The Oil and Gas Journal articles from August 2001

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from August 2001

Market Movement.
August 27, 2001... Natural gas storage surplus continues to build The year-over-year surplus of US natural gas in storage continues to climb (see chart). For the week ended Aug. 17, AGA reported injections of 86 bcf, vs. 50 bcf the week before, said...

US INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD -- 8/27.
August 27, 2001... US INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD -- 8/27 4 wk. 4 wk. avg. Change, YTD Latest week 8/17 average year ago 1 % average 1 Demand, 1,000 b/d Motor gasoline 9,333 8,698 7.3 8,649...

INCREASED NUCLEAR POWER.
August 27, 2001... INCREASED NUCLEAR POWER generation may be the driver behind the "exceptionally high" natural gas injection numbers seen over the last 3 months, according to Raymond James & Associates. The financial analyst has unearthed "compelling...

Consumer Price Index.
August 27, 2001... LED BY PLUNGING energy prices, US consumer prices experienced the largest decline in 15 years in July, the US Department of Labor recently reported. The Consumer Price Index, the government's main inflation indicator, fell 0.3% in July,...

Kerr-McGee.
August 27, 2001... INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS and deepwater bids dominated the Aug. 22 federal sale in the western Gulf of Mexico, which drew $165.6 million in high bids for 320 tracts. The sale was the fourth-largest federal lease sale in a decade in terms of...

ExxonMobil.
August 27, 2001... UNOCAL has confirmed in SEC documents that the FTC is investigating a complaint alleging the company's reformulated gasoline patents are anticompetitive. Separately, the US Office of Patents and Trademarks said it has opened an...

VENEZUELA.
August 27, 2001... VENEZUELA is trying to gain support for its new draft hydrocarbon law, which has aroused industry concerns--particularly over those parts that reserve upstream activities to the state and sharply increase royalty rates. Venezuela's US...

BONGA FIELD DEVELOPMENT.
August 27, 2001... BONGA FIELD DEVELOPMENT off Nigeria is advancing apace. Single Buoy Moorings, a contractor for Shell Nigeria, has awarded Coflexip Stena Offshore International (CSOI) part of the installation package for Bonga field in 1,100 m of water...

Bluewater.
August 27, 2001... In other development news, Bluewater awarded CSOI a contract for design and supply of subsea components and related services for development of Sable field in the Bredasdorp basin off South Africa. CSOI will design, supply, and install the...

BP.
August 27, 2001... BP has submitted to authorities a 4.2 billion kroner ($470 million) development plan for Valhall Flanks field off Norway. The plan calls for an unmanned platform to the north and one to the south of the existing field development. The...

Greka Energy.
August 27, 2001... Greka Energy reports success with its first development well. The newly established New York City-based independent tested its Haspel & Davis No. 1 well in Potash field in Plaquemines Parish, La., last week after directionally drilling the...

CHEVRON HAS STARTED.
August 27, 2001... CHEVRON HAS STARTED oil production from North Nemba platform on Block 0 off Angola. North Nemba is expected to peak at 50,000 b/d of oil in second quarter 2002 and is projected to average 40,000 b/d for the year. Nemba field, about...

Shell E&P.
August 27, 2001... Elsewhere on the production front, Shell E&P has begun production from Brutus field in the Gulf of Mexico. The Brutus tension leg platform is on Green Canyon Block 158 in 2,985 ft of water. Production was 25,000 b/d of oil and 35 MMcfd of gas...

Kvaerner Oil & Gas.
August 27, 2001... Statoil has awarded Kvaerner Oil & Gas a 380 million kroner ($41.3 million) contract to boost gas treatment capacity on Gullfaks A platform in the North Sea. The project will boost gas exports by 4 million cu m/day starting Oct. 1, 2003....

SINOPEC.
August 27, 2001... SINOPEC HAS LOWERED its refinery run target for 2001 by 2.8% to 105 million tonnes. As of July 31, Sinopec had 6.5 million tonnes of oil stocks. Officials attributed the high inventory level to lower demand for products during the first...

Citgo.
August 27, 2001... In other refining news, Citgo said its Lemont, Ill., refinery could be down for 6 weeks pending repairs to its fire-damaged crude unit. Citgo said the fire happened early Aug. 14, and a distillation tower experienced structural failure on...

