The Oil and Gas Journal articles from August 1999

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from August 1999

Newsletter.
August 2, 1999... Oil market analysts are looking for continued tightening of the supply-demand balance and further improvements in fundamentals. "With OPEC maintaining production discipline and demand increasing, we anticipate tighter world crude oil...

U.S. INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD 8/2.(petroleum and gas industry)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... U.S. INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD 8/2 4 wk. 4 wk. avg. % Year-to-date Latest week 7/23 average year ago [*] change average [*] Demand (1,000 b/d) Motor gasoline ...

LETTERS.
August 2, 1999... Oxygen in gasoline I enjoyed reading OGJ's online editorial forum on oxygen in gasoline except for the fact that it was totally irrelevant to the issue at hand. In case you don't know (although I suspect that you do, but chose to neglect...

ARCO's swan song.
August 2, 1999... This week, OGJ turns its spotlight on ARCO and how it improvised its way through a daunting challenge in Ecuador's rainforest (see story, p. 19). It makes for a fascinating, even inspiring, story, but it is hardly a first for ARCO. In...

MTBE's slide continues.
August 2, 1999... In retrospect, it seems to have been inevitable. Someone got a headache after refueling an automobile with reformulated gasoline and blamed it on a new fuel additive. Questions about methyl tertiary butyl ether appeared in newspapers and on...

ARCO's Villano project: Improvised solutions in Ecuador's rainforest.(ARCO Oriente Inc. develops Villano oil field, Ecuador)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... ARCO Oriente Inc. has just raised the bar in the evolving new paradigm of oil industry sustainable development in the rainforest. The Ecuadorian unit of ARCO recently started up commercial operations in its Villano oil field development...

Cameroon and Namibia offer E&P licensee.(oil and gas exploration and production)
August 2, 1999... Cameroon's Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH) has announced the country's third licensing round, which will include unlicensed deepwater and onshore acreage. Meanwhile, National Petroleum Corp. of Namibia has decided to adopt an...

Repsol-YPF makes oil discovery off Spain.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Repsol-YPF SA and partners have made an oil discovery in the Mediterranean Sea, 30 km off Tarragona, Spain. The news comes just after Spanish firm Repsol SA acquired the former Argentine state oil firm, YPF SA, and announced a name change and...

Oil production module heads for Prudhoe Day field.(Prudhoe Bay)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... The Prudhoe Bay Unit owners have launched a sea-lift barge carrying a 2,700-ton compressor module that will be used in the Prudhoe Bay Miscible Injectant Expansion (MIX) project. The module is nearly 9 stories high and more than 150 ft long. It...

Tax hopes.(US House of Representatives and Senate pass tax bills)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... To put it kindly, pushing tax legislation through the U.S. Congress is a haphazard process, threatened at every step by fiscal and political complications. But the door seems ajar for a tax bill this summer, and industry is in a good...

Agip details plans for development project in Libya.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Agip North Africa By, a unit of Italian state energy conglomerate Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (ENI), has reached a final agreement with Libya's National Oil Corp. (NOC) on the development scheme for a major gas, oil, and condensate development...

Research project to test new E&P technologies.
August 2, 1999... The Gas Research Institute and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (Nyserda) have agreed to undertake a series of cooperatively funded field tests to help validate new technologies for developing New York's...

Panel urges lees MTBE use in gasoline.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... An advisory panel has urged the U.S. government to restrict the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether in gasoline "substantially," because the additive has been showing up more frequently in drinking water supplies. The 13-person panel...

Petrogal schedules refinery revamp.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Petroleos de Portugal SA (Petrogal) announced a plan to invest $800 million at its Sines refinery to meet tighter European Union fuel specifications and to improve the existing refining process. Removal of sulfur from diesel fuel will be...

Ground-breaking.
August 2, 1999... Ground-breaking took place for the Cobisa-Person power plant in Bernalillo County, N.M., last month, not start-up, as reported incorrectly; the plant is scheduled for completion in May 2000 (OGJ, July 29, 1999, p. 46).

Repsol-YPF SA.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Repsol-YPF SA started up the 200 MMcfd Salam gas processing plant--part of a major gas project on the Khalda concession in Egypt's western desert (OGJ, Sept. 21, 1998, p. 46). Concession partners are operator Repsol-YPF, 50%; Apache Corp.,...

About 2,8000 bbl of oil.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... About 2,8000 bbl of oil spilled off Manila July 25 after the Mary Anne tanker sank in heavy seas. The Philippine coast guard was still working at presstime to raise the vessel and contain the spill. At least one crew member remained missing at...

Apache Corp.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Apache Corp. and an affiliate of GE Capital Structured Finance Group, Stamford, Conn., formed Apache Capital-I LP. The partnership will acquire certain oil and gas assets in the U.S. Midcontinent and Texas from Apache for $40.5 million; Apache...

Kerr-McGee Oil (U.K.) plc.
August 2, 1999... Kerr-McGee Oil (U.K.) plc, acquired a 56% interest in North Sea Block 9/23a from Shell U.K. Ltd. and Esso Exploration & Production U.K. Ltd. The block borders Block 9118b, which contains Gryphon field, operated by Kerr-McGee. The firm plans to...

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP.
August 2, 1999... Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, Houston, agreed to buy Chester, Va.-based Primary Corp.'s transmix processing plants in Richmond, Va., and Dorsey Junction, Md., for about $37 million, divided equally between cash and common units. Transmix is...

Uruguayan state oil firm Ancap.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Uruguayan state oil firm Ancap selected two Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP) technologies for use in its La Teja refinery at Montevideo. Ancap will add a 12,000 b/d Octanizing unit (a continuous-regeneration catalytic reformer) and a 6,000...

Poco Petroleums Ltd.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Poco Petroleums Ltd. and Chevron Canada Resources Ltd., both of Calgary, will perform a joint natural gas exploration program in Alberta and British Columbia worth about $250 million (Canadian). Poco intends to spend $100 million on drilling,...

Unocal Corp. and Repsol-YPF.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Unocal Corp. and Repsol-YPF halted their plans to jointly explore for hydrocarbons on the CAA-9 high-risk block in the San Matias sedimentary basin in Argentina. The decision came after Argentina's Energy and Ports Secretariat delayed approval...

Sakhalin Energy Investment Co. Ltd.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Sakhalin Energy Investment Co. Ltd. began oil production at its Sakhalin II project in the Russian Far East under one of Russia's first foreign production-sharing agreements (OGJ, July 19, 1999, p. 44). Sakhalin II shareholders are Marathon...

The Partitioned Neutral Zone Group.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... The Partitioned Neutral Zone Group, a joint venture of Saudi Arabian Texaco and Kuwait Oil Co., let contract to the King Wilkinson (Saudi Arabia) Ltd. unit of AMEC plc, London, for services in the Saudi-Kuwaiti Neutral Zone. Under the 3-year...

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Pioneer Natural Resources Co., Dallas, intends to increase oil production from the western Neuquen sedimentary basin and the southernmost portion of the Tierra del Fuego peninsula in Argentina to a combined 10,000 b/d by yearend from the...

Algerian state oil firm Sonatrach.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Algerian state oil firm Sonatrach let a $30 million contract to Sofresid, the engineering unit of Bouygues Offshore SA, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France, for engineering, procurement, and construction of a new gas compression station in Gassi...

Lithuania.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Lithuania started up an oil products export-import terminal at Butinge on its Baltic Sea coast. Construction of the $250 million marine terminal, about 7.5 km offshore and close to the Latvian border, took more than 3 years (OGJ, Jan. 30, 1995,...

Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior gave conditional approval to Tuntex Group for its plan to build a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal and ancillary facilities in northern Taiwan. If granted final approval, the project, which must first...

Nan Ya Plastics Corp.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Nan Ya Plastics Corp. began a test run of its new 300,000 metric ton/year ethylene glycol (EG) plant in Yunlin County, Taiwan. Nan Ya's Taiwan production facilities turn out 800,000 tons/year of polyester fiber, creating demand for about...

Repsol Quimica.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Repsol Quimica and Mexico's DESC SA de CV unit Girsa formed a 50-50 partnership in solution synthetic rubbers called Dynasol Elastomeros. Repsol operates a 110,000 metric ton/year plant at Santander, Spain, and has a strong presence in the...

Jilin Chemical Industrial Group.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Jilin Chemical Industrial Group, Jilin, China, let a $144 million contract to Linde Impianti Italia SpA, Rome--the Italian unit of Germany's Linde AG--for the engineering and supply of equipment, materials, technical services, and process...

