Exploration and Development

Rosneft, PDVSA unit to form Orinoco JV

OGJ editors — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:09:00 GMT

Rosneft and a subsidiary of Petroleo de Venezuela SA have signed an agreement to form a joint venture to develop heavy oil resources in Venezuela’s Orinoco belt.

RIL group has deep KG-D6 strike off India

OGJ editors — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:57:00 GMT

Reliance Industries Ltd. and partners plan an appraisal program with a view to developing a deepwater natural gas and condensate discovery on the controversial KG-D6 Block offshore eastern India.

Statoil to get stake in Tanzania Block 6

OGJ editors — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:44:00 GMT

Statoil has agreed to acquire a 12% working interest in 5,549-sq-km Block 6 offshore Tanzania from Petrobras Tanzania Ltd., the operator.

Shell lets subsea contract for Stones field development

OGJ editors — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:30:00 GMT

Royal Dutch Shell PLC has let a subsea equipment contract to FMC Technologies Inc. in a move to continue development of Stones oil and gas field in the Gulf of Mexico.

Lundin plugging dry hole offshore Norway

OGJ editors — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:57:00 GMT

Lundin Petroleum AS, Stockholm, is plugging its 7/4-3 exploratory well on PL495 in the North Sea offshore Norway as a dry hole (OGJ Online, Apr. 5, 2013).

Warner-Kaine bill would restore Virginia sales to 2012-17 OCS plan

Nick Snow — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:07:00 GMT

Virginia’s two US senators, Democrats Mark R. Warner and Timothy M. Kaine, introduced legislation that would revise the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s 2012-17 Outer Continental Shelf program by restoring to the schedule a lease sale off the state’s coast.

Noble makes another gas strike offshore Israel

OGJ editors — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:31:00 GMT

Noble Energy Inc. and partners have added to a series of natural gas discoveries in deep water offshore Israel.

Max Petroleum logs pay in Kazakh appraisal

OGJ editors — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:16:00 GMT

Max Petroleum PLC, London, has run production casing in an appraisal well it plans to test in Baichonas West field in Kazakhstan.

Spain: Union Fenosa group shoots 3D in Rioja area

OGJ editors — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:02:00 GMT

Union Fenosa Gas Exploracion y Produccion SAU, Soc. de Hidrocarburos de Euskadi SA, and Oil & Gas Skills SA have completed a 232 sq km 3D seismic survey in the Rioja area of northern Spain.

Namibia: HRT finds noncommercial oil at Walvis well

OGJ editors — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:46:00 GMT

HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA, Rio de Janeiro, said its Wingat-1 well on Block 2212 in the Walvis basin offshore Namibia found noncommercial amounts of oil and is being plugged.

Alaskan government proposes new ANWR crude oil resource study

Nick Snow — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:10:00 GMT

Alaska’s state government proposed that a new study of potential crude oil resources beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain be conducted before the Obama administration decides whether to designate more of the refuge as wilderness and wild and scenic rivers.

Tests imply Lundin's Luno II discovery likely commercial

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A group led by Lundin Petroleum AB's Norway subsidiary has finished tests at the previously announced Luno II discovery on the southwestern flank of the Utsira high in the North Sea 15 km south of Lundin-operated Edvard Grieg field.

Apache discovers oil in three Egypt Western Desert basins

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Apache Corp. has gauged oil and-or gas discoveries in three basins in northwestern Egypt, including one discovery that established the deepest production to date in the Western Desert producing province.

Petronas sees 200 million stb on peninsular block

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Persistent exploration and drilling have resulted in a recoverable resource of more than 200 million stb of oil on Block PM304 off Peninsular Malaysia compared with the initial estimate of 12 million stb of oil for Cendor field a decade ago.

Exploration/Development Briefs

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Uzbekistan: Tethys Petroleum signs exploration protocol

OGJ editors — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:21:00 GMT

Tethys Petroleum Ltd. has signed a protocol of intent with the Uzbek state oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz for exploratory work on the Bayterek block in the North Ustyurt basin in northern Uzbekistan.

Bill aims to protect states' shares of federal royalties

Nick Snow — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:34:00 GMT

US Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to ensure states that normally receive half of federal onshore oil and gas royalties under the Mineral Leasing Act actually receive the money.