CHINA STATE FIRM CNOOC.
August 27, 2001... CHINA STATE FIRM CNOOC has signed an agreement to invest in a joint venture to develop a natural gas distribution network in Zhejiang Province. The agreement is with Zhejiang Energy Group. The JV, Zhejiang Natural Gas Development (ZNGD),...

TransCanada Pipe Lines.
August 27, 2001... In other pipeline news, TransCanada Pipe Lines and St. Clair Pipelines withdrew their applications to build part of the Canadian Millennium pipeline. Last month, TransCanada Pipelines said completion of the proposed $1.35 billion (Can.),...

Capstone Turbine.
August 27, 2001... MICROTURBINES are now burning methane gas from a closed landfill installation in Los Angeles, claimed to be the largest facility of its kind. Capstone Turbine developed the microturbines for the 50-microturbine plant, which began...

Tsukishima Kikai.
August 27, 2001... In other alternate fuel news, two Japanese companies have acquired business development and technology licensing rights to ethanol technology from BC International. Marubeni and Tsukishima Kikai are interested in licensing and sublicensing...

PETROCHEMICAL NEWS, BP.
August 27, 2001... IN PETROCHEMICAL NEWS, BP said it will close its low-density polyethylene manufacturing operations at Wilton on Teesside, UK. Citing difficult market conditions, BP said the plant, with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes/year, will cease...

Chevron Phillips Chemical.
August 27, 2001... Chevron Phillips Chemical and PDVSA unit Pequiven nave signed a letter of intent for a feasibility study on whether to build a styrene monomer plant in Paraguana, Venezuela. The feasibility study, slated to be completed by yearend, will...

CONOCO.
August 27, 2001... CONOCO HAS DECLARED commercial the Sutu Den discovery off Viet Nam. First production is expected in less than 3 years. The decision was based on three wells on the Sutu Den (Black Lion) prospect, Conoco said. The discovery well,...

DNO Heather.
August 27, 2001... In other exploration news, DNO Heather began drilling an exploration well on Block 2/5 in the UK North Sea. The well is 7.5 km southwest of Heather platform, also on Block 2/5, and aims for a target in the adjacent Block 2/4. DNO owns 100% of...

Shell Brasil.
August 27, 2001... Shell Brasil, Texaco Brash, and Petrobras have discovered oil in the Santos basin 125 miles southeast of Rio de Janeiro. The discovery well, 1-SHEL-4-JRS, is in 5,099 ft of water and was drilled to a depth of 13,485 ft. The well encountered...

Letters.
August 27, 2001... Responsible energy use Mr. Doyle Grogan's letter (OGJ, Aug. 13, 2001, P. 10) was interesting. I agree that an energy policy is imperative, but I also believe that Americans must quit purchasing monster SUVs and other gas-guzzling...

Researching on the internet.
August 27, 2001... At some point in our lives, we have all referred to an encyclopedia. During our school years, writing a paper meant doing our research at the local library, unless you were fortunate to have your own set of encyclopedias at home. The topics...

No consensus on climate.
August 27, 2001... A core assumption in the resurgent politics of climate change needs closer study than it typically receives. It concerns the scientific consensus said to have developed that people are dangerously heating Planet Earth. Proponents of...

Iranian oil buybacks: a formula no one likes.
August 27, 2001... Iran's thriving oil industry in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s--when its daily crude oil production reached the highest in the Middle East in 1 year and subsequently remained the second highest within the Organization of Petroleum...

US producers seek more access to prospects, technology.
August 27, 2001... Continued US government funding of oil and gas industry technology research is still needed, an invited panel of 18 industry representatives told the US Department of Energy this month. The panel also asked for other concessions to the...

EPA to include NSR in final air plan.
August 27, 2001... The US Environmental Protection Agency said it would propose a comprehensive strategy in September to reduce air pollution. EPA had faced an Aug. 17 deadline from the administration of President George W. Bush to reform its New Source...

European gas deregulation seen saving billions.
August 27, 2001... European gas consumers could save up to $2 billion/year ([pound]4 billion/year) by 2005 if gas markets were deregulated to the same extent as the UK market, according to a new study. UK consultants Energy Markets Ltd. also estimated that...

The policy cop.
August 27, 2001... In an atmosphere of increasing partisanship, the nonpartisan General Accounting Office has been thrown into the public spotlight because of volatile energy debates in Washington, DC. Energy issues have been a hot topic lately for the...

