:: News from Offshore ::

:: DISCOVERIES

:: Total hits more ultra-deep oil offshore Angola
Sonangol and Total subsidiary Total E&P Angola hit oil with the 11th exploration well on block 32 in ultra deepwater offshore Angola.

:: Another oil strike offshore Angola
Chevron subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. Ltd. has made another new oil discovery in deepwater block 14, in the Lower Congo basin offshore Angola.

:: Total finds ultra-deep oil offshore Congo
Total has found a new oil discovery in the ultra-deep offshore block Mer Très Profonde Sud (MTPS), which lies approximately 170 km (106 mi) offshore Republic of the Congo in 2,000 m (6,562 ft) water depth.

:: RIG REPORT

:: Deepwater Pathfinder sets Nigerian deepwater record
Transocean Inc.'s ultra deepwater drillship Deepwater Pathfinder has set the record for drilling in the deepest water depth offshore Nigeria.

:: Saipem wins four drilling contracts
Saipem has been awarded four drilling contracts worth $510 million.

:: Seadrill sells West Titania
Seadrill has agreed to sell the 1981-built jackup West Titania for $146.5 million to Nigerian drilling contractor SeaWolf Oil Services Ltd.

:: COMPANY NEWS

:: ExxonMobil evaluates further developments off Angola
ExxonMobil Corp. subsidiary Esso Exploration Angola Ltd. is evaluating more oil discoveries in block 15 offshore Angola as a follow-up to three fields currently being developed.

:: Afren updates Africa
Afren Plc. has had an active few months offshore Africa. The Ofa well in the northern Niger Delta is undergoing testing.

:: Total strengthens Nigerian gas portfolio
Total subsidiary Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. has signed an agreement with Nigeria's Conoil Producing Ltd. to acquire a 40% interest in offshore Oil Mining Lease (OML) 136. Conoil holds the remaining 60%.

:: CONTRACTS

:: BP awards $80-million support service contract
BP Angola (Block 18) BV has awarded an $80-million contract to Subsea 7 Inc. for Life of Field support services in block 18's Greater Plutonio development.

:: Dockwise wins Nigeria contract
Technip has awarded Dockwise Ltd. a contract for transportation and installation assistance for the Ofon project offshore Nigeria.

:: Technip wins platform contract offshore Nigeria
Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. has awarded Technip a turnkey contract to load, transport, and install the topsides for the OFP2 fixed platform on the Ofon field.

:: HUMAN INVESTMENT

:: Afren founder named advisor to Nigerian president
Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, founder and non-executive chairman of Afren, has been appointed honorary advisor on energy and strategic matters to the president of Nigeria.

:: UK training specialist assists South Africa
Lancashire-based skills development specialist Appropriate Training recently hosted a delegation from the South African Oil & Gas Association with a view to devising a new qualifications framework for the country's energy and shipbuilding industries.

:: US, African businesses meet to promote trade, investment
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), supported by US corporations, African businesses, and global leaders from the private and public sectors, will host the 2007 US-Africa Business Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, Nov. 14-16, 2007.

:: OTHER AFRICA NEWS

:: Douglas-Westwood releases The North Africa Oil & Gas Report 2007-2011
Analysts at Douglas-Westwood have released The North Africa Oil & Gas Report 2007-2011 which provides analysis of the region's energy industry, including major producers such as Algeria, Egypt, and Libya.

:: Drilling delayed offshore Tanzania
Aminex Plc. reports that the Caroil-6 land rig, which Aminex and partners contracted to drill two exploration wells on the Nyuni license offshore Tanzania, has experienced delays.

:: Candax begins drilling offshore Tunisia
Candax Energy Inc. has begun drilling the first well in a three-well development program on the El Bibane oil and gas field offshore Tunisia.

:: OFFSHORE SPONSORED EVENTS

Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition
March 9 – 11, 2010
Accra, Ghana

http://www.offshorewestafrica.com

Click here for a full calendar of industry events.