BLM seeks comments on Devon's proposed Horseshoe basin project

Nick Snow — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:21:00 GMT

The US Bureau of Land Management’s Rock Springs, Wyo., field office began a 30-day public scoping period on May 6 before it prepares an environmental assessment of Devon Energy Production Co. LP’s proposal to develop up to 20 new oil and gas wells within the Horseshoe basin unit.

Brazilian round draws record bid total

OGJ editors — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:29:00 GMT

Brazil’s 11th bidding round for onshore and offshore exploration rights, its first in 5 years, auctioned 142 blocks and drew bids totaling a record $1.4 billion.

Statoil farms into Great Australian Bight

Rick Wilkinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:17:00 GMT

Statoil has farmed into BP PLC’s four permits in the South Australian sector of the Great Australian Bight to earn a 30% interest overall.

New Zealand: East Coast basin well has shows in source rock

OGJ editors — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:46:00 GMT

TAG Oil Ltd., Vancouver, BC, said its Ngapaeruru-1 exploratory well on PEP 38349 in New Zealand’s East Coast basin had excellent mud gas shows at 1,140-1,295 m and that preliminary gas ratio analysis indicates a predominantly wet gas/oil signature.

Cameroon: Addax contracts Atwood jack up for 2014

OGJ editors — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:56:00 GMT

Sinopec Group’s Addax Petroleum Cameroon Ltd. unit has let a contract to Atwood Oceanics Inc. for the Atwood Aurora jack up to drill offshore Cameroon.

East Java Sea Lengo-2 well DSTs at 21.2 MMscfd

OGJ editors — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:03:00 GMT

Gas flowed at a maximum rate of 21.2 MMscfd at the Lengo-2 appraisal well in the East Java Sea offshore Indonesia and had the same composition as the gas from the 2008 Lengo-1 discovery well, said AWE Ltd., Sydney.

Iraq: Garmian block topography mapped via satellite

OGJ editors — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:59:00 GMT

WesternZagros Resources Ltd., Calgary, has completed satellite topography mapping of the 1,780 sq km Garmian block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Alaska: Cook Inlet Cosmopolitan well spudded

OGJ editors — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:39:00 GMT

Buccaneer Energy Ltd., Sydney, has spudded the Cosmo-1 well in 80 ft of water in Cook Inlet 30 miles northwest of Homer, Alaska.

Statoil, Total swap Barents Sea interests

OGJ editors — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:08:00 GMT

Statoil AS and Total SA have agreed to swap 10% interests in two petroleum licenses in the Barents Sea offshore Norway.

Karoon sees wider extent at Santos basin oil find

OGJ editors — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:11:00 GMT

Karoon Gas Australia Ltd. said recovery of additional samples indicates that the extent of its Bilby-1 indicated discovery in the Santos basin offshore Brazil is larger than previously thought.

House Republicans form group to examine Endangered Species Act

Nick Snow — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:24:00 GMT

Thirteen US House Republicans formed a working group to consider ways the federal Endangered Species Act is working, how it could be updated, and how to make it more effective. ESA matters to oil and gas producers as petitions to list species as endangered are filed with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, sometimes with the potential to severely restrict or outright prohibit exploration, production, and development.

Mississippi cuts horizontal severance, EOR taxes

OGJ editors — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:42:00 GMT

Mississippi has reduced the severance tax on hydrocarbons produced from horizontal wells and the sales tax paid on electricity for oil and gas produced via carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery.

ExxonMobil starts Julia ultradeepwater gulf oil project

OGJ editors — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:13:00 GMT

ExxonMobil Corp. will develop a field with nearly 6 billion bbl of resource in place more than 30,000 ft below the sea floor in more than 7,000 ft of water in the Gulf of Mexico.

Husky lets White Rose satellite contracts

OGJ editors — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:26:00 GMT

Husky Oil Operations Ltd. has let two contracts to Technip for work related to the South White Rose Extension (SWRX) tieback to White Rose oil field offshore Newfoundland and Labrador.

East Java Sea Lengo gas field may be commercial

OGJ editors — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:02:00 GMT

A group led by a subsidiary of KrisEnergy Ltd., Singapore, has tested gas at the Lengo-2 appraisal well on the Bulu PSC in the East Java Sea offshore Indonesia.

