News
ExxonMobil discovers sixth oil field offshore Guyana
ExxonMobil and its partners have achieved a sixth oil discovery in the deepwater Stabroek block offshore Guyana! The drillship Stena Carron spudded the Ranger-1 well in early November in 8,973 ft (2,735 m) of water. The well intersected around 230 ft (70 m) of...
Transocean announces contract for deepwater drillship
Transocean Ltd. announced that the ultra-deepwater drillship Deepwater Invictus was awarded a two-year contract plus three one-year priced options with a subsidiary of BHP Billiton. The backlog associated with the firm contract is approximately $106 million. The...
Massive BP project begins production in Trinidad
BP has confirmed the start of production from one of the seven Upstream major oil and gas projects that it expects to come online in 2017. Five of these seven projects have now started up. Juniper in Trinidad follows the start-up earlier this year of the Trinidad...
Shell, Mitsui take plunge in deepwater Gulf of Mexico offshore Louisiana
Offshore staff Shell Offshore Inc. and MOEX North America LLC have each taken the final investment decision to execute phase one of the deepwater Kaikias project in the US Gulf of Mexico. Kaikias has a competitive go-forward break-even price below $40/bbl, according...
BP starts up Thunder Horse expansion early, under budget
Offshore staff HOUSTON – BP recently started up the Thunder Horse South Expansion project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico 11 months ahead of schedule and $150 million under budget. The operator said that the project is expected to boost production at the facility by...
Juniper platform sets sail for offshore Trinidad and Tobago
(Courtesy BP Trinidad and Tobago) Offshore staff PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago – The platform for the BP Trinidad and Tobago-operated Juniper gas project is on its way for installation 50 mi (80 km) offshore. The Juniper project comprises a platform made...
SeaBird goes to work offshore Belize
Offshore staff LIMASSOL, Cyprus – SeaBird Exploration will acquire a long-offset survey offshore Belize, set to start this month. The company will use its 2D long offset /source vessel Northern Explorer to acquire the survey. The anticipated duration of the program is...
Stones nearing first production in the ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico
Shell's project features many industry firsts Royal Dutch Shell plc expects first production this year from the Stones project in the ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Discovered in 2005, Stones is located in the Walker Ridge area about 200 mi (322 km) offshore...
Noble Energy starts up Gunflint in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico
Offshore staff HOUSTON – Noble Energy, Inc.’s Gunflint oil development in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico has entered production. The two-well field is ramping up and is anticipated to reach a minimum gross production of 20,000 boe/d, with oil representing approximately...
Mexico begins historic new round of shallow-water auctions
Offshore staff MEXICO CITY – The Mexican government launched its second round of oil auctions, offering 15 exploration and production blocks in shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. On July 19, the National Hydrocarbons Commission approved terms for the first auction...
BHP plans increased spend on offshore exploration
Offshore staff BHP Billiton has issued an update on its recent offshore E&P activities. The company has acquired 91 blocks with no well obligations in the US Gulf of Mexico, and also executed a lease exchange agreement with Chevron for 61 blocks and a sale and...
BP aims to boost production from Thunder Horse in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico
Offshore staff HOUSTON – BP has started up a major water injection project at its Thunder Horse platform, which aims to extend the production life of one of the biggest deepwater fields in the US Gulf of Mexico. The project will boost recovery of oil and natural...