activity.

Timor-Leste regulator a quick learner with landmark operations under way

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:24 GMT

Timor-Leste has had a dedicated national petroleum regulator since the country’s independence, and the agency has learned a lot in quick time.

Penglai 19-3 sparks reform

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:14 GMT

The oil spill from Conoco�Phillips’ Penglai 19-3 oilfield in Bohai Bay off northern China last June triggered regulatory changes and prompted the country’s largest offshore safety campaign.

Vigilance key for the future

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:07 GMT

India’s Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) is becoming increasingly vigilant about safety related to the country’s offshore drilling and production platforms.

Petrobras pushing for prevention

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:45:01 GMT

BRAZILIAN oil giant Petrobras has always insisted that it is more important to invest in offshore safety through preventative measures than it is to deal with the aftermath of an accident, and over the past few years the company has been pouring in money to modernise old platforms and to train its professionals accordingly.

Echoes of Frade still heard

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:55 GMT

THE recent oil spill from the Chevron-operated Frade development in the Campos basin has exposed how fragile Brazil still is when it comes to offshore drilling safety, writes Fabio Palmigiani.

Strict standards affecting output

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:51 GMT

Tougher safety standards have had an impact on Brazil’s Petrobras over the past two years, as unscheduled stoppages have been cited as a key factor behind the company’s failure to meet annual production targets, along with technical problems on reservoirs.

New agency on menu for safety in Nova Scotia

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:41 GMT

Nova Scotia legislators want to see the Canadian province create an independent offshore safety board in the hopes of avoiding a repeat of of the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter crash of 2009.

Emergency response gets set for take-off

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:36 GMT

Emergency response helicopters for Canada’s Atlantic region will be able to be in the air within 20 minutes’ notice once construction of a new hangar in Newfoundland is complete, writes Tonya Zelinsky.

Arctic now open for business

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:32 GMT

The Canadian Arctic offshore is now open for business, after an extensive review of safety drilling requirements came to a close in December.

Taking a local approach to resisting piracy

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:24 GMT

The capability of companies to resist piracy and militant threats inevitably requires falling back on national armed forces, since West African regimes do not like armed private security aboard units in their respective Exclusive Economic Zones, despite legal limits to their jurisdiction over the high seas, writes Barry Morgan.

Sanctions pose a threat to Iran’s good standing

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:19 GMT

IRAN’S offshore safety record was in the spotlight late last year because of a seemingly freak accident that left six divers dead.

IMIST building a safer path

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:16 GMT

MORE and more oil and gas workers around the world are being given access to basic safety training due to an international programme that has its origins in the UK.

Kolskaya puts competence under spotlight in Russia

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:44:11 GMT

The recent sinking of the jack-up Kolskaya and safety concerns over the Priraz platform have raised doubts about the ability of Russia’s state controlled companies to successfully explore and develop the country’s vast offshore regions.

New PMT plan for BG Group

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:17:51 GMT

UK-based BG Group has submitted a multi-billion dollar investment plan to the Indian government aimed at maintaining oil and gas production from the maturing Panna-Mukta-Tapti (PMT) offshore fields for the next 10 to 15 years, writes Nishant Ugal.

Total planning fixed platform for Hild field

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:17:36 GMT

French giant Total has submitted a development plan for the Hild field off Norway that targets total investments of Nkr25 billion ($4.2 billion), writes Steve Marshall.

Farm-in for Pitu stake

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:17:23 GMT

Norway’s Statoil has farmed in to take a stake in Cairn Energy’s Pitu licence in Baffin Bay, off west Greenland.

Peru ups wildcats number

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:17:10 GMT

EXPLORATION activity more than doubled in Peru during 2011, as the country’s state hydrocarbons promotion agency Perupetro adopted new steps to continue attracting investments from international oil companies, writes Fabio Palmigiani.

Petrobras signs deal with Tanker Pacific for new FPSO

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:17:06 GMT

PETROBRAS has formally signed a deal with Singapore-based Tanker Pacific Offshore Terminals for the construction of a floating storage and offloading vessel that will serve as a transfer and export hub for crude output from the Campos and Santos basins, writes Fabio Palmigiani.

Mangara find closer to on-stream date in Chad

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:17:01 GMT

Calgary-based Griffiths Energy International is gearing up to bring on stream its Mangara oil discovery in Chad in either 2012 or 2013 with crude to be sent to export markets through the Chad-Cameroon pipeline.

Production only running at half of pipeline’s capacity

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:55 GMT

The capacity of the 1070-kilometre Chad-Cameroon pipeline is 225,000 barrels per day although production is currently running at just half this amount, averaging about 117,000 bpd in the first six months of 2011.

Gazelle approval for Rialto

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:52 GMT

RIALTO Energy has received formal approval to develop the Gazelle field in shallow water off the Ivory Coast, using existing onshore production and processing infrastructure, writes Barry Morgan.

Benin delay for seismic

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:47 GMT

Benin may marginally delay preparations to explore its ultra-deep offshore pending resolution of several un�specified problems, writes Barry Morgan.