Eni group gauges Pakistan onshore gas discovery

OGJ editors — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:50:00 GMT

Eni Pakistan Ltd. said the Lundali-1 new field wildcat is a gas discovery on the Sukhpur block in the Kirthar fold belt 270 km north of Karachi, Pakistan.

HRT to acquire Campos basin shelf oil field from BP

OGJ editors — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:43:00 GMT

HRT Oil & Gas Ltd., Rio de Janeiro, will acquire BP PLC’s 60% interest in Polvo oil field in shallow water in the southern Campos basin offshore Brazil for $135 million cash.

Apache discovers oil in three Egypt Western Desert basins

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:12:00 GMT

Tunisia/Libya: Joint Oil approves Sonde farmout to Viking

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:38:00 GMT

Joint Oil, the Tunisia-Libya offshore authority, has approved a farmout by Sonde Resources Corp., Calgary, of the Joint Oil block in the Mediterranean off the two countries to Viking Exploration & Production Tunisia Ltd., a private company.

Capricorn takes Porcupine basin farmout from Chrysaor

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:24:00 GMT

Cairn Energy PLC’s Capricorn Ireland Ltd. unit has taken a farmout from Chrysaor Holdings Ltd. Irish subsidiary to earn an interest in two Porcupine basin licenses west of Ireland that contain the Spanish Point gas-condensate and Burren oil discoveries.

Ohio: Magnum Hunter adds dedicated robotic Utica rig

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

Magnum Hunter Resources Corp., Houston, has taken delivery of a robotic drilling rig, the fifth rig in its fleet, that it expects to spud a Utica shale well in southeastern Ohio on June 1.

Kazakhstan: Condor to test Zharkamys oil discovery

OGJ editors — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:05:00 GMT

Condor Petroleum Inc., Calgary, received regulatory approval for a completion and testing program of KN-E-201 oil discovery on the 2,610 sq km Zharkamys territory in the Precaspian basin in Kazakhstan.

Shale gas find declared in NWT Pointed Mountain area

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:04:00 GMT

Canada’s National Energy Board granted a commercial discovery declaration to Lone Pine Resources Inc., Calgary, with respect to the Upper and Lower Besa River shale intervals in the Pointed Mountain field area of the Liard basin in western Northwest Territories.

Karoon encounters oil at Santos basin discovery

OGJ editors — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:59:00 GMT

A combine led by Karoon Gas Australia Ltd. has made an oil discovery at the Bilby-1 exploratory well in the Santos basin offshore Brazil.

Viet Nam: Malay-Tho Chu basin exploratory well spuds

OGJ editors — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

A group led by Mitra Energy Ltd. has spudded the 46/07-ND-1X exploratory well in less than 70 m of water on 3,281 sq km Block 46/07 on the northeastern margin of the Malay-Tho Chu basin offshore southernmost Viet Nam.

Tests imply Lundin's Luno II discovery likely commercial

OGJ editors — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:55:00 GMT

A group led by Lundin Petroleum AB’s Norway subsidiary has finished tests at the previously announced Luno II discovery on the southwestern flank of the Utsira high in the North Sea 15 km south of Lundin-operated Edvard Grieg field.

Viet Nam: Eni gets rig for Song Hong basin prospect

OGJ editors — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:37:00 GMT

Eni Vietnam BV has secured the Ensco 107 jack up to drill the Cua Lo prospect on Block 105 in the Song Hong basin shelf offshore Viet Nam and west-southwest of China's Hainan Island, said Neon Energy Ltd., Perth.

Buccaneer gets ConocoPhillips North Cook Inlet deep rights

OGJ editors — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:59:00 GMT

Buccaneer Energy Ltd., Sydney, has taken a farmout from ConocoPhillips Alaska that gives Buccaneer the right to earn a 100% working interest in the deep rights on 23,368 acres in the North Cook Inlet Unit in Alaska.

Kenya: Multinational eying farmout on Block 11A

OGJ editors — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:42:00 GMT

An undisclosed international integrated oil and gas company has signed a letter of intent to take a farmout of part of ERHC Energy Inc.’s in Block 11A onshore Kenya.

