Bahamas explorer BPC which is working with Statoil in the region says newly interpreted seismic data has confirmed the potential for oil in the area.

North Sea exploration observer Hannon Westwood says the level of drilling on the UKCS so far this year points to the highest level of activity for 13 years.

A well was closed on Siri, and Brage had a lower production in August, Noreco informs.

London-listed Gulfsands Petroleum has declared that the Lambouka 1 well offshore Tunisia has hit two hydrocarbon zones.

London-listed Chariot Oil and Gas has signalled the size of the estimated reserves in recently acquired licence blocks in Namibia which suggest more than 10 billion barrels of oil reserves.

Work to test the first confirmed oil discovery off the Falkland Islands has commenced.

Drilling on the Nganga well in the Nganzi block in the Democratic Republic of Congo has ended with a dry hole Soco International has reported.

London-listed Gulf Keystone Petroleum has kicked off a new appraisal well onshore Kurdistan on the giant Shaikan discovery.

Four Greenpeace protesters who boarded the Stena Don rig working on a deepwater well offshore Greenland for Cairn Energy have been arrested.

London-listed Serica Energy has signalled that it is shortly due to commence drilling its Dambus 1 exploration well offshore East Kalimantan in Indonesia.

Ronaldo, the drilling target in which Norway's Noreco has just acquired a stake is thought to contain up to 50 to 100 m boe according to a pre-drill estimate published today.

London-listed Soco International has reported a new hydrocarbon find drilling offshore Vietnam.

Noreco has struck a deal to participate in a forthcoming exploration on the Ronaldo prospect due to be drilled offshore Norway next year.

Greenpeace activists claim to have boarded a rig operating for British-based Cairn Energy offshore Greenland in an attempt to stop exploration drilling.

City commentator Evolution Securities has repeated speculation that the UK Cladhan discovery which is undergoing further appraisal could contain between 100 and 200 mbbl of oil.

London-listed Chariot Oil and Gas has promised to pursue an “aggressive” exploration schedule offshore Namibia.

Drilling has kicked off on the Viola North prospect in the UK North Sea Valiant Petroleum has revealed.

Further drilling on the UK Cladhan discovery has confirmed a major find after initial appraisal results.

Statoil has received a green light to drill an exploration well in the North Sea with Ocean Vanguard.

Drilling on a new exploration well offshore Tunisia in the Mediterranean Sea close to Italy has hit a target reservoir with indications of hydrocarbons.

British-based Premier Oil has outlined a raft of new exploration drilling in the North Sea and elsewhere which will target up to 300 m bbl of reserves.

Germany's Wintershall has declared a new UK North Sea find on the Blakeney prospect which it says holds  between 60 and 100 m, bbl of oil in place.

New oil and gas has been discovered offshore Norway in the Zidane prospect which has successfully drilled.

Falklands explorer Rockhopper exploration is preparing to test the Sea Lion oil discovery in the South Atlantic.

Irish explorer San Leon Energy has completed the acquisition of 3D seismic data over the Slyne Basin offshore Ireland.

London-listed Regal Petroleum says it has spudded its latest exploration well in Romania in its 100% operated Barlad concession area in the country's northeast.

Rockhopper Exploration said that the Ernest exploration well in off the Falkland Islands was a dry hole.

Ocean Vanguard will drill a well for Total E&P Norge after Petroleum Safety Authority Norway gave its consent.