The semisubmersible Kan Tan IV has spudded the Whio-1 exploration well for operator OMV New Zealand in the PEP 51313 permit.

Centrica has ordered surface wellhead and mudline equipment services from Plexus for an exploration well in the UK southern North Sea.

Sirius Petroleum has conditionally raised about $20 million via a share placing for an exploration program offshore Nigeria.

COSCO Corp. (Singapore) Ltd reports that COSCO (Nantong) Shipyard Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of the company's 51% owned COSCO Shipyard Group Co. Ltd, has delivered the jackup rig Kai Xuan Yi Hao to its Asian buyer.

Tullow Oil plc did not encounter hydrocarbons in the Lupus exploratory well, 31/10-1, in the North Sea.

Statoil Petroleum has discovered apparently commercial gas with its latest wildcat in the Barents Sea.

Exploration drilling activity continues to slide across the UK continental shelf (UKCS), according to the latest review by Deloitte’s Petroleum Services Group (PSG).  

AWE Ltd., as operator of Petroleum Mining Permit 38158 offshore Taranaki, New Zealand, reports that P&A operations for the Oi-1 and Oi-2 exploration wells are complete and that the Kan Tan IV drill rig was released on July 19.

Statoil ASA has resumed oil and gas production on the Njord A platform in the Norwegian North Sea.