OGJ Newsletter

Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

International news for oil and gas professionals

The OCS narrative

Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Nowhere in the administration of US President Barack Obama has action conflicted with narrative more than it has with offshore oil and gas leasing. And the narrative keeps changing.

Studies predict oil upswing in deepwater GOM 2013, beyond

Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Independent reports by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and Wood Mackenzie Ltd. (OGJ Online, Oct. 15, 2012) predict a strong upswing in oil exploration and production in deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) fields.

South China Sea contested areas poorly endowed, EIA says

Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Contested areas of the South China Sea have not been assessed to hold large conventional oil and natural gas resources, the US Energy Information Administration said.

Carla South well finds oil pay off Equatorial Guinea

OGJ editors — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:25:00 GMT

The Noble Energy Inc.-operated Carla South exploratory well on Block I offshore Equatorial Guinea has encountered oil in good quality sandstones at the target level and shortly is to be sidetracked to an adjacent target, said PA Resources AB, Stockholm.

California: Aera eyes whether to drill shale lateral

OGJ editors — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:19:00 GMT

Aera Energy LLC has drilled the Aera-Mortgage 881D-15 well in Kings County, Calif., in the San Joaquin basin to a final vertical depth of 15,362 ft and run electric logs.

Petronas sees 200+ million stb on peninsular block

OGJ editors — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:46:00 GMT

Persistent exploration and drilling have resulted in a recoverable resource of more than 200 million stb of oil on Block PM304 offshore Peninsular Malaysia compared with the initial estimate of 12 million stb of oil for Cendor field a decade ago.

WEA survey: Voters back US oil, gas development

Nick Snow — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

US voters strongly support domestic oil and gas development and recognize its significant benefits to the general economy, a survey released by the Western Energy Alliance in Denver indicates.

Cretaceous flows 57 MMscfd in Tanzania deepwater

OGJ editors — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:11:00 GMT

BG Group has drillstem tested gas from better than expected properties in the deeper Cretaceous reservoir at its Mzia-2 well on Block 1 offshore Tanzania.

A message from Oil & Gas Journal

Bob Tippee — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Unconventional Oil & Gas Report, a publication of local news from many places.

Investors await 2012 Utica production numbers

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The investment community continues to await the Ohio Department of Natural Resource's (DNR's) release of Utica shale well data from 2012.

CANADA briefs

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Other Regional briefs

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Illinois lawmakers deliberate fracing legislation; residents await transformation

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

What initially began as a simple chemical disclosure bill has now come full circle and, after nearly 3 years of negotiations, the State of Illinois is on the cusp of a comprehensive regulatory regime providing the oil and gas industry with clear guidelines for horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the state.

Unconventional technology renews production for Mississippi Lime

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

LOGAN COUNTY, Okla.—The Mississippi Lime, or Miss Lime, is a conventional limestone reservoir that responds well to unconventional technology. For many operators in Oklahoma and Kansas, the Miss Lime pays out like many other shale plays in other parts of the country.

Fayetteville groundwater study shows no signs of contamination from recent drilling activity

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

FAULKNER COUNTY, Ark.—In January, the USGS announced results from its year-long groundwater study in the central portion of Arkansas' Fayetteville shale.

Mississippi: New, lower severance tax regime creates positive cash flow for horizontal drilling projects

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The Tuscaloosa Marine shale, located along the Gulf Coast in both Louisiana and Mississippi, is underexplored. "We're in the midst of trying to develop the commercial potential of the Tuscaloosa Marine shale resource," said Doug Hock, spokesman for Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. "Our focus is on reducing well costs."

Lukoil to develop West Siberia license

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:49:00 GMT

Lukoil plans to begin drilling production wells in September 2014 an early-oil project on its Imilorsko-Istochnoye license in West Siberia (OGJ Online, Feb. 25, 2013).

Spain: San Leon Energy seeking unconventional assets in Zaragoza, Almazan basins

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:55:00 GMT

The Spanish Council of Ministers awarded two new onshore exploration licenses to San Leon Energy PLC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Frontera Energy, targeting both unconventional and conventional resources.

Keystone XL tension

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Tension increases in the Keystone XL pipeline controversy as hard-core opponents behave with growing desperation.

