Iona Energy (UK) Ltd has agreed to take the Diamond Offshore semisubmersible drilling rig Ocean Nomad for one well on the Staffa oil field in the UK northern North Sea.

Sterling Resources Netherlands appears to have encountered oil with an appraisal well in the Dutch North Sea.

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has authorized Wintershall to drill an exploratory well in the Norwegian North Sea, 8 km (4.9 mi) northeast of the company’s Grosbeak discovery.

ExxonMobil and its partners have agreed to a forward program for Frontier Exploration License (FEL) 3/04 offshore western Ireland.

RWE Dea UK says development drilling has started on the Clipper South gas field in the UK southern North Sea.

Talisman Energy has extended the contract for the accommodation support rig Regalia at the Yme field in the Norwegian North Sea.

Hurricane Resources believes its Lancaster discovery west of the Shetland Islands could contain 200 MMbbl of recoverable oil.

Norwegian Energy Co. (Noreco) has started drilling exploration well Luna-1X in license 1/11 in the Danish North Sea.

Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has approved Lundin’s request for exploration drilling in the Norwegian Sea using the semisub Bredford Dolphin.