The energy transition and Extinction Rebellion led the energy news agenda and discussions in company boardrooms in 2019, but the impact on exploration drilling is not yet apparent, according to market research provider Westwood Global Energy Group. Westwood is suggesting keeping an eye on Brazil in 2020 with one high impact well currently drilling and... Continue Reading →
Rystad: Exxon’s Guyana finds push oil & gas discoveries to four-year high in 2019
The world’s oil and gas explorers have discovered 12.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in 2019, the highest volume since 2015, according to estimates by energy intelligence firm Rystad Energy. Guyana’s success story from 2018 continued in 2019, with ExxonMobil adding four new discoveries within its offshore Stabroek block, with the last one coming in... Continue Reading →
Africa Looks Forward to More Productive 2020
As the New Year kicks off this week, some of Africa’s oil and gas producers are looking forward to fast-tracking approved offshore exploration plans to counter falling production volumes and meet the increasing demand especially for natural gas required for power generation and growing import orders especially from Asia and Europe. It is expected leading... Continue Reading →
2020 Offshore Exploration Outlook
When asked where the hotspots for 2020 exploration might be, Brown said, “Brazil is the obvious answer”, noting that an increasingly diverse operator mix – including Equinor and Shell among those joining Petrobras in exploring the deepwater pre-salt – will be key to success in the region. “Brazil is on the verge of a revival... Continue Reading →
Total eyes new production hub offshore Angola
Total said on Monday it had signed a sale and purchase agreement with state-owned Sonangol of Angola to acquire interests in Blocks 20/11 and 21/09 in the Kwanza Basin, offshore Luanda. Subject to the approvals of the competent authorities and partners, the group will hold a 50% working interest, alongside Sonangol (20%) and BP (30%),... Continue Reading →
Tullow Oil shares tank as CEO and head of exploration exit
Shares in oil and gas company Tullow Oil tanked on Monday morning after the company announced the departure of its chief executive and exploration director as well as plans to reduce capital expenditures and suspend the dividend. Paul McDade, Tullow Chief Executive Officer, and Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, have resigned from the board of Tullow by... Continue Reading →
Exclusive: Exxon steps up assets sales with sweeping $25 billion plan – sources
Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) is accelerating its biggest asset sales in decades with plans to divest up to $25 billion of oil and gas fields in Europe, Asia and Africa as it sharpens its focus on a handful of mega projects at home and abroad, banking sources said. The vast programme, which will see Exxon effectively... Continue Reading →
Seadrill: Offshore drilling market recovering, but at ‘lower pace’
Offshore drilling company Seadrill has painted a cautiously optimistic picture for the offshore drilling market outlook, with the company seeing an opportunity for high-end floaters as well as for jack-up reactivations in 2020. At the end of the third quarter, Seadrill had 35 offshore rigs in Total, of which, 19 floaters and 16 jack-ups. Of... Continue Reading →
Angola Lifting All Boats
Suppliers of drilling and subsea services and equipment may already be feeling the partial lift offered by West African nation Angola clearing offshore investment bottlenecks. On Monday, Bergen-based subsea cable layer, Oceanteam, announced its vessel, or CSV BO 101, had been hired to hang around the Angolan offshore a little longer. Client Total extended the charter contract... Continue Reading →