Statoil keeps up pace off Tanzania with Zarafani

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:44 GMT

Norway’s Statoil is drilling ahead on a fresh exploration well off Tanzania as Brazilian giant Petrobras licks its wounds before returning to the fray after its debut wildcat was unsuccessful.

Afren set for boost in output

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:39 GMT

UK-listed Afren this week forecast its average production looks set to increase to 46,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2012, with the ramping up of output at Ebok off Nigeria and first oil expected in August from Barda Rash in Iraqi Kurdistan, writes Barry Morgan.

Sabu-1 well is paused

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:34 GMT

New York-listed junior Hyperdynamics has been forced to temporarily suspend drilling of its Sabu-1 wildcat off Guinea.

Camac deal in Gambia

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:30 GMT

Houston-based Camac Energy has won a provisional deal to secure two exploration blocks off Gambia.

CNOOC Ltd ups its target for 2012 crude production

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:19 GMT

CHINA’S top offshore operator CNOOC Ltd is aiming to increase its crude production from 330 million to 340 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2012, writes Xu Yihe.

Kulczyk in extension

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:11 GMT

KULCZYK Oil Ventures has secured an extension to its Block L production sharing agreement in Brunei Darussalam to allow it to complete its exploration commitment work programme.

Gazprom feels push as it speeds up South Stream

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:16:07 GMT

RUSSIAN gas monopoly Gazprom has unveiled a plan to speed up the implementation of its ambitious South Stream gas export pipeline project following growing tensions with its neighbour Ukraine on gas pricing.

Equatorial Guinea closes in on new LNG plant

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:15:57 GMT

PLANS to build a second liquefied natural gas plant in Equatorial Guinea have moved a step closer after multiple partners finalised further commercial principles.

Lithuania plumps for Hoegh

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:15:49 GMT

LITHUANIA has taken another step towards diversifying its gas supplies by picking Norway’s Hoegh LNG to supply a vessel for the country’s planned floating liquefied natural gas regasification terminal, writes Vladimir Afanasiev.

Sinopec deal

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:15:21 GMT

SINOPEC has finalised its equity position in the Australia Pacific liquefied natural gas project in Queensland, Australia, and its commitment to a total of 7.6 million tonnes per annum of LNG.

Woodside’s Pluto expansion effort hit as dry wells put plans on back foot and Xeres find is mothballed

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:15:08 GMT

AUSTRALIAN independent Woodside Petroleum has suffered a blow in its continuing efforts to build reserves for an expansion of its Pluto liquefied natural gas project.

Tidepole hit

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:15:00 GMT

THE co-owners of Australia’s North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project have made a new shallow-water discovery in the under-development Greater Western Flank area, but there is uncertainty about another find.

Alaska lays down APP terms timeline

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:14:55 GMT

THE State of Alaska has set a timeline for producers on the North Slope to unite over the terms of TransCanada’s proposed Alaska Pipeline Project (APP) or it will consider other options.

Chevron in Carnarvon boost

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:14:51 GMT

US SUPERMAJOR Chevron has discovered more gas that can be added to its liquefied natural gas feedstock from the Carnarvon basin off Western Australia that could be exploited to fuel the planned fourth train expansion at its Gorgon project.

Apache in deal for Cordillera

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:14:43 GMT

Apache is buying Cordillera Energy Partners III in a $2.85 billion cash-and-stock deal that will more than double the US independent’s footprint in the Granite Wash liquids plays, writes Noah Brenner.

Euro and Iran on crude see-saw

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:14:35 GMT

Oil prices see-sawed this week, continuing the trend on Wednesday after the US reported a drop in its inventories of refined products.

Degner takes a Global view to earth sciences

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:14:17 GMT

WHEN Richard Degner, chief executive of Global Geophysical Services, rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange on 19 December 2011, clanging the brass that day was not just about taking centre-stage in the virtual heart of global finance.�

Norway-Russia Arctic technology bid

Steve Marshall — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:08:17 GMT

Norway has launched a Nkr16 million ($2.7 million) bilateral project with Russia to develop new technology for exploitation of oil and gas resources in the environmentally sensitive Arctic region, including the Barents Sea.

Deep rig market 'set for boom'

Steve Marshall — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:49:41 GMT

Ultra-deepwater rig contractors are set for a bonanza year in 2012 with soaring dayrates fuelled by a tight supply of drilling units as high oil prices drive demand, with West Africa an exploration hotspot, according to a market report.

Statoil drilling act on King Lear

Steve Marshall — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:43:54 GMT

Statoil has kicked off drilling of a keenly watched wildcat at its King Lear prospect in the mature North Sea off Norway.

Statoil 'eyes Rosneft tie-up' in Barents

Steve Marshall — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:07:38 GMT

Norway’s Statoil is vying for a partnership with Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft to exploit hydrocarbon resources on Russia’s side of the maritime border in the Barents Sea, according to a report.