BP Amoco.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... BP Amoco plans to close its polybutene production plant at Grangemouth, Scotland, in the fourth quarter. The plant has capacity to produce 50,000 metric tons/year. The plant do sure is part of a rationalization of the merged companies' assets....

El Paso Energy International Co.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... El Paso Energy International Co., a unit of El Paso Energy Corp., Houston, and General Electric Co. unit GE Power Systems formed a consortium with Spain's Initec and Brazil's ITS to determine the feasibility of developing a gas-fired power...

Cordova Energy Co. LLC.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Cordova Energy Co. LLC, a unit of CalEnergy Generation--the unregulated generation unit of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., Des Moines--signed a power sales agreement with El Paso Power Services Co., a unit of El Paso Energy. Cordova will...

GE Power Systems.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... GE Power Systems and partner BP Amoco received British government approval to build a $500 million, 500-MW natural gas-fired, combined heat and power plant at the Raglan Energy Park in South Wales, U.K. The plant, slated for completion in 2002,...

Equistar Chemicals LP.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Equistar Chemicals LP, Houston, chose Reliant Energy, Houston, to build a 750-MW, natural gas-fired cogeneration plant to supply power and steam for Equistar's Channelview, Tex., petrochemical complex and to provide power for at least 10 other...

Algonquin Gas Transmission.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Algonquin Gas Transmission, a unit of Duke Energy Corp., Charlotte, N.C., is holding an open season until Aug. 12 for firm transportation services for its proposed HubLine natural gas pipeline. The 24-in. HubLine will extend 24 miles across...

CMS Gas Transmission & Storage Co.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... CMS Gas Transmission & Storage Co., the international pipeline unit of CMS Energy Corp., Dearborn, Mich., acquired an additional 4.42% interest in Argentina's Transportadora de Gas del Norte (TGN) natural gas pipeline for $31 million, bringing...

Plains Scurlock Permian LP.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Plains Scurlock Permian LP, an operating partner of Plains All American Pipeline LP, Houston, acquired Chevron Pipe Line Co.'s West Texas crude oil pipeline and gathering system for about $35 million. Included in the deal are about 450 miles of...

Seneca Lake Storage Inc.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Seneca Lake Storage Inc. (SLSI), a subsidiary of Energy East Enterprises, Albany, N.Y, plans to develop a high-deliverability natural gas storage facility in two salt caverns at Reading, N.Y., owned by U.S. Salt. SLSI expects to begin operating...

Enron markets U.K. industrial package.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Enron Corp. has made a massive investment in the Teesside area of Northwest England and is pushing to maximize its rewards. Since 1991, Enron has invested $3.5 billion in power projects worldwide, including the major share of $1.3 billion...

BG pushes for global growth.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... BG plc plans to invest [pounds]5 billion in development projects in a bid to double the output of its BG International division, in energy-equivalent terms, during 1999-2003. In June, BG restructured to separate its international operations...

Methodology helps analyze multiphase pumping systems.
August 2, 1999... Curtis, Glen A. Bryan V. Butler is manager of multi-phase development for Weatherford Global Compression Services. He has over 30 years' experience in production and the application of hydraulic and multiphase metering and pumping...

Risk-based methods optimize maintenance work scope.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Ed Merrick is director of the petroleum and chemical business unit for Aptech Engineering Services Inc. He has worked at Aptech for more than 10 years. Merrick specializes in finding practical solutions to mechanical integrity problems and in...

Venezuelan plant expansion weighs modification, replacement.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Lilia Castro Morin is a process design engineer in the exploration and production division of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (Pdvsa. Her work has included evaluation, optimization and elaboration of process basic design specifications of NGL...

NELSON-FARRAR COST INDEXES.(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
August 2, 1999... NELSON-FARRAR COST INDEXES Refinery construction (1946 Basis) (Explained on p. 145 of the Issue of Dec. 30, 1985) Apr....

Equipment upgrades minimize drillstring fluid losses.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Several Canadian and U.S. onshore drilling contractors successfully reduced drilling-fluid losses during pipe-handling operations by installing mud-bucket/spill-tray assemblies, vacuum systems, integrated rigfloor troughs, and splash guards....

Wire line retrieval coring technology shows promise.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Nikolai D. Nenkov graduated from the Technical University. Sofia, as a mechanical engineer He has worked in the Higher Institute of Mining & Geology since 1959, acquiring his PhD in 1974 in the field of drilling techniques. In addition to...

