Pacific Drilling Extends Option for 7th Drillship

- Pacific Drilling Extends Option for 7th Drillship

Thursday, June 23, 2011
Pacific Drilling S.A.

Pacific Drilling has reached an agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries to extend until October 31, 2011 an option to construct a seventh ultra-deepwater drillship.

With its best-in-class drillships and highly experienced team, Pacific Drilling is a fast growing company that is dedicated to becoming the preferred ultra-deepwater drilling contractor. In addition to three ultra-deepwater drillships delivered to date, Pacific Drilling expects delivery of an additional drillship in August 2011 and has two drillships on order at Samsung for delivery during 2013.

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Ptarmigan Completes Additional Option for Exploration License 1120

- Ptarmigan Completes Additional Option for Exploration License 1120

Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Ptarmigan Energy Inc.

Ptarmigan has completed an option agreement for its Western Newfoundland exploration license with Canadian Independent Oil and Gas Company (CIOGC), a privately held, Calgary based oil and gas exploration company.

President and CEO Craig Boland says that a discovery under this agreement will yield Ptarmigan a gross overriding royalty based upon a percentage of the gross production proceeds without deductions. "We are excited and very pleased that this agreement, coupled with the recent gas-in-shale farm out agreement with Shoal Point Energy (April 2011), has established strong partners to explore both traditional and non-traditional targets within Exploration License 1120, with very favorable terms for our shareholders."

Under the terms of the agreement CIOGC has 90 days to review existing seismic data and decide whether or not to exercise its option to acquire, a minimum of 1000 square kilometers of high definition 3D seismic data within the area of Exploration License 1120; 100% owned by Ptarmigan Energy. Exploration License 1120 is currently undergoing an environmental assessment and permitting process required by the Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB).

Should CIOGC exercise its option to collect additional seismic data, it would be in a position to execute a definitive agreement with a seismic acquisition contractor by October, 2011 with a view to starting that work in September 2012 following completion of the environmental assessment process. CIOGC has until December 2013 to exercise its option to drill a test well to the depth of 3,250 meters or 50 meters into the top of the Labrador Formation; the established marker below all anticipated targets. That well must then be spudded by no later than December 2014.

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Atwood to Delay PPL Jackup Option

- Atwood to Delay PPL Jackup Option

Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Atwood Oceanics Inc.

Atwood Oceanics announced that on June 9, 2011, one of its subsidiaries had reached an agreement with the PPL Shipyard to delay the required commitment date for the next Pacific Class 400 jack-up drilling unit option until December 31, 2011, concurrent with the commitment date for the last Pacific Class 400 jack-up unit option. At this time, the company has made no determination as to whether any of the two remaining options will be exercised.

The company currently has three Pacific Class 400 jack-up drilling units, the Atwood Mako, Atwood Manta, and Atwood Orca, under construction with PPL under turnkey construction agreements; these units will have a rated water depth of 400 feet, accommodations for 150 personnel and significant offline handling features.

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Bowleven Agrees to Option Agreement Extension for Etinde Permit

Bowleven Agrees to Option Agreement Extension for Etinde Permit

Friday, April 01, 2011

BowLeven plc

Bowleven has agreed an extension to the option agreement with Vitol E&P Limited (Vitol) in respect of the Etinde Permit (Etinde) in exchange for Vitol agreeing to fund 50 percent of a planned high specification seismic program over the IE and IF fields.

Under the agreement, Vitol retains the option to acquire an additional 10 percent beneficial interest in block MLHP-7, Etinde, in return for funding an agreed $50 million gross appraisal work program. The option now expires on the earlier of (i) 1 month following delivery of the finalized dataset acquired under a planned 3D Four Component Ocean Bottom Cable (4C OBC) seismic program over IE and IF and (ii) 31 March 2012, subject to the continuation of the exploration phase of the Etinde PSC. The option arrangement excludes blocks MLHP-5 and MLHP-6, Etinde, where the Sapele-1ST and Sapele-2 appraisal wells are currently being drilled. Bowleven will retain operatorship of all three blocks.

Bowleven and Vitol currently have participating interests of 75 percent and 25 percent respectively in the Etinde Permit. However, as part of the agreement for the revised option exercise period, Vitol will fund 50 percent of the planned 4C OBC seismic program. Data acquisition is expected to commence in April 2011, subject to contract finalization and SNH approval.

The opportunity for the 4C OBC survey has arisen due to an in-country seismic crew becoming available at short notice. This will enable the joint venture to acquire high specification seismic over IE and IF in a fast timescale and on economically attractive terms.

The data is expected to provide enhanced imaging, with significant additional upfront benefits in planning appraisal activities and the possible facilitation of a fast track development on block MLHP-7. Final processed volumes are expected to be delivered Q3/Q4 2011.

The new option arrangement with Vitol also recognizes the requirement for further technical work to be completed prior to programming firm future appraisal and development activity for the IE and IF field areas. In this regard, work is continuing to integrate the results of the IE-3 appraisal well, including developing a dynamic reservoir model over IE, and in evaluating the 3D seismic acquired over the IF field area during 2010. Vitol have been actively involved in these joint venture activities.

With the exception of the agreed 50:50 sharing of the 4C OBC costs, each party continues to fund activities on the Permit in accordance with its participating interest. In the event of option exercise, Bowleven's beneficial interest in block MLHP-7 would be 65 percent with effect from the date of exercise, with its beneficial interest in blocks MLHP-5 and MLHP-6 remaining at 75 percent. All interests are expressed prior to the exercise of any state back-in rights.

Kevin Hart, Chief Executive of Bowleven commented, "This is an excellent opportunity to acquire high quality seismic as we progress towards our objective of converting resources to reserves. The new 4C OBC seismic over the IE and IF fields at this stage will augment ongoing appraisal activities and potentially assist a fast track development on the block."

Pride Extends Option for Construction with Samsung Heavy

Pride Extends Option for Construction with Samsung Heavy

Friday, April 01, 2011

Pride International Inc.

Pride has reached agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries, Ltd. to extend Pride's option for the construction of a sixth ultra-deepwater drillship by 30 days. The extension of the option period does not impact the estimated unit construction cost or delivery schedule determined in December 2010, upon the order by Pride of a fifth ultra-deepwater drillship. The option may be exercised by the company on or before April 30, 2011, unless further extended on mutually agreed terms.