LLOG Exploration reported that the Mandy development, located in Mississippi Canyon 199, will consist of three wells tied back to the Matterhorn TLP production system in Mississippi Canyon 243. All three wells have been drilled, completed and successfully flow tested, and modifications to Matterhorn are underway. Meanwhile, the Anduin discovery at Mississippi Canyon 754 has been placed on production as a single-well subsea tieback to the Innovator FPS in Mississippi Canyon 711, and the Condor discovery in Green Canyon 448 was placed on production in June as a single-well subsea tieback to the Marquette facility in Green Canyon 52. The company’s Goose development, located in Mississippi Canyon 751, will be a single-well subsea tieback to LLOG’s existing production manifold at Mississippi Canyon 707.

Chevron Corp., in its second quarter earnings statement, announced that the company has returned to work in the Gulf of Mexico with three rigs drilling in deepwater, including the Moccasin exploration well, the Buckskin appraisal well, and the Tahiti 2 development program. The company is also drilling on the Shelf to test the ultra-deep gas play.

Murphy Oil Corp. reported its 2011 crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was below year ago levels ...

LLOG Exploration has successfully installed the Opti-Ex floating production System (FPS) for the Who Dat development in Mississippi Canyon 503/504/547. The FPS is located in the southeast quarter of Block 547 in 3,100 ft of water.

Chevron Australia Pty., Ltd. awarded a contract to CB&I for the mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation work on the Gorgon project on Barrow Island, off Western Australia.

Hercules Offshore finalized its purchase 20 jackups from Seahawk Drilling on April 27. Seven of the Seahawk rigs are currently working with nearly 500 days of contract backlog. The seven contracted rigs have been renamed as follows: Seahawk 2001 (Hercules 212), Seahawk 2004 (Hercules 213), Seahawk 2007 (Hercules 214), Seahawk 2600 (Hercules 263), Seahawk 2601 (Hercules 264), Seahawk 2602 (Hercules 265) and Seahawk 3000 (Hercules 300). In addition, cold stacked rigs Seahawk 2006 was renamed Hercules 209, the Seahawk 2504 is now the Hercules 256 and the Seahawk 2505 was renamed Hercules 259. For the remaining nine jackups, Seahawk was replaced with Hercules but the rig numbers remained the same.

Hercules Offshore has received two new contracts that will keep jackup Hercules 204 working to late July. The rig is preparing to move this week to Ship Shoal Block 151 for a 45-day well with Pisces Energy. Upon completion of that work in mid-June, the rig will go to Ship Shoal Block 112 for a 40-day well with Stone Energy. The rig has been briefly stacked in Eugene Island Block 113 after completing a contract with LLOG Exploration. Also, Chevron has extended contracts on jackups Hercules 120, Hercules 173 ...

Diamond Offshore confirms it has received a one-well contract from Marathon Oil for semi Ocean Monarch. Work in Garden Banks Block 515 is scheduled to begin in early May and should last around 60 days. The rig has been idle since June 2010 when Anadarko, which has the rig under contract to March 2013, declared it was terminating the contract via force majeure. Diamond disputed the claim, resulting in a litigation that has yet to be resolved.

Nabors Offshore workover platform rig Sundowner IV has completed its two-well contract with Merit Energy in Vermilion Block 408. With no follow-up work in place, Nabors has mobilized the rig back to New Iberia where it is hot stacked.

Basic Marine Services reports it is refurbishing workover inland barge Basic Marine Rig 15. The rig, which had been idle since December 2008, is now at the Bollinger Shipyard facility in Amelia where work is scheduled to be completed in late May. At present, Basic does not have a contract in place for the rig.

Hercules Offshore reports jackup Hercules 204 completed work in Eugene Island Block 113 for LLOG Exploration and the rig is now stacked on location. It is ...

Seahawk Drilling has recently secured several new contracts and extensions for its jackup fleet. First, Great GulfCan has signed up to take the Seahawk 2001 for a 90-day plus three, 90-day options program. Operations in the state waters in the High Island area are due to begin this week. The firm portion of the work will keep the rig working to mid-July. Next, PetroQuest Energy has inked a deal to take the Seahawk 2004 for a three-well contract in Ship Shoal Block 72. The 90-day program is scheduled to begin in late June or early July after the current contract with Walter O&G is completed. Walter still has around 20days left on its current well in West Cameron Block 29, which will be followed by a 60-day stint in Ship Shoal Block 189. Breton Energy will take jackup Seahawk 2007 for a 60-day well plus an unpriced option in West Cameron Block 71 starting around mid-June. The rig has just over 60 days remaining on its current contract with Castex Energy in Eugene Island Block 224. The rig is now next available around mid-August. Arena Offshore has exercised the first of two priced options on its contract with the Seahawk ...

Dril-Quip, Inc. has been awarded a contract by Chevron U.S.A., Inc. to supply drilling equipment for the Big Foot Tension Leg Platform (TLP) to be installed in the Big Foot field located in the Walker Ridge area. In addition, the company will provide subsea wellhead and specialty connector equipment to the project as well.

Global Industries, Ltd. has been awarded a project from LLOG Deepwater Development Company for the installation of a deepwater subsea development. The project, which will take place in Mississippi Canyon 503/547, is located in 3,000 feet of water and is scheduled to begin in May.