Exploration

Haynesville Shale giant Comstock Resources Inc. “went back to work” in the third quarter to try to cash in on expected higher natural gas prices by accelerating seven well completions and by adding two horizontal drilling rigs, CEO Jay Allison said Thursday. “We have advantaged access to the demand market of the Gulf Coast,” Allison…

Driven by declines in the Permian Basin, the U.S. rig count fell two units overall to drop to 263 for the short holiday week ending Thursday (July 2), according to the latest numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR). Changes for the week included a three-rig decline in oil-directed drilling, partially offset by the addition of…

Oil and natural gas exploration will play an essential role in meeting global energy demand through at least 2040, even if human-induced global warming is kept under 2 C, according to a recent analysis by Wood Mackenzie. “Only about half the supply needed to 2040 is guaranteed from fields already onstream,” said Wood Mackenzie’s Andrew…

Oil and natural gas exploration will play an essential role in meeting global energy demand through at least 2040, even if human-induced global warming is kept under 2 C, according to a new analysis by Wood Mackenzie. “Only about half the supply needed to 2040 is guaranteed from fields already onstream,” said Wood Mackenzie’s Andrew…

Mexico’s upstream oil and gas regulator, Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos (CNH), last Thursday approved drilling the Xakpún-1EXP deepwater exploration well by a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp., aka CNOOC. The J-shaped well plans to target light oil resources in the Gulf of Mexico’s Wilcox formation to a  total depth of 6,346 meters (20,820…

ExxonMobil, which rode the wave for worldwide exploration last year in part because of the prolific Guyana portfolio, announced another discovery offshore the South American country, where recoverable resources already were estimated at more than 8 billion boe.

ExxonMobil, which rode the wave for worldwide exploration last year in part because of the prolific Guyana portfolio, announced another discovery offshore the South American country, where recoverable resources already were estimated at more than 8 billion boe.

The global oil and natural gas industry is optimistic about future prospects, with conventional exploration still the primary resource replacement option, according to Wood Mackenzie’s 11th annual survey.

Oil and natural gas production specialization, i.e. focusing on one area or play, is enabling operators in North America’s onshore to achieve more efficiencies and improve financial results, but the strategy over the longer term could in fact create significant risk from market volatility.