Fossil Energy
Ithaca in Takeover Talks (UK)
Ithaca Energy, a North Sea focused oil and gas exploration, development and production company, announced on March 1, 2012, that it had received unsolicited interest from a number of third parties. The company, with offices in Canada and UK, also advised that the Board of Ithaca concluded that it wa
Swedish Floatel to Finance Floatel Victory Construction Through Bond Issue
Sweden-based Floatel International Ltd, established in 2006 to satisfy a market demand for a new generation of offshore floatels, is contemplating the issuance of up to a USD 200 million equivalent bond issue in the Norwegian bond market. The proceeds from the bond issue will be used to finance the
NPD Grants Statoil a Drilling Permit in Norwegian North Sea
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate on Friday granted Statoil Petroleum AS a drilling permit for wellbore 34/7-35 S, cf. Section 8 of the Resource Management Regulations. Wellbore 34/7-35 S will be drilled from the Ocean Vanguard drilling rig at position 61°18’3.71”N and 2°12’18.88”E in Norwegian pa
Aker Solutions Opens Office in Ålesund, Norway
Aker Solutions is establishing an office in Ålesund, Norway, to connect with the engineering competence in the region and thereby facilitate further growth for the oil services company. The Ålesund region and its marine industry is renowned for highly skilled and competent engineers. The new office
Fairmount Tows Semi-Sub Rig from Canary Islands to Brazil
Fairmount Marine’s tug Fairmount Sherpa has towed the rig ODN Tay IV from Las Palmas towards al location offshore Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For this job Fairmount Marine was contracted by Odebrecht Oil and Gas for the third time in a row. ODN Tay IV is a semi submersible drilling rig for deep water op
Statoil, Rosneft to Jointly Explore for Oil in Russian Offshore Areas
Statoil and Rosneft yesterday signed a cooperation agreement. The companies have agreed to jointly explore offshore frontier areas of Russia and Norway and to conduct joint technical studies on two onshore Russian assets. The agreement also envisages Rosneft’s acquisition of participating interests
UK: Premier’s Stingray a Dry Hole
Premier announces that the Stingray exploration well (15/13b-11) drilled on Licence P1212 (Block 15/13b) has reached a total depth of 2,129 metres and is being plugged and abandoned as a dry hole (Premier 50 per cent). The next exploration well to be drilled by Premier in the UK North Sea is the Car
Total E&P UK to Hire Prospector Rig 1 Jack-up
Prospector Offshore Drilling S.A. last week received a Letter of Award from Total E&P UK for a drilling contract in the U.K. North Sea for its first jack-up rig, “Prospector Rig 1”. The Award is subject to execution of a mutually-agreed drilling contract , which is expected to be completed later in
Siemens Powers China Built Offshore Rigs
The shipyards Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd., CMHI/Shenzhen as well as Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard in China have awarded Germany-based Siemens Energy a total of three orders for electrical power supply packages for offshore drilling rigs. These packages, which include BlueDrive Drilling, are des
Norway: Nautronix Provides Survey Services to Ocean Installer
Nautronix have been awarded a three year contract by the Norwegian SURF contractor, Ocean Installer AS, for the supply of survey services to support their offshore construction activities. The contract includes the provision of onshore and offshore survey services in support of tendering and project
Norway: STX OSV Buys Stake in Castor Drilling
STX OSV subsidiary Seaonics AS is in the process of acquiring 34% shareholding interest in Castor Drilling Solution AS (“Castor Drilling”) from an unrelated party. The investment, in two tranches of 22.52% and 11.48%, is expected to be completed by the end of 2012. The total consideration for the tr
UK: WilHunter Ready to Spud Timon Well
The WilHunter semi-submersible drilling rig, owned by Awilco Drilling, has arrived on location to drill the Timon prospect (Valiant, 10%) located in the UK Northern North Sea in Blocks 211/11b and 211/16b, reports Valiant Petroleum. The well is expected to spud within the next few days and take appr
UK: Oil-Bearing Orchid Needs Further Assessment
Trapoil, the independent oil and gas exploration and appraisal company focused on the UK North Sea, has been advised by Summit Petroleum Limited that operations on the Orchid exploration well have reached their targeted depth. As previously announced, the 12¼” hole section of the Orchid well bore wa
The Netherlands: Van Nes Field Produces First Gas
Dana Petroleum plc announced that on 30 April 2012, first gas production began from the Van Nes field located in block P11b within the Medway development area (Dana 50% and operator, EBN 50%). The subsea well, located on the Dutch continental shelf approximately 60 km north west of The Hague, will p