DeepOcean sound of Statoil cash

Steve Marshall — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:44:37 GMT

Norwegian subsea contractor DeepOcean has secured a four-year frame agreement with Statoil to provide offshore mapping and inspection services.

Jupiter hits Kazakh pay

Josh Lewis — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:51:52 GMT

London-listed Jupiter Energy has hit hydrocarbons in the J-53 well on its wholly owned Block 31, onshore Kazakhstan.

Vincent, van Gogh suspended

Andrew Hobbs — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:02:34 GMT

Woodside Petroleum and Apache Corporation have suspended some oil production off Australia's northwest coast as a tropical low threatens to develop into a cyclone.

Heritage gets second Tanzania PSA

Josh Lewis — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:58:27 GMT

UK independent Heritage Oil has increased its acreage position in Tanzania with the award of a 100% interest in the Kyela production sharing agreement.

Cairn India misses Sri Lanka trifecta

Russell Searancke — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:41:03 GMT

Cairn India has completed drilling the third of three deep-water exploration wells off Sri Lanka but, unlike the initial wells, the final probe was a dry hole.

PetroFrontier secures rig for Oz wells

Josh Lewis — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:56:15 GMT

Canada’s PetroFrontier has secured a rig to drill two horizontal wells on its acreage in the Southern Georgina basin in Australia’s Northern Territory.

San Leon completes Moroccan shoot

Josh Lewis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:41:33 GMT

Irish Explorer San Leon Energy has completed a seismic campaign which saw it gather 2280 kilometres of 2D data over its Tarfaya and Zag licences, onshore Morocco.

OMV plans Taranaki push

Josh Lewis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:46:16 GMT

Austria’s OMV is moving ahead with plans for additional development of the Maari and Manaia fields in New Zealand's offshore Taranaki basin.

Nido plans Philippines shoot

Josh Lewis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:45:42 GMT

Australian independent Nido Petroleum is planning to start a 1000 kilometre 2D seismic survey over Service Contract 58, off the Philippines, later this week.

Horizon increases PNG acreage

Josh Lewis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:59:52 GMT

Horizon Oil has entered a farm-in agreement with Canada’s Eaglewood Energy which will see the Australian company pick up a 25% stake in PPL 259, onshore Papua New Guinea.

Seismic duo win Norway shoots

Steve Marshall — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:58:49 GMT

Norwegian seismic players Petrolem Geo-Services (PGS) and Dolphin Geophysical have won contracts worth a total of Nkr170 million ($29 million) with the state oil agency to carry out key surveys in northern areas.

Reliance, BP in KG-D6 'salvage bid'

Steve Marshall — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:34:23 GMT

India’s Reliance Industries and partner BP are working on a plan to arrest declining production from the country’s largest offshore gas field in Block D6 in the Krishna Godavari basin, according to a report.

Record interest in Barents blocks

Steve Marshall — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:46:37 GMT

A record number of blocks in the Barents Sea have been nominated for bidding by oil companies in Norway’s 22nd licensing round.

Skills gap, costs 'cloud E&P optimism'

Steve Marshall — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:19:00 GMT

An “increasingly acute” skills shortage and rising operating costs threaten to put the brakes on growth in the oil and gas sector, while high capital spending levels this year remain contingent on a continued high oil price, according to a new survey.

Gujarat gets Krishna Godavari extension

Josh Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:34:49 GMT

India’s Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has approved the extension of the area covered under the existing contract for Gujarat State Petroleum’s Krishna Godavari Block.

Lundin predicts production boost

Andrew Hobbs — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:13:46 GMT

Sweden’s Lundin Petroleum will have a production rate of between 32,000 barrels of oil equivalent and 38,000 boepd to its name in 2012 as production starts at the Gaupe field later this quarter.

E.ON Ruhrgas bites Norway dust

Steve Marshall — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:43:03 GMT

German explorer E.ON Ruhrgas has come up dry with wildcats on a pair of prospects in the Norwegian Sea.

Statoil takes Greenland slice

Josh Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:05:14 GMT

Norway’s Statoil has entered into a farm-in agreement with UK explorer Cairn Energy which will see it gain a stake in the Pitu licence in Baffin Bay, off west Greenland.

Marathon spuds North Dakota pair

Josh Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:46:49 GMT

US independent Marathon Oil has spudded two wells in the Bakken and Three Forks formations in Dunn County, North Dakota.

Sino Gas gets reserves bump

Josh Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:23:38 GMT

Australia-listed Sino Gas & Energy has received a 16% boost to its proven plus probable reserves following an independent review of its production sharing contracts in China’s Ordos basin.

Maverick hits oil in maiden well

Josh Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:49:20 GMT

Australia-listed Maverick Drilling & Exploration has tasted success with its first well to be drilled on the Boling Dome field in Texas.

Senex spuds Spitfire-1

Josh Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:11:25 GMT

Brisbane-based Senex Energy has spudded the Spitfire-1 exploration well in PEL 104 on the western flank of the Cooper basin in South Australia.

