The Oil and Gas Journal articles from May 1999

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from May 1999

Newsletter.
May 3, 1999... North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations have agreed to use warships to enforce an oil embargo against Yugoslavia (see Editorial, p. 41). NATO also will bomb pipelines, railroads, and roads used to move oil from the coast to Yugoslav forces...

U.S. INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD 5/3.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... U.S. INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD 5/3 4 wk. 4 wk. avg. % Year-to-date Latest week 4/23 average year ago [*] change average [*] Demand (1,000 b/d) Motor gasoline ...

LETTERS.
May 3, 1999... Natural gas supplies I generally agree with the opinions expressed by Patrick Crow in a recent column, although he may by now have over-indulged on inside-the-beltway ruminations (OGJ, Apr. 5, 1999, p. 42). At any rate, the subject column,...

Offshore goes fiber optic.
May 3, 1999... Many land dwellers take for granted the ease with which they can communicate with one another via phone or computer. And why shouldn't they? Through the advancement of communication technology-namely ever-expanding satellite systems and...

Oil and an untidy war.
May 3, 1999... Oil last week moved into the messy center of events in Yugoslavia. Aerial bombardment from a safe distance didn't stop Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic from persecuting ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. An oil embargo therefore joins the...

Russia's oil exports likely to remain robust, despite official predictions.
May 3, 1999... Engene (Yevgeny) Khartukov is head of the World Energy Analysis & forecasting Group (Gapmer), General Director of the International Center for Petroleum Business Studies, and Professor of Management and Marketing at Moscow Star University of...

Azerbaijan skins three E&P deals.
May 3, 1999... Three U.S. oil firms have signed exploration, development, and production-sharing contracts covering acreage in Azerbaijan. Exxon Corp. was awarded a 250 sq mile deepwater exploration block in the Azeri Caspian Sea. The block includes the...

Vanco gets deepwater blocks off Ivory Coast.
May 3, 1999... Houston independent Vanco Energy Co is expanding its presence in the sizzling deepwater play off West Africa. Vanco subsidiary Vanco International Ltd. has signed production-sharing contracts off Ivory Coast with state oil company Petroci...

Deepwater sector marks progress off Africa.
May 3, 1999... Many offshore fields under development or under study worldwide are in more than 3,000 ft of water, and in the next decade, the number of deepwater developments will increase dramatically. This is the view of Uri Nooteboom of Intec...

Delays hit field developments off Australia.
May 3, 1999... A string of woes has been cited in delays of key development projects off Australia. Low oil prices and political uncertainty caused by the situation in East Timor are being cited as reasons for a delay in the Bayu-Undan liquids project in...

Bullish on oil.
May 3, 1999... Economist Philip Verleger believes world oil prices will recover sooner rather than later. The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently predicted prices of $15-16/bbl ($18/bbl for West Texas intermediate) by December. Analyst...

Global warming bill introduced in U.S. Senate.
May 3, 1999... Three key U.S. senators have filed a bill to refocus U.S. actions to reduce emissions of gases believed to be causing global warning. Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alas.), the energy committee chairman, and Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), a leader on...

DOE eyes research to sequester carbon dioxide.
May 3, 1999... The U.S. Department of Energy has begun developing a plan for research to capture and store carbon dioxide emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels. It said the "working draft" detailing the emerging science and technology of...

EU reveals new renewables strategy moves.
May 3, 1999... The European Union has slated debates on the creation of an internal market for electricity generated from renewable resources and on raising public awareness of the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. In mid-April, the European...

Earnings plunge along with oil price in 1998.
May 3, 1999... Much lower crude oil prices in 1998 resulted in a sharp decline in revenues and profits for a sampling of North American oil and gas companies. Lower natural gas prices during the year also contributed to the decline in earnings. There was...

Project to study refinery coking processes.
May 3, 1999... The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a 3-year research project led by the University of Tulsa to upgrade the environmental performance of refinery coking processes. DOE said that, pound-for-pound, coking is the most energy-intensive...

