2026 Archives - Drilling Contractor https://drillingcontractor.org/2026 Get the latest oil drilling news with DrillingContractor.org Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:31:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 202015461 H&P breathes new life into existing diesel engines with dual-fuel gas-blending system https://drillingcontractor.org/hp-breathes-new-life-into-existing-diesel-engines-with-dual-fuel-gas-blending-system-77950 https://drillingcontractor.org/hp-breathes-new-life-into-existing-diesel-engines-with-dual-fuel-gas-blending-system-77950#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:53 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77950 By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor In a time of shifting industry regulations and cost pressures, onshore drilling contractors remain under tremendous pressure to maintain capital discipline. This means that, even though replacing traditional Tier 2 diesel engines with natural gas, or even dual-fuel, engines can reduce emissions output and fuel costs, the substantial capital cost …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/hp-breathes-new-life-into-existing-diesel-engines-with-dual-fuel-gas-blending-system-77950/feed 0 77950 Focus on local capacity building can help ensure ‘the Namibian people win’ amid E&P boom https://drillingcontractor.org/focus-on-local-capacity-building-can-help-ensure-the-namibian-people-win-amid-ep-boom-77963 https://drillingcontractor.org/focus-on-local-capacity-building-can-help-ensure-the-namibian-people-win-amid-ep-boom-77963#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:53 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77963 By Jessica Whiteside, Contributor This could be a momentous year for Namibia’s emerging offshore oil and gas industry. TotalEnergies is expected to take a final investment decision on its Venus project in the Orange Basin, and Shell is resuming exploratory drilling in Petroleum Exploration License 39 after writing down $400 million on earlier discoveries last …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/focus-on-local-capacity-building-can-help-ensure-the-namibian-people-win-amid-ep-boom-77963/feed 0 77963 Amelia Nelson, Noble: Soft skills just as crucial as technical knowledge for successful career https://drillingcontractor.org/amelia-nelson-noble-soft-skills-just-as-crucial-as-technical-knowledge-for-successful-career-77901 https://drillingcontractor.org/amelia-nelson-noble-soft-skills-just-as-crucial-as-technical-knowledge-for-successful-career-77901#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:53 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77901 By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor Any young professional looking to make their way in oil and gas must answer some key questions for themselves. For example, do you want a more technical career, or do you envision yourself in management? Do you have the soft skills needed to work collaboratively with people? If you strive …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/amelia-nelson-noble-soft-skills-just-as-crucial-as-technical-knowledge-for-successful-career-77901/feed 0 77901 Reshaping the narrative on the industry the world can’t live without https://drillingcontractor.org/reshaping-the-narrative-on-the-industry-the-world-cant-live-without-77906 https://drillingcontractor.org/reshaping-the-narrative-on-the-industry-the-world-cant-live-without-77906#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:53 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77906 From the Chairman It’s impossible for people to make informed decisions about something they have little or no connection to, or facts about. This, I believe, is at the very root of the drilling industry’s perception problem. People don’t really know us or our contribution to society, and what they have been told is often …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/reshaping-the-narrative-on-the-industry-the-world-cant-live-without-77906/feed 0 77906 South America offshore market builds momentum with frontier exploration, steady progress https://drillingcontractor.org/south-america-offshore-market-builds-momentum-with-frontier-exploration-steady-progress-77948 https://drillingcontractor.org/south-america-offshore-market-builds-momentum-with-frontier-exploration-steady-progress-77948#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:53 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77948 By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor Over the past few years, the offshore oil and gas landscape in South America has undergone a noticeable shift. Traditional fields and proved reserves in areas like the Brazilian pre-salt have matured, while newer plays like Guyana have become consistent producers. Beyond that, new frontiers like the Equatorial Margin in …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/south-america-offshore-market-builds-momentum-with-frontier-exploration-steady-progress-77948/feed 0 77948 Novel machine learning agent adds predictive capability to automated generator controls https://drillingcontractor.org/novel-machine-learning-agent-adds-predictive-capability-to-automated-generator-controls-77975 https://drillingcontractor.org/novel-machine-learning-agent-adds-predictive-capability-to-automated-generator-controls-77975#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:52 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77975 By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor Rig power demand can fluctuate rapidly throughout the well construction process – for example, in North American unconventionals, where operations have become far more power intensive and variable over the past decade. Drilling contractors recognize that keeping more generators online than what’s required for operational purposes wastes fuel and unnecessarily …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/novel-machine-learning-agent-adds-predictive-capability-to-automated-generator-controls-77975/feed 0 77975 Companies can see high ROI when investing in employees’ mental and physical health https://drillingcontractor.org/companies-can-see-high-roi-when-investing-in-employees-mental-and-physical-health-77969 https://drillingcontractor.org/companies-can-see-high-roi-when-investing-in-employees-mental-and-physical-health-77969#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:52 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77969 By Jessica Whiteside, Contributor It took three heart attacks to set Keeley Bell on a path to finding a healthier approach to work and life. Now, he’s on a mission to help rig crews and their employers make the connection between physical and mental health and safe, efficient operations. “The toughest battles that we have …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/companies-can-see-high-roi-when-investing-in-employees-mental-and-physical-health-77969/feed 0 77969 Eavor-Loop project in Germany illustrates feasibility, scalability of ‘geothermal anywhere’ https://drillingcontractor.org/eavor-loop-project-in-germany-illustrates-feasibility-scalability-of-geothermal-anywhere-77995 https://drillingcontractor.org/eavor-loop-project-in-germany-illustrates-feasibility-scalability-of-geothermal-anywhere-77995#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:52 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77995 By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor For most of its commercial history, the conventional hydrothermal systems that generate geothermal power have been limited in terms of geological settings. Typically they have only worked in areas where there is an intersection of high subsurface temperatures, naturally permeable formations and producible geothermal fluids capable of sustained circulation. These …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/eavor-loop-project-in-germany-illustrates-feasibility-scalability-of-geothermal-anywhere-77995/feed 0 77995 Wirelines https://drillingcontractor.org/wirelines-110-78003 https://drillingcontractor.org/wirelines-110-78003#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:52 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=78003 Federal committee exempts US Gulf drilling activities from Endangered Species Act On 31 March, the Endangered Species Committee, a US federal committee, voted unanimously to exempt US Gulf oil and gas activities, including drilling, from the “avoidance or minimization measures” mandated by the Endangered Species Act. This exemption was based on a national security determination …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/wirelines-110-78003/feed 0 78003 UK offshore industry calls for policy changes that face market realities https://drillingcontractor.org/uk-offshore-industry-calls-for-policy-changes-that-face-market-realities-78028 https://drillingcontractor.org/uk-offshore-industry-calls-for-policy-changes-that-face-market-realities-78028#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:52 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=78028 By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor Heading deeper into the latter half of the 2020s, the offshore oil and gas industry in the UK is at an inflection point. The country will continue to need significant volumes of oil and gas for decades. According to Offshore Energy UK’s (OEUK) Business Outlook Report 2026, oil and gas …

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