
By Alicia Dunkley-Willis (*) - With commercial oil production projected to commence in 2017 for the 3,000 population Falkland Islands, efforts are now underway to ensure that the impending wealth does not upset the order here.

Transocean Ltd. today announced on Monday it has been awarded 10-year contracts for four new build dynamically positioned ultra-deepwater drill-ships by Royal Dutch Shell (Shell).

Brazilian energy giant Petrobras on Friday asked a Rio do Janeiro court to lift a ban on operations of rig owner Transocean in connection with a major ocean oil spill last year. The company filed a civil action as injured third party to press for the immediate lifting of a July 31 injunction ordering US oil firm Chevron and Switzerland-based Transocean to stop drilling and shipping activities in Brazil within 30 days.

Venezuela will hike the amount of oil it is sending to India's Reliance Industries and signed a new 15-year supply contract with the company, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez announced this week.

Falkland Oil and Gas, FOGL, announced on Tuesday that last 25 September it spudded the Scotia exploration well to the East of the Falkland Islands. The well FI 31/12-01 is located 315 km east-northeast of the Islands capital Stanley, and 114 km from the Loligo prospect.

As Japan and France move away from nuclear energy, is it the endgame for nuclear proponents?

Brazil's Dilma Roussef has approved the auctioning of new oil concessions next year, subject to congressional approval of a new royalties law, authorities said. The 11th auction outside the pre-salt next May would involve 74 oil blocks, half at sea and half on land.

Falkland Islands explorer Desire Petroleum said its half-year to end-June period losses decreased from 39.3 million dollars in the previous period to just 2m, due to a fall in exploration and evaluation expenses. It also announced that it was looking for a farm-in partner for the North Falkland basin, where the company is focused.

Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd announced Monday that the well drilled to the East of the Falkland Islands to a depth of over 4.000 meters is a gas discovery. The statement comes after a rough week for FOGL when its shares plummeted following poor and unfounded press coverage.

Argentina's recently nationalized oil and gas producer YPF SA and the US Chevron Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore for unconventional energy in Vaca Muerta, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen.