BP announced on January 31, 2018, two new exploration discoveries in the North Sea.

Shell Offshore Inc. (“Shell”) announces one of its largest U.S. Gulf of Mexico exploration finds in the past decade from the Whale deep-water well. The well encountered more than 1,400 net feet (427 meters) of oil bearing pay. Evaluation of the discovery is ongoing, and appraisal drilling is underway to further delineate the discovery and define development options.

Now in its 20th year, and following a highly successful and well-received 2015 event in Amsterdam, this year’s industry-leading Interspill oil spill conference and exhibition is due to be held at the ExCeL in London, running between March 13-15.

Total has signed an agreement with Samson in order to acquire Samson Offshore Anchor, LLC, which holds a 12.5% interest in four blocks covering the Anchor discovery, one of the most significant recent discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), USA. The deal also includes a 12.5% interest in the nearby exploration block Green Canyon 761, where Total already has a 25% interest.

On January 31st deep-water bid round for the Mexican Gulf of Mexico, Shell Exploración y Extracción de México, S.A. de C.V., ("Shell") won four exploration blocks on its own, one with its partner Pemex Exploración y Producción and four with its partner Qatar Petroleum International Limited. Shell will be the operator of all nine blocks.

Noble Energy has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to divest a 7.5 percent working interest in the Tamar field, offshore Israel, to Tamar Petroleum Ltd for cash proceeds of approximately $560 million and 38.5 million shares of Tamar Petroleum.

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) is transforming its Eider platform and ensuring continued production from the Otter field as part of its strategy to maximize economic recovery and extend the life of its oil and gas fields in the northern North Sea (NNS).

A breakthrough in electric torque tool technology is set to further advance the capability of electric underwater robotic vehicles.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) announces a significant oil discovery at the Ballymore prospect in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Trelleborg’s engineered products operation has won a contract to supply DD fenders to Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard in South Korea for the safe and efficient installation of topside modules bound for Statoil’s Johan Sverdrup oil field project, located in the North Sea.

Cohort plc company SEA and leading North Sea oil and gas producer Spirit Energy have joined forces to promote the recycling of valuable subsea production equipment under the former’s Legacy Locker programme.

OEG Offshore (OEG) – which specialises in the design, build and rental of specialist A60 cabins and cargo-carrying units for the offshore oil and gas market, has delivered several high value ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles) module contracts worth $2.5 million USD (£1.8 million GBP) for TechnipFMC, Saipem and other leading subsea contractors.

Shell Integrated Gas Thailand Pte Ltd and Thai Energy Company Ltd, affiliates of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, have agreed to an asset sale of their 22.2222% interest in the Bongkot field and adjoining acreage offshore Thailand to PTT Exploration & Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) and PTTEP International Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PTTEP, for a transaction value of $750 million.

Energean Oil & Gas announces that Energean Israel has signed a contract with Stena Drilling for the development drilling of the Karish Field, offshore Israel.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement announces that the maximum civil penalty rate for Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act violations will increase from $42,704 to $43,576 a day for each violation. This legislatively mandated increase is contained in a final rule which is effective January 18, 2018.

Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) announced the award of a sizeable(1) contract from Statoil for the Johan Castberg field development, located 240 km from Hammerfest in Norway.