Sibneft to explore northeastern Russia shell.
August 27, 2001... Russian company OAO Sibneft is launching several-pronged activities in and off far northeastern Russia. A Sibneft affiliate is drilling a wildcat in search of crude oil in the eastern Anadyr basin on a nearshore island in southern Anadyr...

Operators report E&D successes into Argentina basin.
August 27, 2001... Two operators reported success at E&D ventures in eastern and western Argentina. A Chevron San Jorge group gauged a large oil discovery in the Gulf of San Jorge basin, and Pioneer Natural Resources Co., Irving, Tex., expanded its...

France licenses block off Guyana.
August 27, 2001... French authorities awarded Planet Oil Ltd. an exclusive exploration license that covers most of Guyana's offshore basin from the 12-mile coastal limit to the 3,000-in water depth contour. The license along South America's northeastern...

Ivanhoe Energy Inc.
August 27, 2001... California Aera Energy LLC, Bakersfield, was spudding a wildcat in search of gas and condensate in the Temblor formation at 20,000 ft in the San Joaquin basin. The 1 Northwest Lost Hills drilisite in 22-25s-20e, Kern County, is 5...

New York State Energy Research & Development Authority.
August 27, 2001... New York The state made as much as $75,000/project available for efforts designed to expand investment in the state by identifying new exploration targets. Proposals are due Sept. 19. Projects may include characterization, prospect...

Consol Energy Inc.
August 27, 2001... Virginia Consol Energy Inc., Pittsburgh, is to acquire Conoco Inc.'s interests in some coalbed methane production and gathering systems in southwestern Virginia, subject to approvals. The deal would boost Consol's proved gas reserves...

Rigsite chemostratigraphy.
August 27, 2001... provides timely formation evaluation tool Operators now have access to rigsite chemostratigraphy (chemical stratigraphy) to provide timely information for formation evaluation, picking formation tops, and identifying horizons for coring...

Liner rehabs water injection lines in Argentine oil field.
August 27, 2001... A polyethylene liner rehabilitated corrosion pitted, 6-in, carbon steel water-injection lines in the La Ventana oil field, Mendoza province, Argentina. The lines had been in continual use for 30 years, according to ASTRA Repsol-YPF SA,...

Long-term operating data shed light on Selectox process.
August 27, 2001... Seven years' operating data from the world's largest Selectox unit have revealed valuable insights into how that process should work. Tom Brown Inc. operates the unit at its ant in southeast Utah. The Selectox process catalytically...

Pipeline installations critical in Cantarell.
August 27, 2001... As part of a major upgrade and expansion project for the Cantarell oil field in the Gulf of Mexico, Petroleos Mexicano (Pemex) Exploracion Y Production is installing more than 400 km (about 250 miles) of new pipelines. The project is to...

Offshore NW Europe mature but offering opportunities for smaller players.
August 27, 2001... The Infield Systems database shows that, in summer 2001, there were 2,918 offshore fields in production worldwide. North America is the most prolific region with 1,548--about 50% of the world's offshore fields. Europe, by comparison has a...

Strontium isotope analysis can help define compartmentalization.
August 27, 2001... This article describes how strontium isotope ([Sr.sup.87]/[Sr.sup.56]) ratios in formation waters are used to evaluate compartmentalization of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Inferences about lateral connectivity are made by comparing SrRSA...

Brine mixing complicates Alba field scale management.
August 27, 2001... In the Alba field, UK North Sea Block 16/26, a well-by-well analysis established whether diagnostic tests can identify which wells should be treated conventionally for scale formation and which require special attention. This analysis was...

New edition of intrinsic safety handbook.
August 27, 2001... The latest edition of this company's intrinsic safety (IS) handbook offers process engineers the dos and don'ts of selecting and implementing appropriate IS approaches, surge protection systems, and distributed input-output technologies. ...

Nonrotating drillpipe casing protectors.
August 27, 2001... A new brochure and CD detail patented nonrotating drillpipe casing protectors. The literature provides detailed information, including specifications, and torque and casing wear comparisons. Protectors are field proved to reduce...

Coating used to reduce coking in refineries.
August 27, 2001... Silcosteel has been developed as a way to improve the lifetime of refinery and petrochemical plant components that are at risk of coking. This firm says it can help make tubing, fittings, transfer components, reactors, and other parts...