India considering changes to production-sharing contract

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The Indian government is considering changes to its production-sharing contract, including a new mechanism for determining the price of natural gas.

Cairn India plans 450 Rajasthan block wells

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Cairn India Ltd. plans to drill more than 450 wells over the next 3 years on its Barmer basin block in Rajasthan, India, where it is producing from five oil fields and recently revived exploration.

UK: Stena Carron to drill first Handcross well

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:19:00 GMT

A group operated by Valiant Causeway Ltd. will drill the first well on the Handcross Prospect in the West of Shetland area offshore the UK this autumn with the Stena Drilling Carron drillship.

Eni boosts outlook for gas off Mozambique

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:35:00 GMT

Eni has increased its estimate of natural gas in place in its license offshore Mozambique to 80 tcf from 75 tcf after completing appraisal drilling.

Total well cuts oil pay offshore Ivory Coast

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

The Total Ivoire-1X exploratory well has cut 28 m of net oil pay in a 100-m Cetaceous section offshore Ivory Coast. The oil is 35� gravity.

Dana spuds Dutch N. Sea exploratory well

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:23:00 GMT

Dana Petroleum PLC has spudded an exploratory well from near its De Ruyter platform offshore the Netherlands to test new-pool potential.

Brunei: Kulczyk rigs up to drill triple junction structure

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:59:00 GMT

Kulczyk Oil Ventures Inc., Calgary, said its AED Southeast Asia Ltd. subsidiary is rigging up to drill the Lukut Updip-1 well on the onshore portion of 1,123 sq km Block L in Brunei.

Three North Slope exploratory tests find oil

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:57:00 GMT

Repsol SA said its winter exploratory campaign on Alaska’s North Slope resulted in three “good quality hydrocarbon discoveries” whose results are encouraging for future development, but the company did not use the word commercial in its announcement.

Medco group to test North Sumatra gas find

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:32:00 GMT

A group led by PT Medco Energi plans to test an indicated gas discovery on Block A Aceh in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Somaliland: DNO signs production sharing contract

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:26:00 GMT

DNO International ASA, Oslo, has signed a production sharing contract covering Block SL18 onshore Somaliland.

Northern Egypt-Mediterranean license blocks awarded

OGJ editors — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:14:00 GMT

Several operators reported having been awarded blocks in the Egypt Natural Gas Holding Co. 2012 international bid round held last week.

Development drilling adds oil at India's Kharsang field

OGJ editors — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:23:00 GMT

The second development well at Kharsang field in Arunachal Pradesh, India, has encountered 12 potentially hydrocarbon-bearing sands, the deepest of which could be on production in as soon as 2 weeks, said Jubilant Energy NV.

Group gauges Llanos basin Mirador oil discovery

OGJ editors — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:11:00 GMT

A group led by P1 Energy Corp., Calgary, has gauged a Mirador oil discovery on the Llanos 32 block in Colombia’s Llanos basin.

New Zealand East Coast basin shale well spudded

OGJ editors — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:15:00 GMT

TAG Oil Ltd., Vancouver, BC, has spudded an exploratory well that targets the Paleocene Waipawa black shale and Paleocene-Cretaceous Whangai source rock formations in New Zealand’s East Coast basin.

Tullow tests oil in Kenya, finds indications in Ethiopia

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A Tullow Oil PLC group has tested oil from the lowermost pay zone at the Ngamia-1 discovery well in the Lokichar basin in Kenya and encouraging hydrocarbon indications at an exploratory well in southern Ethiopia.

Statoil reports new-pool Gullfaks potential

OGJ editors — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:37:00 GMT

A Statoil well has established new-pool potential in old Gullfaks oil and gas field in the Tampen area of the North Sea offshore Norway.

Intra Isongo flows rich condensate offshore Cameroon

OGJ editors — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:01:00 GMT

Bowleven PLC said its Isongo Marine-5 well on Block MLHP-7 of the Etinde permit offshore Cameroon has exceeded expectations and that the company targets the final investment decision by the end of 2013 for a phased gas-condensate development.

Mongolia signs oil shale feasibility agreement

OGJ editors — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:55:00 GMT

Genie Energy Ltd., Newark, NJ, said its Mongolian subsidiary signed an exclusive agreement to explore and evaluate the commercial potential of oil shale resources on 34,470 sq km in central Mongolia.