Pemex controls lost circulation in South Mexico.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Rafael Rodriguez Monroy is an engineer for the well services department at Pemex Exploration-Production Oil Co. He graduated from Universidad Autdnoma de Mexico in 1982 with a degree in petroleum engineering. Hector Mandujano is an...

High performance butterfly valve.(from BHP)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... This new BHP high performance butterfly valve provides a variety of seating options that features full bidirectional sealing in a range of uses including viscous and corrosive liquids, corrosive gases, and steam. The Intelli-Seal...

Data management suite for gas custody transfer.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... The Barton data management suite (BDMS) is a fully integrated suite of software for EFM/RTU remote automation of natural gas custody transfer data collection and management with the Barton Scanner 1100 Series of flow computers. When BDMS is...

Pipe, vessel inspection.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... This firm's pipe inspection system uses electromagnetic acoustic transduction generated ultrasound to generate a complete volumetric examination of tubulars and pressure vessels. The system is suited for use as an alternative to random...

System alerts alarm conditions quickly by phone.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... The new ADAS DiaLog alarm monitoring and notification system automatically phones or pages up to 16 separate numbers from a single or series of alarm conditions. It continues to call, giving user recorded messages, until all alarms are...

MOVES AND PROMOTIONS.(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Albert-Garaudy and Associates, Inc. has opened a Houston office. Lloyd J. Arbo, Jr., business development manager for the Metairie, La. based company, will oversee start-up of the new office. Alice Sevier, formerly an executive assistant...

Schlumberger Oilfield Services.
August 2, 1999... Schlumberger Oilfield Services through its GeoQuest product line has signed a letter of intent to acquire Calgary-based Merak, a market leader in petroleum software solutions for economic evaluation, decision and risk analysis, field...

Smith International Inc. and Schlumberger Limited.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Smith International Inc. and Schlumberger Limited have completed a joint venture combining the companies' respective drilling fluids operations, except for Schlumberger's U.S. drilling fluids business. The new joint venture creates the world's...

Reserve replacement suffers as world wildcatting declines.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... World new field wildcat drilling outside North America and the Former Soviet Union declined in 1998 in all areas except North Africa. NFW drilling in Saharan Africa last year was up 12% from 1997, IHS Energy Group's World Petroleum Trends...

Louisiana pursues coalbed methane drilling.
August 2, 1999... A well could be drilled soon into what might be a large coalbed methane resource in north-central Louisiana. Basin Research Institute at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, is seeking an interested party to fund the drilling of an...

Tanzania.
August 2, 1999... Canop Worldwide Corp., Calgary, let a contract to Polaris International Explorer Ltd., Calgary, for geophysical acquisition in Tanzania. Canop plans to conduct a 3D seismic program over portions of the Rufiji trough.

Tunisia.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Centurion Energy International Inc., Calgary, plans to file a development plan for Al Manzah field on the Cap Ban peninsula southeast of Tunis. The Al Manzah 1 discovery well has produced more than 225,000 bbl of oil from Eocene Bou...

Viet Nam.
August 2, 1999... Anzoil NL, Perth, proclaimed its D24-1 well as a potential new gas field discovery on a separate structural/stratigraphic trap partly underlying depleted Tien Hai gas field and close to Anzoil's D14 gas discovery in the Hanoi basin. Gas...

Quebec.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Corridor Resources Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia, has spudded the Truite River 1 wildcat on the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec. The 100%-owned Corridor well will evaluate an apparent Silurian age reef outlined by Corridor seismic surveys in 1997...

Gulf of Mexico.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Marathon Oil Co. plans to spud a 21,000 ft deeper pool test at South Pass 87 field this month. Objective is the V sand interval below existing field pays in the U sand, said participant Remington Oil & Gas Corp., Dallas. Meanwhile,...

Alabama.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Dominion Energy Inc., Richmond, Va., and River Gas Corp., Northport, Ala., plan to drill about 200 coalbed methane wells in the Black Warrior basin during the next three years. The companies jointly acquired lease rights on more than 19,000...

Mississippi.(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 1999... Penn Virginia Corp., Radnor, Pa., plans to start a drilling program this year in Gwinville gas field, Jefferson Davis County. The company plans to re-map the field and shoot 2D or 3D seismic surveys to identify deeper potential. The company...