AWE takes Indonesian double

Josh Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:21:57 GMT

Australia-listed AWE has entered a sale and purchase agreement with Malaysia’s Genting which will see the former gain a 100% operating stake in two production sharing contracts off Indonesia.

Russian oil output rise expected

Andrew Hobbs — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:44:05 GMT

Russia's Energy Ministry expects crude oil production to edge up by 1% this year to a new record as a decline in output at traditional fields will be offset by a rise in new deposits, a deputy minister said on Saturday.

Statoil 'probes' Gullfaks A leak

Steve Marshall — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:54:11 GMT

A gas leak uncovered on Statoil’s Gullfaks A platform off Norway earlier this month led to a two-day shutdown of the facility and has triggered an investigation by the operator, according to the company.

Lundin gets Sverdrup well nod

Steve Marshall — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:53:32 GMT

Swedish explorer Lundin Petroleum has secured a permit to drill a fourth appraisal probe on its Avaldsnes find off Norway, now part of the renamed Johan Sverdrup discovery.

Polarcus set for West Africa shoot

Steve Marshall — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:56:41 GMT

Oslo-listed seismic contractor Polarcus is set to kick off a 3D seismic shoot later this month off West Africa.

Snohvit plant restarted after halt

Steve Marshall — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:04:42 GMT

Statoil restarted production on Friday from its Hammerfest LNG plant following a nine-day shutdown.

Europa exits Romanian concession

Josh Lewis — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:55:17 GMT

London-listed Europa Oil & Gas has notified its joint venture partners of its intention to withdraw from the Brodina concession in northern Romania.

Delphi flows Montney gas

Josh Lewis — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:48:00 GMT

Calgary-based Delphi Energy has flowed gas from its first well targeting the Montney formation at Bigstone East in Alberta, Canada.

Horizon wraps up Elevala sidetrack

Josh Lewis — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:31:55 GMT

Australia-listed Horizon Oil has completed the Elevala-2 sidetrack in petroleum retention licence 21, in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province.

Polish players have role in shale future

Josh Lewis — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:57:33 GMT

Poland’s state-owned companies are expected to make a strong contribution to the development of the country’s shale gas reserves in order to see first extraction by 2014, Treasury Minister Mikolaj Budzanowski said.

Seven is the magic number for Petrobras

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:40:18 GMT

Brazilian oil giant Petrobras is targeting the lucky number seven in a fresh multi-billion dollar �tender.

briefs

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:40:01 GMT

gulf of mexico

Marlim Leste rig bids in

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:39:46 GMT

Petrobras has just received bids responding to a formal market inquiry for the charter of a special rig destined for underbalanced drilling to be used in the Marlim Leste field in the Campos basin.

Afren find off Nigeria

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:39:23 GMT

UK explorer Afren and junior partner Amni Inter�national Petroleum Development have struck oil off south-east Nigeria on development licence OML-212.

Sonde seeks partner for exploration efforts at Zarat field

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:39:16 GMT

Canadian junior Sonde Resources is looking for a partner at an offshore block in the Mediterranean Sea after receiving a one-year extension on the first phase of its exploration operations there, writes Luke Johnson.

EPA seeks review of frac study

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:38:50 GMT

US government officials are scrutinising their own report linking hydraulic fracturing to water contamination in Wyoming as Encana, the operator implicated by the report, is asking for more time to review the document.

Whiting halts drilling of Tar Cedar-1 wildcat in Texas

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:38:21 GMT

DENVER-BASED Whiting Petrol�eum has halted drilling at the Tar Cedar-1 wildcat well which is targeting a potential deep oil and gas play in west central Texas in the US.

Kinabalu talks for Talisman

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:38:14 GMT

Canada’s Talisman Energy is said to be in talks with Malaysia’s Petronas about taking over a production sharing contract for Malaysia’s Kinabalu oil and gas field, which is expected to be relinquished by Shell at the end of this year, writes Tan Hwee Hwee.

Adnoc tie-up with CNPC

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:38:06 GMT

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and China National Petrol�eum Corporation (CNPC) have signed an agreement to co-operate on exploration activities in Abu Dhabi.

Statoil leads the way in APA 2011 licence awards

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:37:45 GMT

State oil company Statoil emerged predictably as the leading recipient of new acreage offerings in Norway’s latest licensing round in mature areas, but independents Lundin and Det Norske Oljeselskap were not far behind.

Blowout leaves jack-up wrecked and ablaze

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:37:32 GMT

An apparent blowout left a jack-up drilling rig working for US �supermajor Chevron ablaze offshore Nigeria this week.

Sete Brasil steers course for new drillship order

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:37:03 GMT

SETE Brasil, the company created by Petrobras to build new deep-water drilling rigs, has ordered a drillship from Jurong Shipyard to be built at the group’s Brazilian facility.

P-55 lower hull arrives at Rio Grande

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:36:52 GMT

THE lower hull for the production semi-submersible P-55 completed its journey from Pernambuco to the Rio Grande shipyard in Brazil last week.

