Oil and Gas Industry News













Analysis: Security, Regulatory Reforms Revive Colombia Oil Production
Friday, September 3, 2010 -After a period of steady decline, Colombia has seen an increase in oil production due to Colombian government efforts.
BOEM to Investigate Mariner Platform Fire
Friday, September 3, 2010 -BOEM has launched a full investigation into the September 2, 2010, incident on Mariner Energy Resources' Vermilion 380 platform.
BP Continues Ops to Replace Deepwater Horizon's BOP
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Operations are now underway to replace the DWH drilling rig's failed BOP with the DDII drilling rig's BOP in order to allow operations to complete the relief well to resume.
BP Spent $8B on Oil Spill, Plans to Resume Relief Well
Friday, September 3, 2010 -BP has spent around $8B to date in response to the massive oil spill in the GOM and expects to resume its relief well drilling shortly.
Commodity Corner: Jobs, Services News Put Damper on Oil
Friday, September 3, 2010 -A report showing slower growth in the U.S. services sector in August contributed to a lower crude oil price Friday.
Opinion: A CEO Fights Feds, But Feds Don't Fight Fair
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Todd Hornbeck beat the Obama administration once again on Wednesday, and yet he is still losing.
Analysis: Global Jackup Report Card Part II
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -A closer look at jackup activity in the GOM, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.
BP: Work Has Started on Removal of Capping Stack
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -BP has begun operations to remove a capping stack above the Deepwater Horizon well, another step towards the replacement of a broken blow-out preventer and the ultimate killing of the well.
Commodity Corner: Platform Blast Prompts Oil Rally
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -The October crude oil futures price rallied Thursday after news broke of an explosion on a production platform in the Central Gulf of Mexico.
Platform Explodes Offshore Louisiana
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -An explosion occurred this morning at a fixed platform operated by Mariner Energy in Vermilion Block 380 offshore Louisiana.
Today's Trends: Crude Imports Decline, But Critical to U.S.
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -U.S crude oil imports grew rapidly from mid-20th century until the late 1970s, but fell sharply from 1979 to 1985, according to the EIA.
Western AU to Seize Land for LNG Project
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Western AU state has begun a compulsory acquisition process for land planned for the massive Browse liquefied natural gas project.
AED Updates Activities at Brunei Well
Friday, September 3, 2010 -AED reported that 7" casing has now been run to 2867m MDRT at the Lempuyang-1 exploration well.
Devon Commences Drilling at Wolfberry Prospect
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Caza O&G announced that scheduled drilling has commenced on the initial test well at the Windham (Wolfberry) prospect in Upton County, Texas.
Empire to Recommence Tasmania Drilling Program
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Empire scheduled recommencement of its 12-hole drilling program.
Gulf Keystone Spuds Appraisal Well in Iraq
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Gulf Keystone announced the commencement of drilling operations on its Shaikan-3 appraisal well.
NPD Grants Shell Drilling Permit in Norwegian Sea
Friday, September 3, 2010 -The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted A/S Norske Shell a drilling permit for wellbore 6603/5-1 S.
Pacific Rubiales Farms-Out Buganviles Block
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Pacific Rubiales has executed an agreement with Petrodorado South America for the earn-in of an additional participating interest in the Buganviles Block.
Scheduling Conflicts Delay Drilling at Zoya Well
Friday, September 3, 2010 -The scheduled drilling of the 45 day Zola-1 well has been delayed until November 2010 due to scheduling conflicts with the Stena Clyde rig.
SOCO Drills Unsuccessful Well in Congo
Friday, September 3, 2010 -SOCO E&P encountered significant hydrocarbon shows at Nganga 1 well but petrophysical interpretation of the logs indicates that these sands are water bearing.
IPR, Sojitz Strike Oil in Egypt's Western Desert
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -IPR, and its partner, Sojitz Oil and Gas, have discovered another oil bearing structure in the underlying Alam El Bueib sands in the Yidma-Alamein License in Egypt's Western Desert.
JKX Spuds Bulgaria Wells
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -JKX announced that the first of two wells testing amplitude supported gas prospects onshore Bulgaria spud September 2, 2010.
