Valiant Petroleum has spudded its latest operated well in the UK North Sea, on the Viola North prospect in license P1629, block 30/18b.

The jackup Trident IX shortly will spud the Dambus-1 exploration well in the Kutai PSC offshore Indonesia for operator Serica Energy.

GDF Suez E&P Nederland has discovered gas in the Sierra prospect in the Dutch North Sea.

Hoang Long Joint Operating Co. has discovered hydrocarbons in its latest appraisal well on the Te Giac Den prospect off southern Vietnam.

Apache North Sea Ltd. has contracted a high-pressure marine riser system from Aquaterra Energy Ltd.

Development of the Chim Sáo field off southern Vietnam remains on schedule, according to Premier Oil.

Repsol could drill two exploration wells next year on the Tanger-Larache concession offshore Morocco, according to partner Dana Petroleum.

Sterling Resources has proven further oil at the Cladhan discovery in the UK northern North Sea.

Reliance Industries has notched a fourth successive gas discovery in the KG-DWN-2003/1 (D3) exploration block in India’s Krishna Godavari basin off eastern India.

Dana Petroleum says a new well will be drilled early next year on the Goosander field in the Greater Kittiwake Area of the UK central North Sea.

Delek Group has issued an update on the proposed drilling program for the deepwater Leviathan 1 well offshore Israel.

Norske Shell has completed an appraisal well on its Gro gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea, with disappointing results.

Hurricane Exploration has started drilling Whirlwind, its second basement target in UK block 205/21a, west of Shetland.

Cairn Energy has discovered gas while drilling its first exploration well offshore Greenland.

Norwegian Energy Co. (Noreco) has contracted Senergy for project management of an exploration well in the Norwegian North Sea.

Wintershall Norge is on the lookout for more hydrocarbons off mid-Norway, following this summer’s Maria oil discovery on the Haltenbanken.

Bowleven has completed its testing program on the IE-3 appraisal well on the Etinde permit, offshore Cameroon.

Rockhopper Exploration has plugged and abandoned its Ernest 26/6-1 exploration well in the offshore North Falklands basin as a dry hole, following completion of all logging runs.

Total has won approval from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate for exploration drilling in the Norwegian North Sea, and Statoil also has clearance for two wildcats in the sector.

Ensco plc says it now has possession of the ENSCO 69 jackup drilling rig.