BP looks to return to Libya

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:36:43 GMT

BP IS optimistic about returning to its big gas exploration project in Libya, but is unlikely to be able to do so until at least later this year, write Nassir Shirkhani and Vahe Petrossian.

DR Congo well

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:36:29 GMT

TOTAL and South African partners SacOil and Divine Inspiration Group will start exploration work in “the next few weeks” on Block 3 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, located south of Lake Albert.

Correction

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:36:12 GMT

IN LAST week’s edition of Upstream the story headlined “Little awareness as Sierra Leone unveils offshore licensing round” incorrectly said that the Petroleum Resources Unit was formerly the Petroleum Directorate.

Ayatsil in sights for Pemex

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:35:55 GMT

PEMEX of Mexico is expected to launch a multi-platform tender in February to develop the Ayatsil heavy oil discovery in the Bay of Campeche.

Riches on agenda as West heads to Burma

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:35:45 GMT

The centre of oil exploration and production excitement in 2012 might not be Iraqi Kurdistan or Libya after all, but Burma.

Watching Cuba open its doors

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:35:27 GMT

With the newly-arrived Saipem semi-submersible rig Scarabeo 9 preparing to spud a Repsol-operated wildcat in Cuba’s high-risk frontier sector in the Gulf of Mexico, Havana is inviting more companies to its waters, writes Tom Darin Liskey.

Output up slightly for China

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:33:51 GMT

China recorded a marginal increase in crude production in 2011, despite the closure of its largest offshore field, Penglai 19-3 in Bohai Bay, writes Xu Yihe.

Players teaming up for deep drive off Sabah

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:33:36 GMT

Japanese players Inpex and JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration have teamed up with Malaysia’s national upstream company Petronas Carigali for two new deep-water exploration blocks off Sabah, writes Amanda Battersby.

Malaysia celebrates Sepat fast-track coming on line

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:33:24 GMT

Malaysia is celebrating production start-up at its fast-tracked Sepat oilfield this week.

Duo sign new PSCs for EOR

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:33:16 GMT

Shell and Petronas have formally signed new production sharing contracts for two enhanced oil recovery projects off Sabah and Sarawak, East Malaysia opening the door to $12 billion-worth of planned investments.

Co-ordinated approach for Draupne and Luno

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:33:11 GMT

Norwegian independent Det Norske Oljeselskap is nearing an agreement with Lundin Petrol�eum of Sweden that would pave the way for the co-ordinated development of their respective Draupne and Luno field development projects off Norway.

Ithaca wait for FPSO

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:33:02 GMT

ABERDEEN-based Ithaca Energy expects the BW Athena floating production, storage and offloading vessel to leave Dubai for the North Sea in mid-February after delays.

Statoil plans fixed platform and Eirin tie-back for Dagny

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:32:39 GMT

Statoil has confirmed that it will develop its Dagny oil and gas field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea using a fixed platform and will also develop the nearby Eirin gas field as a subsea tieback to the facility, writes Eoin O’Cinneade.

Discovery for OGX at BM-S-57

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:32:09 GMT

Brazilian independent OGX has found hydrocarbons on Santos basin Block BM-S-57, amid suggestions that the find is likely to be a big one, writes Gareth Chetwynd.

Low gas prices hit plans for drilling in US

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:31:58 GMT

US PLAYERS are curbing their drilling plans in basins that produce dry natural gas as prices hit their lowest level in a decade for this portion of the year.

Asset sales for Denbury

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:31:41 GMT

US PLAYER Denbury Resources has signed a $155 million deal to sell a handful of non-core properties in southern Louisiana and Mississippi to privately held Petro Harvester Oil & Gas.

Glut at Cushing storage hub affecting profits

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:31:19 GMT

A supply glut at the Oklahoma-based Cushing oil storage hub where easier-to-refine barrels of light, sweet crude are stored, is widening the divide between benchmark West Texas Inter�mediate oil price and other global contracts such as Brent, creating pressure on downstream profit margins.

Technip leads race for ConocoPhillips FLNG gig

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:31:05 GMT

FRANCE’S Technip is tipped to win a contract with Conoco-Phillips to carry out conceptual studies on a medium-sized floating liquefied natural gas plant to develop gas fields off Australia.

Players get set for sale of Anadarko’s Brazil assets

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:30:27 GMT

Interest in Anadarko Petrol�eum’s Brazilian acreage sale is growing, with sources predicting a competitive bidding round for the post-salt and pre-sale concessions.

Pemex releases pre-bid documents for six-platform tender

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:30:15 GMT

Pemex is gearing up to begin a tender race for the transport and installation of six platforms to help bolster its Gulf of Mexico operations, writes Tom Darin Liskey.

Kenai flows

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:29:48 GMT

Buccaneer Energy has produced first gas at its Kenai Loop field in Alaska and is selling some output to the local market and some to the Conoco�Phillips-backed Kenai liquefied natural gas facility.