Enbridge Inc.
May 3, 1999... Enbridge Inc. unit Enbridge Pipelines (Athabasca) Inc. signed a 30-year agreement to provide Suncor Energy Inc. with long-term crude oil handling services. Enbridge will build, own, and operate four tanks near Suncor's oil-sands site at Fort...

Suncor Energy.
May 3, 1999... Suncor Energy let contract to Howe-Baker Engineers Inc., Tyler, Tex., for engineering, procurement, and construction for a 90 MMcfd hydrogen unit, as a part of Suncor's Project Millennium, an expansion of its Fort McMurray oil-sands processing...

BP Amoco.
May 3, 1999... BP Amoco unit Amoco Netherlands BV let a $40 million contract to Stork Engineers & Contractors for engineering, procurement, and construction of surface facilities and management of the expansion of its peak gas storage facility at Alkmaar, the...

Alberta Energy Co. Ltd.
May 3, 1999... Alberta Energy Co. Ltd. (AEC), Calgary, increased its takeover bid for Pacalta Resources Ltd., Calgary, by $225 million (Canadian) with an offer of $973 million, including cash, equity, and the assumption of $273 million of debt. AEC says the...

The boards of Oneok Inc.
May 3, 1999... The boards of Oneok Inc., Tulsa, and Southwest Gas Corp., Las Vegas, approved an amendment to their merger agreement. Oneok will pay $30/share, or a total of $912.3 million, for the natural gas utility. Oneok announced its intentions to...

Energy East Corp.
May 3, 1999... Energy East Corp., Albany, N.Y., will absorb Connecticut Energy Corp. (CNE), Bridgeport, Conn., as a subsidiary as part of a merger transaction valued at $617 million, including the assumption of debt. In the deal, CNE shareholders will receive...

Superior Energy Services Inc.
May 3, 1999... Superior Energy Services Inc., Harvey, La., plans to acquire Cardinal Holding Corp., New Iberia, La., in a stock transaction valued at $197 million. Superior will issue about 30 million shares-representing about 51% of the combined...

Big Bear Exploration Ltd.
May 3, 1999... Big Bear Exploration Ltd., Calgary, received offers for most of the assets of Blue Range Exploration Ltd., Calgary, which it recently acquired. Details of the offers and names of the bidders were not disclosed. Blue Range was placed under...

Gaz de France.
May 3, 1999... Gaz de France (GdF) signed a partnership agreement with banking group Ste. Generale to foster development of GdF's trading business. Under the agreement, GdF will offer industrial clients hedging against gas price fluctuations. It will also...

GdF.
May 3, 1999... GdF acquired two producing fields in the southern part of the U.K. North Sea for 900 million francs. GdF acquired a 44.5% stake in Lasmo plc's Boulton field and 21% in Caister field. GdF also acquired an interest in the transport systems...

Williams.
May 3, 1999... Williams, Tulsa, will acquire certain western U.S. oil and gas exploration and production assets from MCN Energy Group Inc., Detroit, for $106 million. The properties, a large portion of which are in Jonah field in Sublette County, Wyo.,...

AEC.
May 3, 1999... AEC filed for regulatory approval of a $200 million (Canadian) thermal enhanced oil recovery project at Foster Creek field in northern Alberta, where AEC has operated a 2,000-bid pilot project since mid-1997. The project would use steam-...

Oil production from.
May 3, 1999... Oil production from Hibernia field off Newfoundland will be at least 20% below forecasts for this year because of unexpected production shutdowns, says the operating company. Hibernia Management & Development Co. said 1999 output will be 37-40...

Karachaganak Petroleum Operating BV.
May 3, 1999... Karachaganak Petroleum Operating BV (KPO), Amsterdam, let a $61 million contract to GE Nuovo Pignone, Florence, to supply a gas compression station for Karachaganak gas/condensate field in Kazakhstan. KPO is a joint venture of Italy's Agip SpA,...

