Afren has started front-end engineering design and fabrication planning for a new wellhead platform and production unit for the Okoro field extension offshore Nigeria.

Cairn Energy says preparations are under way for the planned first well on the Foum Draa permit offshore Morocco.

Total has won shares in 10 new exploration licenses under Brazil’s 11th bid round.

Total says the Ocean Rig Olympia is drilling the Diaman-1 exploration well on the Diaba license offshore Gabon in 1,700 m (5,577 ft) water depth.

BP has bid successfully for eight deepwater blocks offshore Brazil under ANP’s 11th bid round.

Statoil has been awarded interests in six exploration licenses in the Espirito basin offshore Brazil, under the country’s 11th licensing round.

Tullow Oil plans to step up exploration drilling offshore West Africa over the coming months.

Statoil has agreed to farm into a 30% share of four exploration licenses held by BP offshore Australia.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC will build an FPSO and subsea infrastructure to develop the Stones ultra-deepwater project in the Gulf of Mexico.