:: News from Offshore ::

:: REGIONAL UPDATE

:: INPEX, Total discover gas in Browse basin
Total E&P Australia and INPEX Browse Ltd., operator of the WA-344-P joint venture off Australia, have made a new gas discovery from the Mimia-1 well in the Browse basin.

:: CNOOC acquires Bozhong oil and gas discovery
CNOOC has acquired the Bozhong (BZ) 29-5 oil and gas discovery in the Yellow River Mouth Sag of Bohai Bay.

:: Exxon, BHP to fully develop Turrum field
The Gippsland Basin Joint Venture, which includes ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Australia, and BHP Billiton, will invest $1.1 billion to develop more than 270 MMboe from Turrum field in the Bass Strait, offshore southeast Australia.

:: DRILLING

:: Longtom-4 development well reaches TD
The Longtom-4 development well in production license VIC/L29 in the Gippsland basin, offshore Victoria, has reached a total depth of 4,648 m (15,249 ft) measured depth below the rotary table in the 9.5-in. (24-cm) horizontal hole, according to Nexus Energy.

:: Origin to drill Canterbury basin well
Origin Energy Resources (NZ) Ltd., operator and 100% interest holder of Canterbury basin permit PEP 38262, will drill an exploration well in permit Year 4.

:: Kupe JV well P&A'd
Kupe Joint Venture has P&A'd the Momoho 1 exploration well, offshore Taranaki basin, New Zealand.

:: VESSELS

:: ENSCO finalizes ultra deepwater semisub rig construction contract
An ENSCO International Inc. subsidiary has finalized a $560-million construction contract with Keppel FELS for a new ultra deepwater semisubmersible rig to be named ENSCO 8506.

:: Aban Deep Driller 8 receives LOI
Aban Offshore Ltd. has received a letter of intent to deploy the newbuilt jackup rig Deep Driller 8 offshore India for a two firm well and two optional well program.

:: Tui FPSO Umuroa contract extended
Prosafe Production, owner and operator of the FPSO Umuroa, has extended the charter of the FPSO through Dec. 31, 2022 for the Tui area oil project in the Taranaki basin.

:: CONTRACTS

:: NorCE receives Woodside contract
NorCE Offshore, subsidiary of Nor Offshore Ltd, has received a five-year contract with two one-year options from Woodside Energy Ltd. to support Woodside's inspection, maintenance, and repair campaign in Australia.

:: PSS, Submec sign ROV contract
Submec Offshore has awarded Perry Slingsby Systems Inc. (PSSI) a contract to supply Triton XLX 33 and 34 ROV systems.

:: Keppel receives three contracts
Keppel Shipyard has secured contracts totaling $110 million to upgrade, modify, and convert three vessels.

:: COMPANY NEWS

:: BOS opens Singapore office
Bergen Oilfield Services opened its Asia-Pacific regional office in Singapore yesterday.

:: Santos appoints CEO
Santos has appointed David Knox as CEO and managing director.

:: Swiber appoints CEOs
Swiber Holdings Ltd. has appointed new heads to lead its business units, Offshore Construction Services (OCS) and Offshore Support Services (OSS).

:: OFFSHORE MAPS & SURVEYS

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:: OFFSHORE SPONSORED EVENTS

Offshore Middle East Conference & Exhibition
October 12 – 14, 2010
Doha, Qatar

http://www.offshoremiddleeast.com/index.html

Click here for a full calendar of industry events.