Chevron Canada Resources Ltd.
May 3, 1999... Chevron Canada Resources Ltd., Calgary, reported a natural gas discovery in the Fort Liard region of the Northwest Territories. The well, drilled in the Franklin Mountains north of the Alberta border, flowed at a restricted rate of 35 MMcfd....

Shell Exploration & Production Co.
May 3, 1999... Shell Exploration & Production Co. announced its third deepwater oil and gas discovery in the Gulf of Mexico's Auger basin. A well drilled on Shell's wholly owned Oregano prospect on Garden Banks Block 559 encountered commercial quantities of...

Conoco Inc. and partners.
May 3, 1999... Conoco Inc. and partners began drilling the first exploratory well in New Zealand's Northland basin, about 90 miles northwest of Auckland. The ultra-deepwater drillship Deepwater Frontier, owned by a joint venture of Conoco and R&B Falcon Corp....

Elf Petroland.(finds gas in the Dutch North Sea)
May 3, 1999... Elf Petroland, Elf Aquitaine's Dutch oil and gas unit, found gas in the Dutch North Sea. Well K5-11 drilled on Block K5a to 4,140 m TD, flowed 750,000 cu m/day of gas from the Rotliegendes pay. Further assessment is under way to determine the...

Petrochemical Industry Investment Co.(will contract for a polyethylene terephthalate plant)
May 3, 1999... Petrochemical Industry Investment Co. (PIIC) of Iran signed a memorandum of understanding with two Swiss firms to build a polyethylene terephthalate plant near Bandar main, Iran. PIIC will hold a 60% interest in the plant; Inventa-Fisher AG and...

Kuwait and Algeria.(will build a fertilizer project in Algeria)
May 3, 1999... Kuwait and Algeria signed an agreement Apr. 13 to jointly build a $600 million fertilizer project at Ennaba, Algeria, northeast of Algiers, reported Kuwait News Agency. The Algerian treasury will set up a joint investment fund with capital of...

Solvay Advanced Polymers Inc.(awards a contract to Stone & Webster Inc)
May 3, 1999... Solvay Advanced Polymers Inc., Houston, let contract to Stone & Webster Inc., Boston, for engineering, procurement, and construction of a grassroots fluorinated polymers production unit in Decatur, Ala. The plant will produce 5 million lb/year...

A gas pipeline explosion.(Venezuela)
May 3, 1999... A gas pipeline explosion on Apr. 20 near Petroleos de Venezuela SA's (Pdvsa) Musar production complex in eastern Venezuela forced the company to shut in production of 278,000 b/d of oil and 400 MMcfd of gas. Contract workers from PCM Ingenieros...

Caspian Pipeline Consortium.(awards a contract)
May 3, 1999... Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) let a $270 million contract to the Bouygues Offshore-Bouygues-Starstroi-Spie Capag consortium to build the Russian portion of the CPC pipeline. The contract follows one signed in March for construction of the...

Partners in the.
May 3, 1999... Partners in the Guardian Pipeline project will hold an open season for the new gas line's capacity May 4-June 3 (OGJ, Mar. 29, 1999, p. 27). The pipeline will have a minimum capacity of 650 MMcfd and is expandable to 1.1 bcfd, depending on...

Enterprise Products Partners LP.(alliance with Tejas Energy LLC)
May 3, 1999... Enterprise Products Partners LP and Shell Oil Co. unit Tejas Energy LLC agreed on terms for a U.S. Gulf Coast natural gas liquids alliance. Tejas would contribute its NGL assets to Enterprise in return for an equity interest and other...

Iconsa Ingenieria SA.(contract with Howe-Baker Engineers)
May 3, 1999... Iconsa Ingenieria SA let contract to Howe-Baker Engineers for the supply of an electrostatic coalescer for the Merox unit at Petroleos Mexicanos's Salamanca refinery. Using Howe-Baker's NU-Static electrode technology, the coalescer will...

