(Reuters) Studies by Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras show that a single oil block of Amapa's equatorial margin could total more than 5.6 billion barrels of oil, the country's mines and energy minister said on Friday. Alexandre Silveira's remarks come as the oil giant bids to drill a well at the mouth of the Amazon... Continue Reading →
IBAMA grants Petrobras license to drill in the Potiguar Basin on the Equatorial Margin
(AB) The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) reported that the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) granted an environmental license for Petrobras to drill wells in the Potiguar Basin segment, off the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, on the Equatorial Margin. The license would refer to the research activity... Continue Reading →
ANP approves geoeconomic studies of three blocks in the Pre-Salt for possible inclusion in future rounds
The ANP Board approved the geological and economic studies of three exploratory blocks, located in the Santos Basin Pre-Salt, for possible inclusion in future rounds of bidding for areas for exploration and production of oil and natural gas . With approval by the ANP, the Amazonita, Safira Leste and Safira Oeste blocks will now be... Continue Reading →
Exxon, Hess Exit Kaieteur Offshore Oil Exploration Block in Guyana
(Reuters) U.S. oil producers ExxonMobil and Hess Corp have withdrawn from exploring the Kaieteur block in Guyana’s deepwaters, Exxon said on Thursday, after disappointing exploration results. The exit comes as the producers focus on their larger and highly productive Stabroek block, where more than 11 billion barrels of oil and gas have been discovered so far. Kaieteur, at 3.3... Continue Reading →
Challenges Loom as Colombia Seeks Offshore Gas Development
(OE) Offshore development of new gas assets has been identified as a key piece to Colombia’s long-term energy security, but significant challenges remain. The size, production capability, and required infrastructure investments all make the situation uncertain, energy industry intelligence group Wood Mackenzie has found. According to Wood Mackenzie, the development of recent offshore gas discoveries... Continue Reading →
Transocean raising cash to pay for its newbuild drillship
(OET) Transocean Aquila Limited, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Transocean, has kicked off a multi-million dollar private offering of senior secured notes due 2028. The firm will use the net proceeds from the notes to partially finance the construction, acquisition, and improvement or alteration of a newbuild ultra-deepwater drillship and to fund the initial debt... Continue Reading →
BP, Shell reach agreement with Trinidad to explore deepwater blocks
(Reuters) - A BP Plc (BP.L) and Shell Plc (SHEL.L) consortium have reached an agreement with Trinidad and Tobago to explore three deepwater blocks for hydrocarbon production in the Caribbean country, Minister of Energy Stuart Young said on Thursday. The deal would help Trinidad speed up offshore exploration and production to secure more natural gas to support its liquefied... Continue Reading →
Geological Connection to Namibia Sparks Offshore Oil Hope in Uruguay
(Reuters) Uruguay state-run energy firm Ancap is set to agree to final terms for a record number of seven offshore exploration licenses next month, a senior executive told Reuters, as the frontier market lures bets from global players like Shell. To date no oil or gas has been found in Uruguayan waters, but the licenses... Continue Reading →
Norwegian Seismic Specialists TGS and PGS Set to Merge
Norway-based seismic specialists TGS and PGS ASA said Monday they had agreed on the principal terms of a merger of TGS and PGS "to create a strong full-service energy data company." The transaction is expected to be completed as a statutory merger pursuant to Norwegian corporate law, with merger consideration to PGS shareholders in the form... Continue Reading →
Brazil Likely to Explore Equatorial Margin for Oil, Finance Minister Says
Brazil will likely end up exploring the Equatorial Margin for oil but state-run Petrobras should adopt a "cautious" approach given the need for precautions to protect the environment, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said on Sunday. The Equatorial Margin is some 2,200 kilometers (1,370 miles) of deepwater and ultra-deepwater assets along Brazil's northern and northeastern coast. "We may need oil from the Equatorial Margin on... Continue Reading →