Valaris Limited has signed a multi-year $300 million contract with Shell for the drillship VALARIS DS-8 on the Orca project offshore Brazil, with operations starting in Q1 2027.
Deepwater semi-submersible SSV Catarina will remain on hire with Eni Indonesia after drilling the Konta-1 gas discovery in the Kutei basin, with a new option well extending work into Q2 2026 and adding $20 million of backlog.
Santos has lodged an environment plan with NOPSEMA for a Bedout Basin program offshore Australia, allowing as many as seven exploration and appraisal wells between Q3 2026 and Q3 2031 using semi-sub and jack-up MODUs.
The Noble Resolute rig has departed Denmark for a new contract with Eni in the Dutch North Sea, expected to start by December 4, 2025.
China’s top anti-corruption watchdog is investigating Li Zhong, deputy general manager and chief engineer at CNOOC Research Institute, a veteran behind key deepwater breakthroughs in the South China Sea.
State-owned Oil India has begun an offshore exploration campaign in the Kerala-Konkan Basin, spudding a 6000 m well about 20 nautical miles off the Indian coast, one of India’s deepest offshore wells.
Oil India Limited has extended its agreement for the Blackford Dolphin semisubmersible, adding 120 days of work under unchanged terms and continuing operations east of India through 10 May 2026.
Odfjell Drilling has agreed to acquire the Deepsea Bollsta from Northern Ocean in a $480 million transaction. The rig adds $355 million to the company’s firm backlog and continues its long-term programme with Equinor.
The Trump administration is preparing to reopen California’s coastline to offshore oil and gas drilling for the first time in decades, facing strong opposition from state leaders and environmental groups.