Kosmos takes Antrim Porcupine basin farmout

OGJ editors — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:23:00 GMT

Kosmos Energy Ltd., Dallas, has taken a farmout from Antrim Energy Ltd., Calgary, covering Licensing Option 11/05 in the Porcupine basin offshore west of Ireland.

Anadarko finds more Mozambique gas, oil shows off Kenya

OGJ editors — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:06:00 GMT

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.-led groups have drilled a new natural gas accumulation near the center of Offshore Area 1 in the Rovuma basin offshore Mozambique and encountered noncommercial oil shows off northern Kenya.

Nebraska Sioux County unconventional play eyed

OGJ editors — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:34:00 GMT

Stratex Oil & Gas Holdings Inc., Watertown, Conn., said it has leasehold interests in 6,000 net acres in Sioux County, northwestern Nebraska, where it said it is monitoring a possible unconventional shale play in northeastern reaches of the Denver basin.

Tecpetrol, PetroNova test heavy oil on Llanos CPO-13

OGJ editors — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:47:00 GMT

Tecpetrol, Buenos Aires, will complete the Pendare-2 well on its 80% owned CPO-13 block in Colombia’s Llanos basin in the top of the Basal Carbonera sand unit and perform an extended production test in conjunction with the Pendare-1 well test.

States best qualified to regulate oil, gas, House panel told

Nick Snow — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:46:00 GMT

US states are the most qualified to regulate oil and gas development within their boundaries because they’re well acquainted with unique geological and environmental conditions there, officials from three state governments told the US House Natural Resources Committee.

Second-phase work starts on Halfaya field

OGJ editors — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:34:00 GMT

A group led by PetroChina Co. Ltd. has begun work on the second phase of development of giant Halfaya oil field in Iraq, reports PetroChina parent China National Petroleum Corp.

Alberta Oilsands eyes eastern Zambia rift basins

OGJ editors — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:27:00 GMT

Alberta Oilsands Inc., Calgary, has agreed to acquire an 80% interest in petroleum exploration licenses covering three rift basins in eastern Zambia.

Texas: Crimson updates Woodbine, Buda drilling

OGJ editors — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:51:00 GMT

Crimson Exploration Inc., Houston, said the second Woodbine oil well in its 2013 capital program came on line at 984 b/d of oil, 437 Mcfd of gas, and 86 b/d of natural gas liquids on a 26/64-in. choke.

E.On group starts up UK North Sea Huntington field

OGJ editors — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:12:00 GMT

A group led by E.On Ruhrgas UK E&P Ltd. has started oil production from Huntington field on Block 22/14b in the UK Central North sea 140 miles northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Eni awarded Timor Sea block near producing Kitan oil field

OGJ editors — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:20:00 GMT

Eni SPA has been awarded a production sharing contract on 662 sq km adjacent to Kitan oil field in the Timor Sea in the Joint Petroleum Development area administered by Australia and Timor-Leste.

Centrica, QPI to buy Suncor gas properties

OGJ editors — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:24:00 GMT

A joint venture of Centrica PLC and Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) has agreed to acquire the conventional part of Suncor Energy’s natural gas business in western Canada for $1 billion (Can.).

Morocco: Cairn gets rig for West Africa exploratory program

OGJ editors — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:05:00 GMT

Cairn Energy PLC has secured a long-term contract for the Transocean Cajun Express semisubmersible for a multicountry West African exploratory drilling campaign to begin in the second half of 2013.

Tullow tests oil in Kenya, finds indications in Ethiopia

OGJ editors — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:23:00 GMT

Exploration/Development Briefs

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Ohio: Magnum Hunter spuds horizontal Utica shale well

OGJ editors — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:16:00 GMT

Magnum Hunter Resources Corp., Houston, has spudded the vertical pilot hole for the company’s first horizontal Utica shale well in Ohio.

Range taps Marcellus for first quarter output mark

OGJ editors — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:25:00 GMT

Continued success of a drilling program mainly in the Marcellus shale has led Range Resources Corp., Fort Worth, to year-to-year production increases of 52% for oil and condensate, 22% for natural gas liquids, and 34% for natural gas in the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2013, the company said.