ExxonMobil is drilling ahead close to Uge find

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:29:34 GMT

US supermajor ExxonMobil is drilling ahead on an exploration well close to its 680-million barrel Uge oil discovery in OPL 214 off �Nigeria.

Interest in Sofala farm-in

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:29:04 GMT

Sasol Petroleum has opened an online data room for companies interested in farming into its Sofala block off Mozambique.

Players run rule over six blocks on Sudan table

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:28:34 GMT

More than 40 companies attended a briefing in Sudan this week on an acreage offering covering six blocks.

Statoil is achieving its goals home and away

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:27:57 GMT

Norway, buoyed by an impressive and unexpected spate of success with the drillbit over the past year, has emerged anew as a wildcatter’s dream.

Lund hails overseas landmark

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:27:44 GMT

STATOIL chief executive Helge Lund, pointing to the company’s results, its safety record and enormous new discoveries in Norway, thinks “2011 will go down in history as a very good year” for the national oil outfit.

Appraisal takes sparkle off Avaldsnes discovery

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:27:34 GMT

NORWAY’S excitement about the giant Avaldsnes-Aldous oil prospect in the North Sea has been slightly tempered by a disappointing appraisal well on the Lundin-operated Avaldsnes field.

Shortage of rigs in spotlight

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:27:10 GMT

THE Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has cautioned that a lack of available rigs will prevent Norway from boosting the number of exploration wells drilled in its waters this year, writes Steve Marshall.

Unconventional plays built on sand mining

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:27:02 GMT

Much has been made of the rush to secure acreage in the emerging US shale plays, but far away from the shale fields another rush has begun for one of the most valuable materials needed to tap the unconventional reserves — sand.

Threat of silica dust apparent

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:26:38 GMT

Some aspects of the mining process for hydraulic fracturing sand present a very real threat to human health in certain situations, but there is little data about how those processes actually affect people living near the mines and processing facilities, writes Noah Brenner.

Living with effects of large-scale operation

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:26:24 GMT

Mining for hydraulic fracturing sand is fast becoming big business in the US, but perhaps no one lives closer to a sand mine than Duane Zweber.

Demand outstrips supply as prices soar

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:26:11 GMT

THERE are many very good reasons why industrial miners and even oil and gas operators might want to open up a sand mine.

Wisconsin playing its part in country’s shale oil drive

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:26:04 GMT

SET into a cradle of hills and shielded from the road by a man-made berm, Wisconsin Industrial Sand Company’s mine outside Menomonie, Wisconsin, produces sand that will be transported to the biggest shale plays in the US, such as the Bakken in North Dakota, Eagle Ford in South Texas and Marcellus in Pennsylvania.

Geology provides the key ingredient

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:25:53 GMT

The geology of Wisconsin and Minnesota made them lousy places to explore for oil and gas but great places to look for frack sand, writes Noah Brenner.

Disappointment at trio of prospects off Brazil

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:25:42 GMT

UK supermajor BP, Anglo-French independent Perenco and Indian player Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) ended 2011 on a down beat in Brazil, where they had disappointing drilling results on a trio of prospects in deep water off the South American coast.

Boost for Talisman at Akacias

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:25:31 GMT

Canadian oil company Talisman Energy expects to start output from Block CPO-9 in Colombia later this year, following another successful appraisal well on the Akacias heavy oil find, writes Fabio Palmigiani.

RMP boost at Montney

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:25:11 GMT

Canadian junior RMP Energy has struck oil at an explor�ation well in the Montney formation of Alberta.

Momentum stalls with disappointing rights sale

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:24:36 GMT

The momentum gained by the Canadian province of Alberta last year for petroleum and natural gas rights sales faltered during the first sale of the year with only C$63 million (US$62 million) raised, writes Tonya Zelinsky.

Government unveils exploration blocks

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:24:17 GMT

The Australian government has shortlisted about 30 offshore oil and gas exploration blocks for likely inclusion in its 2012 acreage release planned for May.

Novatek gaining at pace

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:23:10 GMT

INDEPENDENT Novatek has become the fastest growing hydrocarbon producing company in Russia.

Frontier gets set to drill Nassiping-2 structure

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:22:28 GMT

Independent Frontier Oil is gearing up to spud a gas explor�ation well this month in Service Contract 52 onshore the Philippines that offers fast-track development potential if successful.

Indonesia deep push for Total

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:22:18 GMT

France’s Total has added to its deep-water assets off Indonesia with the acquisition of stakes in three Makassar Straits blocks from Thailand’s national upstream company PTTEP before expected drilling on the acreage, writes Amanda Battersby.

Bidders line up for Abadi

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:21:50 GMT

THREE groups of bidders have pre-qualified for the tender on a floating liquefied natural gas plant to develop Inpex’s Abadi gas project off Indonesia, writes Tan Hwee Hwee.

InterOil in PNG hunt

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:21:37 GMT

CANADIAN independent InterOil has spudded the Triceratops-2 appraisal well onshore Papua New Guinea that is targeting a 1950s significant gas discovery that could provide feedstock for its planned Gulf LNG project.

