Lundin Petroleum AS, Stockholm, is plugging its 7/4-3 exploratory well on PL495 in the North Sea offshore Norway as a dry hole (OGJ Online, Apr. 5, 2013).

Virginia’s two US senators, Democrats Mark R. Warner and Timothy M. Kaine, introduced legislation that would revise the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s 2012-17 Outer Continental Shelf program by restoring to the schedule a lease sale off the state’s coast.

Noble Energy Inc. and partners have added to a series of natural gas discoveries in deep water offshore Israel.

Max Petroleum PLC, London, has run production casing in an appraisal well it plans to test in Baichonas West field in Kazakhstan.

Union Fenosa Gas Exploracion y Produccion SAU, Soc. de Hidrocarburos de Euskadi SA, and Oil & Gas Skills SA have completed a 232 sq km 3D seismic survey in the Rioja area of northern Spain.

HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA, Rio de Janeiro, said its Wingat-1 well on Block 2212 in the Walvis basin offshore Namibia found noncommercial amounts of oil and is being plugged.

Alaska’s state government proposed that a new study of potential crude oil resources beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain be conducted before the Obama administration decides whether to designate more of the refuge as wilderness and wild and scenic rivers.

Tethys Petroleum Ltd. has signed a protocol of intent with the Uzbek state oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz for exploratory work on the Bayterek block in the North Ustyurt basin in northern Uzbekistan.

US Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to ensure states that normally receive half of federal onshore oil and gas royalties under the Mineral Leasing Act actually receive the money.

The US Bureau of Land Management’s Rock Springs, Wyo., field office began a 30-day public scoping period on May 6 before it prepares an environmental assessment of Devon Energy Production Co. LP’s proposal to develop up to 20 new oil and gas wells within the Horseshoe basin unit.