Ten wells are active in the UK sector - five exploration and five appraisals - all mobile-based. A flurry of activity at the end March/early April saw the number of spuds rise to 13 wells - eight exploration and five appraisals as well as one exploration and three appraisal sidetracks. One exploration re-spud and two exploration re-entries are also recorded.
In the UK, nine of the 37 mobile units in the sector remain active on E&A wells, the same number as last reported. There have now been 23 well spuds in 2012 comprising 11 exploration and 12 appraisal wells, with five of these having been sidetracked.
TALISMAN Energy could start production drilling on its Godwin oil field in the second quarter of next year.
A boss at an international drilling contractor said yesterday that his company was committed to working in UK waters, but not at any cost.
ITALIAN energy conglomerate ENI has been ordered to collect environmental data for its Goliat oilfield project in the Norwegian sector of the Barents Sea.
NORWAY'S Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has given the green light to StatoilHydro and Marathon to carry out exploration and development drilling with the semi-submersibles, Polar Pioneer, West Alpha and Deepsea Bergen.