Halliburton Co. filed claims against BP PLC on Sept. 1 in Texas state court for negligent misrepresentation, business disparagement, and defamation related to the Apr. 20, 2010, Macondo well blowout.

US oil and gas drilling rig activity fell slightly this week with the loss of 7 rigs, bringing the total working rigs to 1,968. This week’s count, however, is up by 315 rigs from the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Noble Corp. has ordered an ultradeepwater drillship to be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., subject to finalization of a construction contract within the next several weeks.

Alaska’s Cook Inlet may soon have two jack up rigs, the first drilling units to have operated there in many years.

US oil and gas drilling rig activity increased slightly this week with the addition of 1 rig, bringing the total working rigs to 1,975. This week’s count is up by 319 rigs from the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has issued an emergency rule to increase regulatory oversight of unconventional natural gas drilling.

US drilling activity increased this week with the addition of 15 rigs, bringing the total working rigs to 1,974. This is up from 1,651 in the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Oil and wet gas plays of all types are revitalizing basins, reducing unemployment, stressing demand for rigs and other services, and reversing production declines in the US onshore Lower 48, speakers said Wednesday at a session leading up to the Summer NAPE exposition in Houston.

Ensco PLC has taken delivery of the ultradeepwater Ensco 8504 semisubmersible drilling rig from Keppel FELS Ltd. in Singapore and will prepare it for work off Brunei.