Enron Corp.(completes a wind-generated power plant)
May 3, 1999... Enron Corp. unit Enron Wind Corp., Tehachapi, Calif., completed an 80.25-MW wind-generated power plant near Alta, Iowa. Under a 20-year supply agreement, the Storm Lake II Wind power project will deliver power to ES Industries Inc., a unit of...

A partnership between.(York Research and Prime-south unit of Scana)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... A partnership between York Research Corp., New York, and Prime-south, a unit of Scana Corp., Columbia, S.C., will invest in a multimillion-dollar wind power project near Big Spring, Tex. The project will involve four wind turbines that will...

Old ways still work in remote areas.
May 3, 1999... Delegates at the recent Oil & Gas Remote Location Operations conference at Gatwick, U.K., heard an unbeatable argument in favor of satellite and global positioning systems (GPS) technology. Peter Warden, chief surveyor at Exploration...

DOE funding more gas-to-liquids work.(University of Alaska-Fairbanks and BP Amoco)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... The U.S. Department of Energy has selected the University of Alaska-Fairbanks to lead a university/industry team in developing natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. The team will conduct a 2-year project to develop a novel...

Rig automation, dual activity alters work roles.(Industry Overview)
May 3, 1999... The integration of drilling technologies has initiated sweeping changes offshore in relation to work-flow processes, affecting every crew member from the roustabout to the drilling superintendent. The Glomar Explorer (Fig. 1), operated by...

Bi-metal, CRA-lined pipe employed for North Sea field development.(Technical)
May 3, 1999... Mark Spence is technical manager for United Pipelines, Warrington, U.K., where he has worked since 1996. After joining Mather & Platt in 1984, he advanced from trainee metallurgist to technical manager. Spence has 15 years' experience in...

New concepts extend dry-tree production into deeper water.(Technical)
May 3, 1999... John W. Chianis is vice-president and general manager of ABB Lummus Global Oil & Gas--Americas, Houston. He has participated in a large number of TLP concept developments, feasibility studies and detailed de-sings. In addition to TLPs...

Centrifuge cleans water discharges on Alba FSU.(Product Information)
May 3, 1999... A centrifuge system replaced coalescing filters for cleaning discharged water on Chevron U.K. Ltd.'s Alba floating storage unit (FSU), in the North Sea (Fig. 1). According to the centrifuge manufacturer, Westfalia Separator Ltd., Aberdeen,...

Revamp of FCC pretreater adds flexibility and profit.(Technical)
May 3, 1999... Fried rich Danzinger joined OMV AG in 1991 as a process engineer. Since then, he has provided technical support for the HDS, hydrocracking, and FCC units in OMV's Schwechat refinery. He has completed several hydroprocessing revamp projects and...

Fiber content affects porosity, permeability, and strength of cement.(Technical)
May 3, 1999... Ali Miloud Said Trabelsi is a reservoir geologist, sedimentologist, and petrographer with Qatar General Petroleum Corp. (QGPC). Before joining QGPC in 1997, Trabelsi worked as an exploration geologist, senior reservoir geologist, and car bonate...

Mathematical relationship checks well-test calculations.
May 3, 1999... THE AUTHOR Haldon J. Smith is a petroleum consultant, currently residing in Columbus, N.M. He has worked in more than 50 countries mainly on oil and gas reservoir studies and well testing most recently in Bulgaria for,21/2 years. ...

On line pipeline monitor.(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... The new CM-100/F monitor measures pipeline fluorescent dye concentrations of 1 ppb to as much as 1,000 ppm. The monitor detects and defines product interfaces on a near real time basis, helping producers and pipeline operators make more precise...

Geopressure estimation from 3D seismsic.(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... A new product on the market computes geopressure directly from 3D seismic velocity volumes. The product, called pQube, is based on this firm's well log analysis package--GeoPressure Estimation Software (GPES). The firm says explorationists...

