US GOM

Australian explorer purchases minority stakes in Who Dat and Dome Patrol deepwater fields.

The $32-million deal nets producer proved reserves of 3.2 million BOE.

The Whale floating production unit, comprising a topside module and a semisubmersible hull, is a near-twin to the previously delivered Vito facility.

While many expect oil and natural gas to retain their roles in the energy mix of 2050, the more significant question should not only be on how much oil and gas will be needed but from where the world will find it.

With the new contract, the goal is to roll into front-end engineering and design later this year, with vessel construction expected to commence in mid-2024.

The supermajor redefined its Mad Dog II development in three key ways: a blank-sheet redesign to cut costs, altering the way it works as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a digital twin offering unique access to the asset from anywhere in the world.

The appraisal results are not enough to push development forward.