Ensco plc (ESV) is a global offshore driller, based in London, that has seen its shares pull back in stride with other offshore companies following the Macondo accident and recent decline in oil prices. Uniquely, Ensco takes a barbell approach, focusing almost exclusively of the high-end shallow water jackups and ultra-deepwater semisubmerisibles.

Ensco has historically been a shallow water driller and is currently second in the high-end jackup space with 39 Jackups, comprising 11% of the global premium jackup fleet. High-end jackups are capable of drilling in deeper and more extreme conditions. ESV currently has 4 ultra deepwater rigs, and another 4 under construction. With a strategy of continually upgrading its jackup fleet, and recently entering the ultra-deepwater market, ESV has one of the youngest fleets among peers. [Read the full article]

The Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), one of the largest in the world in the energy sector, officially welcomed Ecopetrol S.A. ("Ecopetrol" or the "Company") (NYSE: EC; BVC: ECOPETROL; BVL: EC; TSX: ECP), whose ADRs have been trading on the TSX since August 13, 2010. Ecopetrol is the first Colombian company to be listed on the TSX.

The listing on this important stock exchange is another step in the Company's  internationalization process, as Ecopetrol's shares are now traded on four stock exchanges: the Colombia stock exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Lima Stock exchange, and the TSX.

In a special event that took place yesterday in Toronto, Canada, Ecopetrol was asked to open trading on TSX, which specializes in the mining and energy sectors. [Read the full article]

Less than two hours after Dell matched HP's bid for 3PAR, HP is back hiking its offer by $3 to $30.

3PAR had earlier agreed to Dell's bid, and it owed a $72 million breakup fee to Dell if it accepts HP's offer.

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While Statoil ASA (NYSE: STO - News) is fairly active on the exploration front with the start-up of operations in several new oil and gas fields, it is more positive on the production capacity of Snorre field on Tampen in the North Sea. The company anticipates a volume potential of approximately 900 million barrels of oil equivalents (MMBoe) for the next 30 years. Other relevant fields on Tampen are Statfjord and Gullfaks.

Statoil continues to concentrate on important fast-track development projects, which draw attention toward promising finds and prospects that have available capacity. Norne, Snorre, Katla and Sleipner are worth mentioning. The Snorre area is one of Statoil‘s priority regions for rapid expansion.

Among the fast-track development projects, PanPandora, Katla, Vigdis North-East and Gygrid form Statoil's immediate focus. [Read the full article]