Exploration

WGP has completed the fifteenth Life of Field Seismic (LoFS) survey for BP over the Valhall field in the North Sea.

Rosneft and GE have signed a deal to jointly evaluate and develop oil and gas exploration and production opportunities in Russia.

Providence Resources has reported more good news from its Barryroe discovery, with analysis of sidewall cores showing high levels of permeability.

A newly passed Vietnamese law requiring all foreign naval vessels operating in the waters around the Spratly islands to notify Vietnamese authorities has incensed the Chinese government.

Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister has warned that an exploration contract between Exxon Mobil and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is dangerous and could potentially lead to a breakdown of the unity of Iraq.

Exxon Mobil is to cease its shale exploration activities in Poland in a move that will come as a heavy blow to the country’s ambitions of reducing its dependence upon Russia.

A spokesman for the Iraqi government has announced that Iraq is to hold a fifth oil and gas licensing auction in early 2013, with improved contract terms.

Eni has purchased a 50% share in LLC Westgasinvest in order to gain access to the Lviv Basin in Ukraine to explore for shale gas.

Statoil has confirmed the discovery of 3 trillion ft3 of gas in its Lavani exploration well in the Block 2 license area offshore Tanzania.

Earlier this week France announced that it would be suspending drilling permits for offshore exploration in French Guyana, citing worries over the provisions made for marine life and consultation with the local population.

Output from the US state of North Dakota has hit a new record high and the region looks set to become the next major US energy hub.

Employees at Baker Hughes’ Norwegian unit have gone on strike, hindering drilling and maintenance, but not production.

Tullow Oil has had success with its’ Paon-1X exploration well in the CI-103 licence offshore Côte d'Ivoire, which has intersected good quality light oil in a Turonian fan system.

A report by APPEA has concluded that even thought here is still uncertainty in the industry, the potential rewards to Australia if the gas industry continues to grow are enormous.

A new IEA energy report has predicted that natural gas use will see huge growth over the coming years buoyed up by demand in China and Asia, even though European demand is likely to decrease.