Lagosta-2 results boost Anadarko’s Area 1 drive

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:21:05 GMT

Anadarko Petroleum’s appraisal programme in Area 1 off Mozambique is going from strength to strength with its latest appraisal well hitting the biggest pay zone yet found in the prolific Rovuma basin.

Barents opening 'in 2013'

Steve Marshall — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:41:01 GMT

Norway’s Oil & Energy Minister Ola Borten Moe aims to submit a proposal to parliament to open up for exploration a newly demarcated area of the Barents Sea in the spring of 2013.

'Gas leak' found at Gullfaks A

Steve Marshall — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:49:41 GMT

Statoil was forced to halt production temporarily from its Gullfaks A platform off Norway earlier this month after a minor gas leak was discovered, the operator has reported.

Lundin pay day off Malaysia

Steve Marshall — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:32:25 GMT

Swedish independent Lundin Petroleum is eyeing a commercial development of its Bertam oilfield off Malaysia after the latest appraisal came up trumps.

President tastes Argentina success

Josh Lewis — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:43:24 GMT

London-listed President Petroleum has hit oil in its first well to be drilled in Argentina on the Puesto Guardian concession.

BPE raises exploration funds

Tan Hwee Hwee — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:33:23 GMT

Indonesia-focused Black Platinum Energy (BPE) has raised $67 million from private equity investors to fund its share of exploration costs for four of its production sharing contracts.

PTTEP looking for Burma partners

Josh Lewis — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:22:19 GMT

The chief executive of Thai explorer PTT Exploration & Production, expects to farm-out part of its stake in the M11 field in Burma next month.

Santos plans production lift

Andrew Hobbs — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:48:30 GMT

Santos expects to lift its total production for 2012 at between 8% and 16.5% higher than the 47.2 million barrels of oil equivalent produced in the 2011 calendar year, the company has announced.

Rialto completes Gazelle shoot

Josh Lewis — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:48:14 GMT

Australia’s Rialto Energy has wrapped up a 3D seismic survey over Block CI-202, off the Ivory Coast.

Neon reveals farm-out details

Josh Lewis — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:54:44 GMT

Australia-listed Neon Energy has released the details of its previously announced farm-out of two blocks off Vietnam.

Cairn India gets Bhagyam 'go-ahead'

Steve Marshall — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:34:03 GMT

India’s Oil Ministry has finally approved Cairn India’s plan to start oil production at the Bhagyam oilfield in the Rajasthan block, according to a report.

Big Bear nod for Det Norske

Steve Marshall — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:58:47 GMT

Det Norske Oljeselskap has been given the green light by the Norwegian authorities to drill a wildcat at its Storebjorn (Big Bear) prospect in the southern North Sea.

Tullow, Shell in Atlantic frontier pact

Steve Marshall — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:32:25 GMT

UK independent Tullow Oil is teaming up with Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell in a joint venture for exploration in frontier Atlantic basin plays.

Shale buys boost BHP output

Josh Lewis — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:03:05 GMT

The purchase of US shale assets helped boost output from the petroleum business of Australian mining giant BHP Billiton by 36% during the second half of 2011.

Duo to drill new Kahili well

Josh Lewis — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:11:24 GMT

New Zealand’s L&M Energy and Australia’s Mosaic Oil are planning to drill a new well on the onshore Kahili gas condensate field in New Zealand’s Taranaki basin.

BG wraps up Kenyan shoots

Josh Lewis — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:23:29 GMT

BG Group has completed both a 3D and 2D seismic survey over its licence areas L10A and L10B, off Kenya.

GGP abandons Jumonville well

Josh Lewis — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:18:43 GMT

Australia-listed Golden Gate Petroleum (GGP) has plugged and abandoned the Jumonville-4 well on the Shallow Laurel Ridge Huth prospect at its Bullseye project in Louisiana.

Sverdrup 'in the house' at Statoil

Steve Marshall — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:15:59 GMT

The exact naming of the giant Avaldsnes-Aldous discovery off Norway has been an underlying bone of contention for respective operators Lundin Petroleum and Statoil, each of which is vying for operatorship of the find.

Norway spreads spoils in APA round

Steve Marshall — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:45:43 GMT

A raft of oil majors and smaller independents have been awarded licences, alongside state-owned behemoth Statoil, in Norway’s latest licensing round in mature areas that attracted a record number of bids.

Statoil recovery push pays off

Steve Marshall — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:49:53 GMT

Improved recovery efforts on Statoil’s existing Norwegian fields yielded more reserves last year than its Skrugard and Havis discoveries in the Barents Sea combined, according to the state-owned giant.

Gassco backing Barents pipeline

Steve Marshall — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:16:43 GMT

Norwegian gas infrastructure agency Gassco is backing construction of a new Nkr30 billion ($5 billion) pipeline to bring to market new discoveries in the Barents Sea, saying it could be in place by 2020.

