ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS has let a contract to Aker Solutions for the engineering, procurement, and construction of a platform jacket and bridge support jacket for the new Ekofisk 2/4L accommodations platform, to be installed on Block 2/4 off Norway.

US drilling activity continued to grow with 1,407 rotary rigs working this week, an increase of 11 units from the previous week and up from 1,126 in operation in the same period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Transocean Ltd. reported the newbuild ultradeepwater drillship Discoverer Inspiration has started operations for Chevron USA Inc. in the Gulf of Mexico under a 5-year drilling contract.

The new Dhirubhai Deepwater KG2 drillship, owned by a joint venture of Transocean Ltd. and Pacific Drilling Ltd., has begun work under a 5-year contract with Reliance Industries Ltd. off India.

US drilling activity continued to increase with 1,396 rotary rigs working in the week ended Mar. 5, 23 more than the previous week and up from 1,170 a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

US drilling activity continued climbing, up by 28 units to 1,373 rotary rigs working this week.

US drilling activity was virtually flat this week, down by 1 unit to 1,345 rotary rigs working, compared with 1,300 units drilling during the same period last year, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Partners in Production License 025, off Norway, plan to submit a plan to Norwegian authorities for developing and operating Gudrun field.