Software update helps keep an eye on equipment.
August 27, 2001... New Maintainer software, version 2.002, is an updated information and record keeping service that focuses on equipment inspection, maintenance, and repair. This version has new modules that allow users to help manage government...

Annulus valve detailed in free flyer.
August 27, 2001... A new, free product flyer details the RODEC annulus valve. The valve is designed for opening and closing the annular space between the casing and production tubing. The flyer includes data such as application guidelines, operating...

Drum container has rolltop cover.
August 27, 2001... New Ultra-HardTop P1 Plus is a one drum containment unit with a rolltop cover. Its tall head space allows use with drum pumps or conical funnels. To use, simply lift the cover from waist level to pour waste or pump fluids. Its...

Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.
August 27, 2001... Plainfield, Ill., has appointed Richard E. Goodrich as executive vice-president and chief financial officer. Goodrich, who joined CB&I in 1998, will be based in the company's Houston office. He earned a BS in accounting from East Central...

Draeger Canada Ltd.
August 27, 2001... Mississauga, Ont., has announced the opening of a new divisional sales and service office in Montreal. The new Montreal office will service industrial gas detection and respiratory protection products.

Draeger Safety Inc.
August 27, 2001... Pittsburgh, Pa., has opened a new divisional office in Queretaro, Mexico. Draeger Mexico will handle sales, distribution, marketing, and services of the company's industrial gas detection and respiratory protection products throughout Mexico...

Harris Group Inc.
August 27, 2001... Denver, has hired Mike Burns as director of Southwest operations-energy. Burns joined Harris Group from Colorado Interstate Gas, now El Paso Corp., where he spent 29 years in the gas transmission business. He has served on the Pipeline...

Pollard, Gore & Harrison.
August 27, 2001... Austin, Tex., has announced that Charles R. Salmon has joined its engineering staff Salmon previously served with Platt, Sparks & Associates. His experience includes detailed reservoir engineering studies on numerous types of reservoirs,...

API IMPORTS OF CRUDE AND PRODUCTS.
August 27, 2001... API IMPORTS OF CRUDE AND PRODUCTS Districts 1-4 District 5 8-17 8-10 1 8-17 8-10 1 2001 2001 2001 2001 ...

OGJ CRACK SPREAD.
August 27, 2001... OGJ CRACK SPREAD 8-17-01 * 8-18-00 * Change Change, $/bbl % SPOT PRICES Product value 31.84 36.82 -4.98 -13.5 Brent crude ...

API CRUDE AND PRODUCT STOCKS.
August 27, 2001... API CRUDE AND PRODUCT STOCKS Motor gasoline Blending Jet fuels Crude oil Total comp. 2 Naphtha 1,000 bbl...

API REFINERY REPORT--AUGUST 17, 2001.
August 27, 2001... API REFINERY REPORT--AUGUST 17, 2001 REFINERY OPERATIONS Total Input refinery Crude to crude Operable Percent ...

OGJ GASOLINE PRICES.
August 27, 2001... OGJ GASOLINE PRICES Price Pump Pump ex tax price * price 8-15-01 8-15-01 8-16-00 ...

REFINED PRODUCT PRICES.
August 27, 2001... REFINED PRODUCT PRICES 8-10-01 [cts.]/gal Spot market product prices Motor gasoline (Conventional-regular) New York Harbor 78.95 Gulf Coast ...

BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT.
August 27, 2001... BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT 8-17-01 8-18-00 Alabama 3 6 Alaska 14 12 Arkansas 0 4 California 43 ...

SMITH RIG COUNT.
August 27, 2001... SMITH RIG COUNT 8-17-01 8-18-00 Proposed depth, Rig Percent Rig Percent ft count footage * count footage * 0-2,500 54 3.7 27 14.8 ...

OGJ PRODUCTION REPORT.
August 27, 2001... OGJ PRODUCTION REPORT 8-17-01 1 8-18-00 2 1,000 b/d (Crude oil and lease condensate) Alabama 26 28 Alaska ...

US CRUDE PRICES.
August 27, 2001... US CRUDE PRICES $/bbl * 8-17-01 Alaska-North Slope 27[degrees] 20.36 South Louisiana Sweet 26.00 California-Kern River 13[degrees] 19.50 Lost Hills 30[degrees] 22.85...

WORLD CRUDE PRICES.
August 27, 2001... WORLD CRUDE PRICES $/bbl 1 8-10-01 United Kingdom-Brent 38[degrees] 25.75 Russia-Urals 32[degrees] 24.90 Saudi Light 34[degrees] 24.70 Dubai Fateh 32[degrees] 24.35...

US NATURAL GAS STORAGE 1.
August 27, 2001... US NATURAL GAS STORAGE 1 8-10-01 8-3-01 Change Bcf Producing region 674 674 -- Consuming region east 1,331 1,343 -0.9 Consuming region west 340 ...

WORLD OIL BALANCE.
August 27, 2001... WORLD OIL BALANCE 2001 2000 1999 1st 4th 3rd 2nd 1st 4th qtr. qtr. qtr. qtr. qtr. qtr. ...

US PETROLEUM IMPORTS FROM SOURCE COUNTRY.
August 27, 2001... US PETROLEUM IMPORTS FROM SOURCE COUNTRY Chg. vs. Average previous YTD Year ...

OECD * NET OIL IMPORTS.
August 27, 2001... OECD * NET OIL IMPORTS Chg. vs. previous year ...

OECD * IMPORTS FROM OPEC.
August 27, 2001... OECD * IMPORTS FROM OPEC Chg. vs. previous year ...

OIL STOCKS IN OECD * COUNTRIES.
August 27, 2001... OIL STOCKS IN OECD * COUNTRIES Chg. vs. previous year ...

Market Movement.
August 20, 2001... IEA shrinks 'missing barrels' number IEA has left its estimate of worldwide oil demand growth unchanged in its latest report, hut the total numbers have shifted upwards as the agency has revised its non-OECD demand figures back to 1999....

US INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD -- 8/20.
August 20, 2001... US INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD -- 8/20 4 wk. 4 wk. avg. Change, YTD Last week 8/10 average year ago 1 % average 1 Demand, 7,000 b/d Motor gasoline 9,176 8,658 6.0 8,610...

US GAS PRODUCTION.
August 20, 2001... US GAS PRODUCTION is rising faster than some realize. That word comes from Lehman Bros. "We estimate that wellhead production [includes both dry gas and natural gas liquids] increased by 0,5%," in the second quarter vs. the first quarter...

Shell Hydrogen, Ballard Power Systems.
August 20, 2001... ALTERNATE FUELS investment is growing. Shell Hydrogen, Ballard Power Systems, and Westcoast Energy have created Chrysalix Energy, a private capital joint venture that will provide funding to early-stage companies specializing in fuel...

NEW FERC CHAIRMAN.
August 20, 2001... NEW FERC CHAIRMAN Pat Wood will take office on Sept. 1. As expected, President George W. Bush has named former Texas utilities regulator Pat Wood FERC chairman, succeeding Curtis Hebert, who is leaving the agency Aug. 31. Hebert...

Queen Charlotte Islands.
August 20, 2001... BRITISH COLUMBIA is considering lifting a moratorium on offshore drilling. The province has a longstanding drilling moratorium in the environmentally sensitive region near the Queen Charlotte Islands off the province's north coast. The...

Waterways Institute.
August 20, 2001... MMS AWARDED A CONTRACT to study effects of offshore oil and gas activity on three Louisiana ports. The National Ports and Waterways Institute at the University of New Orleans will conduct the study. MMS said the study would analyze...

SHALE OIL PRODUCTION.
August 20, 2001... SHALE OIL PRODUCTION from the first stage of the Stuart oil shale project at Gladstone, Queensland, has reached a total of 130,000 bbl. According to Stuart project partners Southern Pacific Petroleum and Central Pacific Minerals, this...

US DOE.
August 20, 2001... In other alternate fuel news, US DOE has selected four teams to begin developing ultralow-cost fuel cell technology in a bid to mass-produce fuel cells. The goal of the $500 million, 10-year effort is to produce fuel cells that cost one tenth...

ALGERIA'S IN SALAH.
August 20, 2001... ALGERIA'S IN SALAB gas fields development has reached a milestone. BP and Sonatrach awarded three contracts worth a total of $2.5 billion to an international consortium for development of the fields. BP and Sonatrach agreed in 1997...