The Oil and Gas Journal articles from October 1997

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from October 1997

Recent indicators for U.S. upstream and downstream petroleum activity are mostly positive, according to EIA and API data. (Energy Information Administration; American Petroleum Institute)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Recent indicators for U.S. upstream and downstream petroleum activity are mostly positive, according to EIA and API data. U.S. oil production averaged 6.3 million bid in August vs. 6.4 million bid a year ago---representing a continuing...

Records continue to topple as industry presses the envelope on deepwater frontiers.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Records continue to topple as industry presses the envelope on deepwater frontiers. Shell Deepwater Production and partners Amoco and Exxon have begun production from their Ram-Powell TLP in the Gulf of Mexico. The TLP is in 3,214 ft of...

More small to mid-sized independents are making their way into the big leagues by acquiring majors' noncore properties. (Cross Timbers Oil Co. acquisition from Amoco Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... More small to mid-sized independents are making their way into the big leagues by acquiring majors' noncore properties. Cross Timbers will acquire for $252 million Amoco's producing properties in the San Juan basin of northwestern New...

The U.S. Senate has agreed to extend the 5.4 cents/gal tax exemption for ethanol through 2007 but will gradually lower it to 5.1 cents/gal after 2005.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... The U.S. Senate has agreed to extend the 5.4 cents/gal tax exemption for ethanol through 2007 but will gradually lower it to 5.1 cents/gal after 2005. A group of congressmen from farm states has filed a bill in the House to extend the...

Six major U.S. oil and gas associations have urged the Senate to ratify the U.S.-Mexico Maritime Boundary Treaty to resolve jurisdictional claims in the Gulf of Mexico.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Six major U.S. oil and gas associations have urged the Senate to ratify the U.S.-Mexico Maritime Boundary Treaty to resolve jurisdictional claims in the Gulf of Mexico. The treaty would enable the nations to determine ownership of two areas...

Multinational oil firms continue to face opposition to E&D in South American rain forests. (exploration and discovery in territory of U'Wa Indians)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Multinational oil firms continue to face opposition to E&D in South American rain forests. At the Colombian government's request, the Organization of American States has issued a report on the activity of Oxy and Shell on Colombia's Samore...

Three thousand Shell refining and marketing staff in Europe face the ax in the next 2-3 years under a drastic shake-up intended to cut costs and make operations more 'customer-focused.' (Shell Europe Oil Products)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Three thousand Shell refining and marketing staff in Europe face the ax in the next 2-3 years under a drastic shake-up intended to cut costs and make operations more "customer-focused." Shell's European products businesses will be folded...

India has devised an oil industry reform package that includes deregulating crude imports and refining and establishing an oil regulation commission.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... India has devised an oil industry reform package that includes deregulating crude imports and refining and establishing an oil regulation commission. The reform committee includes Petroleum and Natural Gas Sec. Vijay Kelkar,...

Talking in the Middle East. (Israel, Palestinians, Iran, Iraq)(Editorial)
October 6, 1997... Resumption of peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian authorities is significant and welcome and not the only important news lately to come out of the Middle East. The need for that last bit of perspective is keen in the U.S., where...

China's new petroleum structure continues to evolve under reform.(part 2)
October 6, 1997... After weathering some difficult years recently, China s state oil companies are, to varying degrees, restructuring and undertaking-new strategies to revitalize a moribund petroleum sector. While there are some efforts to trim the red tape...

Comment: Should Kazakhstan go east? (cooperation with China)(Column)
October 6, 1997... Richard R. Dion Director of Economic Research Center for American-Eurasian Studies and Relations Washington, D.C. Late last month, Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng was in Almaty, signing agreements concerning the increase of...

Total's Iran deal sparks row with U.S.
October 6, 1997... A group led by France's Total SA has agreed to undertake a $2 billion development of a supergiant gas field off Iran, and the deal has sparked a bitter row between the U.S. and its European allies. The U.S., which has imposed unilateral...

France role as European gas transit growing.
October 6, 1997... France is emerging as an increasingly important transit point for natural gas imports into continental Europe. The 6 billion cu m/year of Norwegian natural gas Italy's SNAM will import will move through France under a transportation...

Mexico's first open access gas line funded. (loans by Inter-American Development Bank)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... The Inter-American Development Bank has approved loans totaling $225 million to help finance the first open access, common carrier natural gas pipeline in Mexico. The bank said Energia Mayakan SA would receive a loan of up to $75 million...

Hindustan refinery to restart in 2 months. (Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd.)
October 6, 1997... The fire-ravaged 90,000 b/d Visakhapatnam, India, refinery of Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (HPCL) will remain inoperable for about 2 months. Last month's fire and subsequent blast took the lives of 56 people (OGJ, Sept. 22, 1997, p. 42)....

Anadarko to probe Eritrea subsalt.(Anadarko Eritrea Co.'s contract with Eritrea's Ministry of Energy and Mines for oil production in Red Sea)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Anadarko Eritrea Co., Asmara, Eritrea, has signed a second production-sharing agreement with Eritrea's Ministry of Energy and Mines. The new PSA is for 2.3 million acres in the Red Sea. Known as Edd block, the acreage is south of and...

Oil company name for sale.(Anglo-Scottish Petroleum Company Ltd.)(Column)
October 6, 1997... Following the Scots' recent vote for self-government, a company name has been put up for sale that may be perfect for a petroleum firm operating in an independent Scotland. The name is Anglo-Scottish Petroleum Co. Ltd. This is a firm...