Lundin raises Norway game

Steve Marshall — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:04:47 GMT

Swedish independent Lundin Petroleum is set to boost exploration and development spending off Norway significantly this year after revealing a 40% increase in its budget to $960 million.

Anadarko hits Mozambique gas

Josh Lewis — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:01:17 GMT

US independent Anadarko Petroleum has struck gas across multiple zones in the Lagosta-2 appraisal well in Mozambique’s offshore Area 1.

Sorochynska well delayed

Josh Lewis — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:07:55 GMT

Australia-listed Hawkley Oil & Gas has delayed the spudding of the Sorochynska-202 production well in the Ukraine.

Senex gets Growler boost

Josh Lewis — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:16:06 GMT

Brisbane-based Senex Energy has extended the mapped limits of the Growler oilfield, in the western flank of the South Australian Cooper basin, following successful drilling of the Growler-7 appraisal well.

Buru tests with Valhalla spud

Andrew Hobbs — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:34:48 GMT

Australia-based Buru Energy has spudded its Valhalla North-1 well in the Canning superbasin, the fifth well in a joint exploration programme with Mitsubishi Corporation.

Molopo spins Bakken bit

Josh Lewis — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:54:41 GMT

Australia-listed Molopo Energy has started drilling the fifth well of its current drilling campaign on its Bakken acreage in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Horn spuds Puntland well

Josh Lewis — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:31:29 GMT

Canadian player Horn Petroleum has spudded the Shabeel-1 well on the Dharoor Block in Puntland, Somalia.

Norway hits the well wall

Steve Marshall — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:27:52 GMT

The number of exploration and appraisal wells to be drilled off Norway in 2012 will remain flat compared with the 52 spudded last year as a rig shortage hits drilling capacity and costs, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD).

Avaldsnes probe a 'resource blow'

Steve Marshall — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:58:46 GMT

The latest appraisal to be drilled at the giant Avaldsnes discovery in the North Sea fell short of expectations for Swedish explorer Lundin Petroleum and looks set to hit resource estimates.

Genel to boost Kurdish stake

Josh Lewis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:35:18 GMT

London-listed Genel Energy is set to increase its stake in the Chia Surkh Block, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, from 20% to 80% in deals worth a combined $94 million.

Octanex wraps up Rissa shoot

Josh Lewis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:36:59 GMT

Melbourne-based Octanex has completed the first of three 3D seismic surveys being gathered over its Southern Bonaparte basin permits, off Western Australia.

Grizzly fails to roar

Josh Lewis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:27:36 GMT

Australia’s Grand Gulf Energy said the Grizzly prospect in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, will be plugged and abandoned after it was determined to be non-commercial.

Greenpower permit survey planned

Andrew Hobbs — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:52:09 GMT

US private equity group UIL will conduct a seismic survey over the EP 447 permit area in the north Perth basin, held by Greenpower Energy subsidiary GCC Methane, after its current permit has expired.

Rialto gets Gazelle funding

Josh Lewis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:00:30 GMT

Australia-listed Rialto Energy has received a proposed funding offer from the private sector lending arm of the World Bank which it will use to help develop its Gazelle field, off the Ivory Coast.

Petronas to continue in South Sudan

Josh Lewis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:29:25 GMT

Malaysia’s state-run oil company Petronas has signed a transition agreement with the government of the Republic of South Sudan to allow it to continue operations on blocks previously awarded by the Republic of Sudan.

Buccaneer starts Kenai production

Andrew Hobbs — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:24:50 GMT

Australia-based Buccaneer Energy has started production from its Kenai Loop-1 well, its first production from Alaska’s Cook Inlet basin.

MoU signed for India LNG terminal

Steve Marshall — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:04:20 GMT

GAIL Gas has signed a memorandum of understanding with Andhra Pradesh to develop a liquefied natural gas terminal with floating facilities on the coast of the eastern Indian state.

Worker dies in Maracaibo boat crash

Steve Marshall — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:36:25 GMT

Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA said late Thursday that an oilfield worker died when the transport boat he was on collided with an oil well and sunk in Lake Maracaibo.

Norway set to shift up a gear in 2012

Steve Marshall — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:01:41 GMT

A raft of explorers are champing at the bit for a share of the Norwegian spoils after game-changing finds in the North Sea and Barents Sea, while the pace of licensing and development activity off the country is set to accelerate in the year ahead, according to Wood Mackenzie.

Statoil shuts in Snoehvit

Josh Lewis — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:07:26 GMT

Norwegian oil company Statoil has temporarily shut down production at its Snoehvit gas field in the Barents Sea after a water line ruptured at the onshore processing plant.

PetroVietnam to pump Uzbekistan oil

Josh Lewis — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:45:05 GMT

Vietnam's state oil and gas group, PetroVietnam, will pump oil from Uzbekistan as it moves to step up overseas exploitation activities.

Maverick raises Blue Ridge reserves

Josh Lewis — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:27:09 GMT

Australia-listed Maverick Drilling & Exploration has more than doubled its estimate for the proven reserves of its Blue Ridge Dome assets south of Houston, Texas.