Following a downward trend in the number of international offshore rigs, Baker Hughes’ rig count report points out that one more rig joined the working fleet in November 2023 compared to the month before. However, the downward trajectory continues on a y-o-y basis as last month saw two units less than last year. On the... Continue Reading →
Valaris anticipates ‘meaningfully’ higher profits in next two years, as rig market tightens further
(OET) Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has recorded a strong operational and financial performance during the third quarter of 2023, thanks to a rise in rig demand and day rates. The rig owner’s outlook for the offshore drilling market over the next two years remains bullish with further improvements in fleet utilization and day rates on... Continue Reading →
Venezuela taps oilfield firms to boost output after sanction easing
(Reuters) - Venezuela's state-owned PDVSA is in talks with local and foreign oilfield firms to hire equipment and services that would allow it to revive depressed output, sources close to the meetings said, after the U.S. relaxed sanctions on the country. The U.S. Treasury Department in October authorized for six months the production and export of Venezuelan... Continue Reading →
Nine Valaris rigs snap up multi-million drilling gigs with oil & gas giants, pushing total backlog to $3.2 billion
(OET) Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has secured a plethora of new contracts and extensions for four floaters and five jack-ups in its rig fleet with TotalEnergies, Petrobras, ExxonMobil, Eni, BP, TAQA, and Perenco. These deals will enable the rig owner to carry out operations in Brazil, Angola, Mexico, Trinidad, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and the UK.... Continue Reading →
New Fortress Energy May Need to Reapply for Mexico LNG Permit – US
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has warned New Fortress Energy if any portion of its Altamira floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) project is located onshore Mexico, the company will have to resubmit its application for an export permit. New Fortress's $1.3 billion Altamira LNG project was expected to start shipping the superchilled gas this... Continue Reading →
Noble Corp. Wins Contracts for Six Offshore Drilling Rigs
(OE) Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corp. on Tuesday released a fleet status report, according to which the company has secured contracts for six offshore drilling rigs since its previous fleet report issued on August 2, 2023. The company has secured contracts for three drillships—the Noble Valiant, Globetrotter I, and Globetrotter II—and three jack-up drilling rigs—the... Continue Reading →
Offshore rig contracts getting longer as market tightens
(OM) Westwood Global Energy Group expects longer durations for offshore drilling rigs over the next year as rig availability continues to tighten. According to Teresa Wilkie, director of Westwood’s RigLogix service, 10-year tenders have been issued for two drillships for campaigns starting in early 2025. Marketed use of sixth to eighth generation assets is already at... Continue Reading →
Oil Rush in Namibia’s Orange Basin: Galp Prepares for Massive 10 Billion Barrel Oil Hunt as Rig Approaches
(OEE) Portuguese oil and gas company Galp is gearing up to start drilling a well in an offshore block in Namibia, near the giant oil discoveries made recently by TotalEnergies and Shell. In May, Galp entered into a contract with SFL Corporation for the semi-submersible rig Hercules. The 115-day contract, prior to any extension option exercise, is... 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 →
Constellation signs a three year contract with Petrobras for its semi-submersible rig Alpha Star
(PN) Constellation announced a three-year contract with Petrobras, worth U$ 392 million, for the charter and operation of the Alpha Star semi-submersible rig. The unit will be used on the Brazilian coast and its activities are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024. The scope of work will include the drilling, completion and... Continue Reading →