THE ATWOOD BEACON has been awarded a contract by Edison International SpA. (Ivory Coast Branch) to drill one well offshore Ivory Coast at an operating dayrate of around US$115,000. The drilling programme (including mobilisation) is expected to take around 70 days to complete.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has announced it is investing in the GAC Group to help the global shipping, logistics and marine services provider acquire new vessels to support offshore oil operations, spurring economic development and better employment opportunities in a number of emerging markets.

CARBO Ceramics Inc. recently announced that it has purchased all the intellectual property rights and trademarks for Fracpro^® fracture design modeling software from the Gas Technology Institute.

 Multiple transverse fracturing technique in open hole allows development of a low permeability reservoir offshore Congo, doubling estimated vertical well performance.

Egypt and Saudi state oil giant Aramco are planning to launch an oil spill containment exercise in an Alexandria port in November, according to reports.