Electrically heated top loading logging tool oven.(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... The No. 706 electrically heated top loading oven is designed to test and calibrate downhole logging tool components. The total heat input in 9 kw with a maximum operating temperature of 500[degrees] F. Four swivel casters with swivel locks...

Offshore riser coupling.(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... New Plidco offshore H+P riser couplings are designed for safe, easy, and reliable replacement of underwater risers on offshore gas and oil lines. Couplings feature a simple design that seals and joins pipes for high pressure operations. ...

MOVES AND PROMOTIONS.(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... Bettis Corp., Waller, Tex., a division of Daniel Industries, Inc., has named David Standefer U.S. national sales manager. Standefer has more than 19 years experience in the valve and actuator business. He was most recently vice president, sales...

M-I L.L.C.(finishes construction of mud facility)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... M-I L.L.C., Houston, Tex., has completed construction of a liquid mud facility at the C-Port One deepwater facility at Port Fourchon, La. Late last year, M-I unveiled a bulk barite plant, representing completion of the first stage of its...

Sonsub International.(acquires Tecnomare Industriale S.p.A.)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... Sonsub International, Houston, Tex., has acquired Tecnomare Industriale S.p.A. (TMI). Formerly a subsidiary of Tecnomare S.p.A., TMI develops and produces high quality, advanced marine and underwater systems and vehicles for the world market,...

Deepwater Consultant Alliance (DCA).
May 3, 1999... Deepwater Consultant Alliance (DCA), an engineering alliance consisting of W.H. Linder & Associates, Inc. and Waldemar S. Nelson & Co., Inc., has opened a Houston office. The DCA has provided Topsides and Hull Systems engineering design and...

Moncla Well Service Inc.(purchases assets from Harris Services)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... Moncla Well Service Inc., Lafayette, La., has purchased all of the assets of Harris Services, a well servicing company, Eunice, La. The purchase included four daylight rigs, one daylight rig on a keyway barge and one 24-hour rig. Moncla...

Paradox study shows big oil potential with C02.(carbon dioxide flooding can be used to enhance recovery at Anasazi field in Utah)
May 3, 1999... Scott L. Montgomery is a Seattle petroleum consultant and author. He is lead author of the "E&P Notes" series in the AAPG Bulletin and the quarterly monograph series "Petroleum Frontiers" published by IHS Energy Group. He holds a BA degree in...

Pakistan.(Pakistan Petroleum Exploration (Pvt.) Ltd. achieves $1.05 million work commitment)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... Pakistan Petroleum Exploration (Pvt.) Ltd. and Government Holdings signed an agreement covering Kandhra Block 2768-6. Work commitment is $1.05 million. The block covers 456.13 sq km in Sukkur, Khairpur, and Shakirpur districts of Sindh...

Yukon.(oil and gas exploration rights up for bids)
May 3, 1999... The ministry in Whitehorse called for nominations by June 15 of tracts to be considered for inclusion in a call for bids for oil and gas exploration fights. Tracts may be nominated in the Eagle Plains basin and Peel Plateau areas west of...

Gulf of Mexico.(Magnum Hunter Resources Inc. and Tana Oil & Gas Corp.'s drilling plans for 1999)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... Tana Oil & Gas Corp. and Magnum Hunter Resources Inc., both of Irving, Tex., plan to drill as many as 12 prospects this year, starting with Ship Shoal Block 83. The others are High Island A-152, A-153, A-155, A-425, and A-434, West Delta 59,...

Arkansas.
May 3, 1999... Houston Exploration Co. staked a deep geological wildcat in Chismville field. The 3-16 Chismville, in 16-6n-27w, Logan County, is projected to the Ordovocian Simpson Group at 12,000 ft. Only 18 wells have been reported productive from...

California.(Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Co. reorganizes)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Co., Bakersfield, reorganized for operating efficiency and plans to focus on San Joaquin basin deep gas prospects. TVOG holds interests, designated Project Ekho, in all or part of 26 sq miles near the Bellevue 1 well,...

