Rocksource and the PL 506S, BS, and CS partnership in the Norwegian North Sea have committed to drill an exploration well during the first half of 2013.

Awilco Drilling has suspended drilling operations on the Timon exploration well in the UK northern North Sea.

The jackup Maersk Guardian has spudded the Clapton prospect exploration well in the southern Norwegian North Sea for Faroe Petroleum.

Providence has completed further analysis of data from its recent Barryroe 48/24-10z appraisal well offshore southern Ireland.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.’s (NYSE:APC) Gulf of Mexico exploration well at the Spartacus prospect came up dry, according to reports by Dow Jones.

Cooper Energy has contracted AGR for drilling services offshore Tunisia.

Statoil (OSE:STL;NYSE:STO) has awarded contracts totaling $1.56 billion for three new “Category A” light well intervention (LWI) vessels, two to Island Offshore Management and one to Eide Marine Services.

Chariot Oil & Gas (AIM:CHAR) has lined up the drillship Ocean Rig Poseidon to drill its second exploration well off Namibia.

PEMEX Exploracion y Produccion has contracted McDermott International Inc. for the new Ayatsil-B drilling platform in the Bay of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico.