Cameron has closed on its purchase of LeTourneau Technologies Drillings Systems and Offshore Products divisions from Joy Global, Inc. for approximately $375 million in cash.

EMAS AMC has been awarded a contract by BP Exploration & Production, Inc. to perform subsea work in the Atlantis field located in Green Canyon 743. The project scope consists of the installation and replacement of subsea equipment comprised of manifolds, jumpers and associated hardware in 6,800 feet of water, as well as assisting BP with complete commissioning and start-up activities.

Cal Dive International, Inc. has been awarded a $27 million contract by Pemex for the installation of an 8 inch subsea pipeline located in the Abkatun Field. The offshore construction is expected to commence in April 2012.

Spartan Offshore has received a further extension from Century Offshore that will now keep jackup Spartan 303 under contract through May 2012. The rig has been working for Century since mid-February.

Hercules Offshore received contract extensions for two jackups recently. First, Hall-Houston extended its deal on the Hercules 212 for two wells in East Cameron Block 160. The rig is currently under tow to the new location, with work expected to keep the rig busy for around 90 days, making it next available for work around the end of January 2012. Pisces Energy has also exercised its option on the Hercules 263. The rig has now arrived on location in South Pelto Block 13 where it is expected to be until mid-December when a 50-day contract with Tana Exploration in set to begin. The Hercules 150 has arrived in Sabine Pass where it will undergo 45-50 days of leg repairs after it suffered a punchthrough trying to get on Tarpon Offshore’s location in West Cameron Block 265. It has not yet been determined if Tarpon will wait for the rig or switch to an alternative unit. The jackup is also scheduled to go to Arena Offshore for a 45-day ...

W&T Offshore has successfully drilled the Main Pass 108 No. 8 well. The well reached TD 12,878 feet and found seven pay sands. The company owns a 100% working interest in this well and is currently in the process of completing this conventional shelf development well.

Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP) has executed a securities purchase agreement with EIG Global Energy Partners in which PXP will receive $450 million of cash proceeds in exchange for a 20% equity interest in Plains Offshore Operations, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PXP established to hold all of PXP’s Gulf of Mexico assets. Included in the assets is the Lucius oil development project, a discovery with first production anticipated in 2014.

Williams Partners, LP has signed multiple agreements with Hess Corporation and Chevron to provide production handling, export pipeline, oil and gas gathering and gas processing services in the Tubular Bells field development. Hess and Chevron will utilize Williams Partners’ proprietary floating production system, Gulfstar FPS™.

Total mobile rig utilization in the Gulf of Mexico saw no change this week. Currently, 61 of 115 rigs are under contract or committed for work for utilization of 53%.

Marketed utilization, which excludes cold stacked and other rigs here but not marketed in the US Gulf, remains at 88.4% with 61 of 69 rigs under contract.

Utilization of the jackup fleet is unchanged from last week. Overall fleet utilization is now 46.1% with 35 of 76 units under contract or committed for work. Marketed utilization stays at 83.3% with 35 of 42 units contracted.

Floating rig utilization is unchanged this week. Current fleet utilization remains at 78.7% with 26 of 33 units under contract, while marketed utilization is 96.3% with 26 of 27 rigs under contract.

Total platform rig fleet utilization is still 44% with 22 of 50 units under contract. Marketed utilization stands at 62.9% with 22 of 35 units under contract or committed for work.

Inland barge utilization is also unchanged for the week. Total utilization is 52.5% with 31 of 59 units contracted. Marketed utilization remains at 75.6% with 31 of 41 units under contract.