Kentucky.(Columbia Natural Resources Inc. to acquire assets from Wiser Oil Co. to acquire assets from Wiser Oil Co.)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
May 3, 1999... Columbia Natural Resources Inc. plans to acquire southeastern Kentucky and central West Virginia producing properties and gathering assets from Wiser Oil Co., Dallas, for $28 million. The assets contain 42.7 bcfe of net proved reserves and...

North Dakota.(plugs well in Beaver Creek field)(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... Samson Resources Co., Tulsa, plugged back a Red River well in Beaver Creek field and completed from the Birdbear member of Devonian Nisku. The 32-22 Amerada-FederaL, in 22143n-103w, Golden Valley County, flowed 755 b/d of oil with 344 Mcfd...

Wyoming.(Brief Article)
May 3, 1999... The E&P unit of Williams, Tulsa, agreed to buy properties in Wyoming, Utah, and North Dakota from MCN Energy Group for $106 million. The purchase includes 184 bcfe of proved reserves, more than 190 bcfe of low-risk in-fill reserves for...

PERSONALS.
May 3, 1999... Bruce S. Drake has been appointed president of Tesoro West Coast, Seattle. Everett D. Lewis has been named senior vice-president, strategic projects, of Tesoro Petroleum Cos. Inc., San Antonio. Ross Welgehausen has been named...

CORRECTION.
May 3, 1999... F.H. Callaway, 77, oilman and partner in the firm of Leibrock, Landreth, Campbell and Callaway, died Jan. 3 in Midland, Tex. (OGJ, Mar. 15, 1998, p. 78).

DEATHS.(Obituary)
May 3, 1999... Clif Mock, 83, founder of Clif Mock Co., died Feb. 16 in Conroe, Tex. John A. Christensen, 80, international consulting geologist, died Mar. 6 in Rome. Jerry W. Meyer, 60, petroleum engineer, died Mar. 14 in Tulsa. Vernon Brady...

OGJ CRACK SPREAD.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... OGJ CRACK SPREAD 4-23-99 [*] 4-24-98 [*] Change % $/bbl change SPOT PRICES Product value 19.76 19.34 0.42 ...

API IMPORTS OF CRUDE AND PRODUCTS.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... API IMPORTS OF CRUDE AND PRODUCTS Districts 1-4 District 5 Total U.S. 4-23 4-16 [*] 4-23 4-16 [*] 4-23 ...

API CRUDE AND PRODUCT STOCKS.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... API CRUDE AND PRODUCT STOCKS Motor gasoline Blending Jet fuels Crude oil Total Comp. [+] Naphtha...

API REFINERY REPORT--APRIL 23, 1999.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... API REFINERY REPORT--APRIL 23, 1999 REFINERY OPERATIONS Total Input refinery Crude to crude Operable % District ...

OGJ GASOLINE PRICES.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... OGJ GASOLINE PRICES Price Pump ex tax price [*] ...

BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT 4-23-99 4-24-98 Alabama 6 6 Alaska 5 11 Arkansas 1 12 California 19 29 ...

OGJ PRODUCTION REPORT.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... OGJ PRODUCTION REPORT 4-23-99 [*] 4-24-98 [+] (1,000 b/d) (Crude oil and lease condensate) Alabama 29 ...

U.S. CRUDE PRICES.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... U.S. CRUDE PRICES ($/bbl) [*] 4-23-99 Alaska-North Slope 27[degrees] 5.79 Southern Louisiana Light 17.25 California-Kern River 13[degrees] 11.75 Lost Hills...

REFINED PRODUCTS PRICES.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... REFINED PRODUCTS PRICES 4-16-99 ([cent]/gal) Spot market product prices Molor gasoline (Conventional-regular) New York Harbor ...

SMITH RIG COUNT.(Illustration)
May 3, 1999... SMITH RIG COUNT 4-23-99 4-24-98 Proposed dept Rig % Rig % (ft) count footage [*] count footage [*] 0-2,500 15 6.6 15 ...