Peak Well Systems has launched the Peak eCutter tool, an electronically activated, power-charged, nonexplosive cutter for severing slicklines and cables downhole.

Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd. reports that gas and indications of associated liquid hydrocarbons were observed in the Phoenix South-1 well, offshore Western Australia.

Saipem has won four offshore drilling contracts with a total value of $540 million.

Talisman plans a two-well exploration campaign later this year offshore Vietnam in the Nam Con Son basin.

Statoil has permission from Petroleum Safety Authority Norway to permanently plug a well at the Gullfaks Sør field in the North Sea.

FAR Ltd reports that drilling has resumed on the FAN-1 well offshore Senegal, following a modification to the Senegal drilling program to incorporate maintenance.

Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas has ordered a 20,000 psi BOP stack from Camero.

William Jacob Management Inc. has introduced a new modular offshore drilling rig design that it says reduces deployment costs and improves speed-to-market for upstream operations.

Construction vessels have started work offshore China installing a second deepwater production pipeline from the main Liwan 3-1 field to the Liwan shallow-water central platform.