Archive | Features
Apache: Lower prices make gas projects hard to justify, technology is opportunity to ‘think positively’
Posted on 09 November 2009 in 2009, Features, Global and Regional Markets, November/December
As a company that prides itself on being “lean and mean” and being able to move fast when the economics of a project line up right, Apache Corp…
Global jackup market is still soft to terrible. Is there anywhere to go but up?
Posted on 09 November 2009 in 2009, Features, Global and Regional Markets, November/December, The Offshore Frontier
While it’s true that appearances can be deceiving, it’s worth noting that as of early October, drilling activity appeared to be on the rise. Actual increases in drilling activity still ranged from minimal to barely noticeable…
Industry takes cautious but sure-footed steps toward hands-free drilling, automation
Posted on 07 October 2009 in 2009, Features, Innovating While Drilling, September/October, The Efficient Rig
When it comes to risk-taking, this industry seems to suffer from a case of multiple personality disorder. On the one hand, it has a tendency to be big gamblers. It’s willing to spend millions or tens of millions of dollars…
Deep Gulf of Mexico completions push equipment to their limits – and maybe beyond
Posted on 07 October 2009 in 2009, Completing the Well, Features, September/October
As the Region moves into production phase, operators are taking careful steps to find and fill equipment gaps.
Kuwait, Oman boost Middle East drilling activity with deep drilling, steam flood projects
Posted on 07 October 2009 in 2009, Features, Global and Regional Markets, September/October
While the Middle East region hasn’t been affected by the global financial crisis as much as other areas, it still is not immune to downturns in the oil and gas…
Market is way down, but North Sea companies are already warming up for the rebound
Posted on 03 July 2009 in 2009, Features, Global and Regional Markets, July/August
A year ago, with oil prices headed towards $150 a barrel, upstream petroleum appeared to be bucking the slide toward global recession that basically started…
Riser, subsea innovations push technical capabilities to new heights, but the work is never finished
Posted on 03 July 2009 in 2009, Features, July/August
When it comes to innovation, this industry is always hungry for more: deeper, faster, higher pressure, higher temperature, stronger, cheaper, smaller…
Innovations filling in technology gaps in deepwater Gulf of Mexico completions
Posted on 17 May 2009 in 2009, Completing the Well, Features, May/June
With its wealth of resources, the Gulf of Mexico holds great promise for oil and gas operators as they push the envelope to tap deeply buried hydrocarbons. But those deep…
In Gulf of Mexico, deepwater and Shelf markets face disparate futures
Posted on 17 May 2009 in 2009, Features, May/June
The disparity between the US Gulf of Mexico Shelf and deepwater rig markets continues to widen. Earlier this year, the jackup market reached its lowest level in 33 years…
US Land drillers wait out the painful market slump, hopeful of strong recovery
Posted on 17 May 2009 in 2009, Features, May/June
It’s certainly no secret that US land drillers aren’t having a great year. There are a lot of bad news out there – natural gas prices down to around $3/Mcf…
Recent Drilling News
19 June 2013
Dolphin Drilling unveils new deepwater drillship
Aberdeen-based Dolphin Drilling, one of the oldest and largest independent drilling contracting companies in the North Sea, unveiled its new 751-ft ultra deepwater rig...
14 June 2013
UK HSE report: Reportable hydrocarbon releases nearly halved over three years
The UK oil and gas industry has achieved a 48% reduction in the number of reportable hydrocarbon releases over three years, the...
12 June 2013
Atwood Oceanics secures contract for Atwood Achiever ultra-deepwater drillship
Atwood Oceanics has been awarded a drilling services contract for the ultra-deepwater drillship Atwood Achiever by a subsidiary...
10 June 2013
Ensco orders its eighth Samsung DP3 ultra-deepwater drillship
Ensco has ordered an additional advanced-capability DP3 ultra-deepwater drillship based on the Samsung GF12000 hull design. The vessel, ENSCO DS-10, will be the eighth...
07 June 2013
Unconventionals lead the way for drilling automation, but business model defines uptake
Industry’s ongoing efforts to bring automation to the drilling sector will progress over time as a “natural alignment”...