While it seems most Arctic exploration activity has slowed, it really depends on where you look. Bruce McMichael reports. Gazprom Neft’s Prirazlomnoye facility, in the Russian Arctic. Photos from Gazprom Neft…
Jerry Lee looks into Arctic-rated safety equipment that seeks to make it eaiser to comply with regulations around the globe. Arctic capping stack with remote BOP control and intervention subsea accumulator module…
Russia's Rosneft has made a gas condensate discovery named Wild Orchid offshore Vietnam. The well was drilled using the Hakuryu-5 semisubmersible drilling rig during Q2 this year, operated by RN-Vietnam, in Block 06.1. Volume of reserves…
New and 'final' regulations regarding drilling in the US Arctic have been jointly issued by the country's authorities, including a requirement to have a relief rig on standby and containment equipment. Image from BSEE Twitter…
Deep Sea Supply is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded three new time charter contracts for operations in Egypt by BP Egypt. The PSV Sea Swift has been awarded a two-year firm, plus a one-year option contract, while…
Supermajor Shell has donated nearly 9000sq km of its Arctic exploration permits to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to support a national marine conservation area off the coast of Nunavut. Image from Nature Conservancy of Canada…
Several supermajor oil and gas companies including Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell, Italian giant Eni, and US supermajor ConocoPhillips have surrendered more than 2 million acres in the Chukchi Sea. The Polar Pioneer…
Deep Sea Supply has been awarded multiple contracts by several international oil companies for work in the North Sea, offshore Asia, and South America. Statoil awarded Deep Sea a two-year contract, plus three yearly options for the PSV Sea Falcon for operations in the North Sea…
Earthjustice, on behalf of eight conservation groups, filed to intervene in a case before the Interior Board of Land Appeals to defend the Department of Interior’s (DOI) decision to deny Shell’s request for an extension of the terms of its oil drilling leases in the Arctic Ocean…
Shell has terminated the contract for the Polar Pioneer, a harsh environment semisubmersible drilling rig, announced rig owner Transocean on 28 December. The rig was famously used this summer in Shell's Arctic campaign in the Chukchi Sea…
The US is losing its opportunity to lay claim to Arctic exploration, falling behind countries such as Norway and Russia. Now with Shell and Statoil exiting Alaska’s offshore, many in the industry and in politics are wondering how to salvage Alaskan offshore exploration…
Drilling contractor Noble Corp. is relocating its drillship Noble Discoverer to Singapore where it will be stacked after Shell terminated its contract on the rig. Shell had been using the Noble Discoverer for its failed arctic exploration in the Chukchi Sea alongside the Polar Pioneer…
Rosneft has completed its 2015 geological exploration program at offshore licenses using 2D seismic survey methods that covered 20,434km in the Kara Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Laptev Sea. For the first time, 2D seismic exploration was carried out with support of an integrated information system…
Statoil is saying goodbye to Alaska exploration and has decided to exit its leases in the Chukchi Sea following recent results in nearby leases, in addition to finding the leases no longer competitive. Map of Alaskan leases Statoil is exiting…
The US Department of the Interior announced it will cancel two planned Arctic offshore lease sales under the US government’s current five-year plan for 2012-2017 due to Shell’s failed Arctic campaign and current market conditions, which left…