Oklahoma.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... Benex Oil & Gas Co., Oklahoma City, revised the permitted depth of a deep wildcat being drilled in the Ouachita Province. The 1A Koi Chush, in 20-2s-12e, Atoka County, is permitted to 20,800 ft or zones as deep as Arbuckle. Drilling is below...

Texas.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
August 2, 1999... West Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp., Oklahoma City, plans to spud offsets shortly to an Ellenburger discovery in the Val Verde basin. The 3-4 Jones Ranch, Sutton County, on the Buckhorn prospect 10 miles northwest of Sonora, flowed...

API IMPORTS OF CRUDE AND PRODUCTS.(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
August 2, 1999... API IMPORTS OF CRUDE AND PRODUCTS Districts 1-4 District 5 7-23 7-16 [*] 7-23 7-16 [*] 1999 1999 ...

OGJ CRACK SPREAD.(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
August 2, 1999... OGJ CRACK SPREAD 7-23-99 [*] 7-24-98 [*] Change % $/bbl change SPOT PRICES Product value 23.05 15.87 7.18 45.2...

API CRUDE AND PRODUCT STOCKS.(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
August 2, 1999... API CRUDE AND PRODUCT STOCKS Motor gasoline Blending Jet fuels Crude oil Total Comp. [+]...

API REFINERY REPORT--JULY 23, 1999.(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
August 2, 1999... API REFINERY REPORT--JULY 23, 1999 REFINERY OPERATIONS Total Input refinery Crude to crude Operable % District ...

OGJ GASOLINE PRICES.
August 2, 1999... OGJ GASOLINE PRICES (Approx. prices for self-service unleaded gasoline) Price Pump Pump ex tax price [*] price ...

BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT.
August 2, 1999... BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT 7-23-99 7-24-98 Alabama 6 8 Alaska 5 12 Arkansas 1 2 California 22 ...

OGJ PRODUCTION REPORT.(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
August 2, 1999... OGJ PRODUCTION REPORT (Crude oil and lease condensate) 7-23-99 [*] 7-24-98 [+] (1,000 b/d) Alabama 32 33 Alaska 1,044 ...

U.S. CRUDE PRICES.(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
August 2, 1999... U.S. CRUDE PRICES ($/bbl) [*] 7-23-99 Alaska-North Slope 27[degrees] 11.23 Southern Louisiana Light 18.75 California-Kern River 13[degrees] 13.25 Lost Hills...

REFINED PROUDCT PRICES.(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
August 2, 1999... REFINED PROUDCT PRICES 7-16-99 ([cent]/gal) Spot market product prices Motor gasoline (Conventional-regular) New York Harbor ...

SMITH RIG COUNT.
August 2, 1999... SMITH RIG COUNT 7-23-99 7-24-98 Proposed depth Rig % Rig % (ft) count footage [*] count footage [*] 0-2,500 18 11.1...

WORLD CRUDE PRICES.
August 2, 1999... WORLD CRUDE PRICES ($/bbl) [*] 7-16-99 United Kingdom-Brent 38[degrees] 19.45 Russia-Urals 32[degrees] 18.90 Saudi light 34[degrees] 17.70...

AGA NATURAL GAS STORAGE [*].
August 2, 1999... AGA NATURAL GAS STORAGE [*] 7-16-99 7-9-99 Change (bcf) Producing region 735 721 14 Consuming region east 1,149 1,093 56 Consuming region...

PACE REFINING MARGINS.
August 2, 1999... PACE REFINING MARGINS May June July July % 1999 1999 1999 1998 Change change $/bbl U.S. Gulf Coast West Texas Sour ...

U.S. NATURAL GAS BALANCE DEMAND/SUPPLY SCOREBOARD.
August 2, 1999... U.S. NATURAL GAS BALANCE DEMAND/SUPPLY SCOREBOARD Apr. Total YTD Apr. Mar. Apr. change YTD change...

U.S. HEATING DEGREE DAYS [*].
August 2, 1999... U.S. HEATING DEGREE DAYS [*] 1999% change Total degrees days May May from July 1 through May 31 ...

WORLDWIDE NGL PRODUCTION.
August 2, 1999... WORLDWIDE NGL PRODUCTION 4 month Chg. vs. average previous Apr. Mar. Production ...