Argentina has granted permits to companies that will look for hydrocarbons for up to 13 years in the South Atlantic, including areas near the disputed Malvinas Islands. ExxonMobil, Total and Royal Dutch Shell are among the winning companies, which will receive the permits between June and August and have the option of seeking 35-year production licenses during the exploration period.

Scientists installed Raspberry Shake seismometers at several homes and hotels in Haiti to detect small earthquakes. The pilot project, which began last January, aims to improve Haiti's seismic network by showing the size and location of smaller temblors and giving researchers more insight on potential major quakes.

Hydrocarbon production from Canada's Montney formation in northeastern British Columbia and northwestern Alberta is expected to increase by 16% this year, largely due to an increase in liquids in Montney's subplays, reports energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Output is expected to hit 10 billion cubic feet equivalent per day in 2019 and further increase to 20 billion per day by 2030, Wood Mackenzie says.

A deepwater exploration well in the Indus Basin off Pakistan has found no oil or natural gas, says a spokesman for Oil and Gas Development, part of a consortium working on the project. The consortium, which also includes ExxonMobil, Pakistan Petroleum and license operator Eni, obtained information for future exploration projects, but it will plug and abandon the well in the 7,500-square-kilometer block, the spokesman says.

The total US oil and natural gas rig count fell by one to 987 last week, as oil drillers idled three rigs and gas explorers added two units, reports Baker Hughes. Ohio and Wyoming saw the biggest gains of four and three rigs, respectively, while Pennsylvania, Texas and Alaska were among the states posting losses.

The Philippines' Energy Department says it has received requests from nine companies for clearance to explore hydrocarbon blocks in the Sulu Sea and the Quezon, Albay and Mindoro provinces. The companies are participating in the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program.

Nearly 25% of the ice sheet in West Antarctica is now thought to be unstable, according to an examination of satellite data published in Geophysical Research Letters. "Using this unique dataset, we've been able to identify the parts of Antarctica that are undergoing rapid, sustained thinning -- regions that are changing faster than we would expect due to normal weather patterns," said researcher Malcolm McMillan.

SEG is proud to partner with the University of Houston to present 14 continuing education courses this summer! Courses run through Aug. 16. Catch Jerry Shuster for his presentation on "Seismic wave and ray theory" May 27-31. In June, choose from a variety of subjects including rock and fluid physics, depth imaging, seismic interpretation, and anisotropy. For more information regarding pricing, course schedule, and instructors, please visit the website.

Don't miss savings on 2019 Summer NAPE, Aug. 21-22, in Houston. More intimate than the annual NAPE Summit, Summer NAPE is regionally focused and a must-attend event to network with industry professionals who have first-hand knowledge of opportunities and prospects. Connect and reconnect with the players necessary to forge, facilitate, and close deals. Register by July 12 to save!