Analysts predict boost for offshore rig rates amid surge in activity
Offshore rig rates are due to surge within two years as activity accelerates, according to new data.
drilling
Power-hungry Texas oil drillers get a little help from solar
Texas, home to the world’s largest oil reserve and America’s biggest source of coal-fired power, is on the verge of a clean-energy boom.
Losses widen for KCA Deutag despite ‘robust’ North Sea work
Aberdeen-based KCA Deutag saw its losses widen by 68% in its full year accounts yesterday, despite a “robust” performance from its North Sea business.
Offshore drilling makes comeback after years in shale’s shadow
Offshore is ready for the limelight again.
KCA Deutag clinches land drilling deals worth £41m
A north-east drilling and engineering company has continued its hot streak of contract wins for global onshore jobs.
Updated: Awilco in new £325m rig order, appoints new CEO
North Sea contractor Awilco Drilling has ordered a new semi-submersible rig for £325 million – and found a new chief executive.
Ensco raises offer for merger with rival rig contractor Rowan
Rig contractor Ensco has increased its takeover offer for rival firm Rowan.
Well slot: Active wells and completions in Westwood report to month end
UK Continental Shelf
Norway fund manager betting on rigs for 200% return
After more than 3 years of taking a hammering, drillers are set to rise.
Feds postpone public meetings on offshore drilling
The government shutdown is now delaying the rollout of President Donald Trump's plans to expand offshore drilling.
Five missing after has explosion at Oklahoma drilling site, report says
Five workers are missing following a gas explosion at a drilling site in Oklahoma, according to a news report.
Drill spot: Completion reached on four wells
Westwood Global Energy reports that in the UK in December there was just one new well spud in the Central North Sea, whilst operations on four wells were completed. 2017 saw a total of 23 E&A wells* completed. At the end of December, just one exploration well was active on the UKCS.
New era for specialist Perth oil drilling firm
A Perth-based extended reach drilling company has moved to an employee ownership model as it looks to drive growth and take advantage of an improving oil and gas market.
Pantheon Resources announce drilling operations at Wilcox formation
Oil and gas exploration company, Pantheon Resources, has kicked-off the drilling of its Wilcox formation development.
Statoil given go-ahead for drilling on Troll
Norwegian operator Statoil has been given the green light for drilling on the giant Troll gas field, in the North Sea.
Wellslot: All the North Sea drilling in one place
UK
US Senate Republicans pave way for oil drilling in Alaska refuge
Senate Republicans set the stage for using the budget to end the 37-year ban on oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Breakneck US drilling creates ‘industrial inventory’ of untapped wells waiting to flow
West Texas drillers again left scores of untapped wells in their wake last month as they drilled and pumped even more oil into the oversupplied market.
Majors slash drilling budgets as caution takes hold
Caution lights are flashing for the oil industry.
Aker BP given blessing to drill North Sea well
Norway's offshore safety watchdog has given Aker BP its blessing to drill an exploration well on the Nordfjellet prospect in the North Sea.
Ensco leads way as offshore drilling bottoms out
The struggling offshore energy sector may have finally bottomed out, analysts said, with Ensco leading the rebound by winning several new West African drilling contracts.
US drilling surge to slow as operators tussle with low prices
The US drilling surge could begin to plateau soon as operators grapple with both falling prices and growing constraints on equipment and labor.
Deadline extended for North Atlantic Drilling to partner up with Russia’s Rosneft
Seadrill subsidiary North Atlantic Drilling (NADL) has extended the deadline for closing a landmark deal with Russia's state-run Rosneft.
Lundin gets consent to drill Alta exploration well
Lundin has been granted consent to drill an exploration well in the Alta prospect in the Barents Sea.
Wellslot: UKCS set for a busy second half of 2017
At the time of writing, there were no April E&A (exploration & appraisal) well spuds to report, ergo the new well count for 2017 stays at two. The number of active wells also remains at just two, including one carried over from 2016.