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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Total has clearance from Petroleum Safety Authority Norway to drill an exploration well in the Norwegian central North Sea.

Statoil Petroleum has proven further oil in the Gudrun field area in the Norwegian North Sea.

Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has approved Norske Shell’s plan for exploration drilling on the Ormen Lange field in the Norwegian Sea.

Premier Oil’s 22/19c-6 exploration well on the Oates prospect in the UK central North Sea has reached target depth of 10,323 feet MD, according to partner Premier Oil.

Nautical Petroleum expects to resume drilling this month on the Kraken heavy oil accumulation in the UK northern North Sea.

Nexen Petroleum UK has completed flow testing its Blackbird field appraisal well in the UK central North Sea.

EnCore Oil plans to drill to four more exploration and appraisal wells close to its Catcher oil discovery in the UK North Sea, pending rig availability.

Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway has cleared Statoil to drill a well in frontier waters off northern Norway.