Lion Energy Amends Farmout Agreement with Africa Oil
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Lion Energy has come to an agreement with Africa Oil regarding certain amendments to the existing farmout agreement on all its east Africa assets.
OGX IDs Additional Gas Shows in Parnaiba Basin
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -OGX has identified additional evidence of gas in the Devonian section of well 1-OGX-16-MA, in the onshore basin of Parnaiba.
Oil Search Reaches TD at Yemen Well
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -AWE reported that at 06:00 Yemen time (-7 hrs AEST) on September 1, the Jebel Al Milh-1 well was at a total depth (TD) of 4,227 meters and was preparing to run logs.
Origin Cases, Suspends Wolf 1 Gas Well
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Origin reported that at 0600 hours Western Standard Time the well had been cased and suspended for future testing.
Serica to Spin Bit Offshore Indonesia
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Serica announced that the Trident IX jack-up drilling rig arrived on location for the Dambus-1 well in the Kutai PSC in the Mahakam Delta offshore East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Tethys Reports Potential Hydrocarbons in Kazakh Wells
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Tethys reported that hydrocarbons have been identified at the Dione and Dodone wells in Kazakhstan.
Tullow Acquires 6 Licenses, Expands Footprint in East Africa
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Tullow announced the acquisition of a 50% operated interest in six adjacent licenses covering the East African Rift Basins of Kenya and Ethiopia, an area of 97,000 sq km.
Valeura to Farm-In to Turkish Licenses
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Valeura will farm-in to one production lease containing the Kahta heavy oil field and eight exploration licenses operated by AME-GYP and located in southeastern Turkey within the Zagros fold belt.
Aquaterra Clinches Contract for 'World First' Riser
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Aquaterra has secured a major contract for a High Pressure Marine Riser System from Apache North Sea.
Gazprom, SOCAR Sign Addendum to Boost Azerbaijani Gas
Friday, September 3, 2010 -An addendum has been signed to the effective gas purchase and sale contract for Azerbaijani natural gas between Gazprom and SOCAR.
Statoil Gets Green Light to Use Asgard B Facility
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Statoil has been granted consent to use the new pipeline L-103 from subsea template L to Asgard B.
Clough Curtain JV Clinches Contract for PNG LNG Upstream Infrastructure
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Clough Curtain Joint Venture has received firm work orders worth AU $250 Million associated with the Upstream Infrastructure contract.
Range Resources Commences Production at North Chapman Ranch
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Range Resources announced that production has commenced from the Company's second well at North Chapman Ranch, the Russell Bevly Unit #1.
VWS Westgarth Awarded FPSO Installation Contract Offshore Brazil
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -VWS Westgarth has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by SBM Atlantia for their FPSO to be installed in the Baleia Azul field.
2H Offshore Opens New Base in Perth Basin
Friday, September 3, 2010 -2H Offshore, an Acteon company, announced the opening of a new regional base in Perth, Australia, to improve service to clients in Asia Pacific.
EMGS Launches EDDA Project in NCS
Friday, September 3, 2010 -Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS) has received industry funding for a joint project to accelerate the use of 3D EM data in exploration and production.
ASCO Secures Logistics Contracts with BP, Talisman
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -ASCO Group's Norway operation, has been awarded contracts to supply integrated logistics services to Oil majors BP and Talisman Energy.
Cabot Strengthens Management Team
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Cabot announced that G. Kevin Cunningham has been appointed to the position of General Counsel of the Company.
Expro Acquires Leading Asia Business
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Expro has completed the acquisition of the Production Testers International business (PTI) from Production Testers International HK and Production Testers International.
OIS Completes Multi-Operator Well Abandonment Campaign in North Sea
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Offshore Installation Services (OIS) has successfully completed a suspended well abandonment campaign in the UK North Sea involving four individual operators.
Otto Bids Farewell to Non-Executive Director
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Otto announce the appointment of Mr. Paul Moore as Managing Director and Mr. Ian Boserio as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.
Red Spider Technology Reinforces Commitment to Norway
Thursday, September 2, 2010 -Red Spider Technology reinforces its commitment to Norway with the appointment of Oddvar Dalane as sales manager Scandinavia.