Global warming costs, benefits debated.(imposed reductions of greenhouse gas emissions can boost unemployment level and consumer prices in US)
October 6, 1997... An international climate agreement requiring mandatory reductions of greenhouse gas emissions could lead to dramatic increases in consumer prices and unemployment in the U.S. WEFA Inc., an economic consulting firm, reported that conclusion...

All U.S. gas indicators up.(natural gas consumption in 1996)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... U.S. consumption of natural gas in 1996 reached record levels in residential and industrial end-use sectors, the Energy Information Administration said. It said the 5.2 tcf of residential use and 8.9 tcf of industrial use surpassed records...

Gore becomes pro-oil.(Vice President Al Gore on US petroleum firms' oil field development projects in Russia)(Column)
October 6, 1997... At a recent economic summit in Moscow between Vice President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, the main issue was difficulty that U.S. oil companies face trying to invest in Russia. Last month the Nenets autonomous...

Warren Petroleum Co. LP.(plans natural gas liquid fractionation plant near Lake Charles, LA)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Warren Petroleum Co. LP, Houston, will build a $57 million NGL fractionation plant near Lake Charles, La. Construction will begin next month, and completion is slated for third quarter 1998. The 55,000 b/d plant will process liquids from Gulf...

Osaka Gas Co.(contract with Oman Liquefied Natural Gas Co. for liquefied natural gas)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Osaka Gas Co. signed a 20-year contract to purchase 660,000 metric tons/year of liquefied natural gas from Oman Liquefied Natural Gas Co. beginning in 2000. Before the purchases begin, Osaka Gas will build a 137,000 cu m LNG tanker. Oman is...

The U.S. Coast Guard.(and California Department of Fish and Game to control oil spill off Point Arguello, CA)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the California Department of Fish and Game, and Nuevo Energy Co. are containing a 200-500 bbl oil spill from a subsea pipeline off Point Arguello, Calif. Nuevo affiliate and pipeline operator Torch Operating Co....

The U.S. Justice Department.(to take action against Elkof Marine Corp., Odin Marine Corp. and Thor Towing Corp. following heating oil spill off Rhode Island in 1996)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... The U.S. Justice Department said parties responsible for an 826,000-gal heating oil spill off Rhode Island in January 1996 have admitted criminal liability and agreed to pay $8.5 million in fines and conservation payments, plus $1 million on...

A blowout.(on service of oil rig in Alberta is reported)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... A blowout on a service rig in Rainbow Lake field in northwestern Alberta was still spewing water and sour gas at presstime. Mobil Oil Canada says the releases are being dissipated by moderate winds and light precipitation and do not pose...

Saga Petroleum AS.(to develop gas and condensate discovered in Norwegian Sea)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Saga Petroleum AS will develop its Kristin and Lavrans gas and condensate finds in the Norwegian Sea with a shared tension leg platform (TLP). Saga chose a TLP over a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel after an overall study...

Cairn Energy plc.(to develop gas well off Bangladesh)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Cairn Energy plc, Edinburgh, disclosed test results of an appraisal well on its Block 16 Sangu find off Bangladesh. The Sangu-3z well penetrated a shallow gas-bearing zone. A 5 m section of 40 m of sandstone was tested under equipment...

Norsk Hydro AS.(reports oil production in Norwegian Sea)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Norsk Hydro AS started oil production from Njord field on Blocks 6407/7 and 6407/10 in the Norwegian Sea. Njord was developed with a production semisubmersible and storage tanker for 5.4 billion kroner (OGJ, June 19, 1995, p. 25). Early output...

Chevron Nigeria Ltd.(contract with Nigerian Gas Co. for liquefied petroleum gas)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Chevron Nigeria Ltd. began selling 20 MMscfd of treated gas to Nigerian Gas Co. from its recently completed Escravos gas project. Chevron will begin exporting Escravos LPG this week, as soon as inventories in its floating storage and offloading...

London's.(International Petroleum Exchange reports natural gas futures contract trade)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... London's International Petroleum Exchange reports growing trading volumes for its natural gas futures contracts. A record 1,595 contracts changed hands on Sept. 23, representing an amount equal to more than two thirds of U.K. natural gas...

Coastal Field Services Co.(to expand gas processing plant near Patterson, LA)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Coastal Field Services Co., a unit of Coastal Corp., Houston, will expand its Pelican gas processing plant near Patterson, La., to 325 MMcfd from 235 MMcfd. Modifications will be done in stages, with completion scheduled for mid-1998. The plant,...

Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corp.(purchases Total Petroleum (North America) Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corp. (UDS) completed acquisition of Total Petroleum (North America) Ltd. (OGJ, Apr. 21, 1997, p. 26). UDS issued 0.322 shares of its common stock for each of Total Petroleum's 39 million outstanding shares and assumed...

General Electric Co.(unit GE Power Systems to acquire Stewart & Stevenson's gas turbine unit)(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... General Electric Co. unit GE Power Systems will buy Stewart & Stevenson's gas turbine division for $600 million in cash. Stewart & Stevenson will concentrate on its more successful growth businesses, including oil field equipment. GE says the...

United Meridian Corp.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... United Meridian Corp. (UMC), Dallas, approved a 1997 capital spending increase to $359 million from $250 million. Of the total budget, $116 million is tagged for exploration, 57% of which will be spent outside the U.S. UMC allocated $186...

Witco Corp.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Witco Corp. and Exxon Co. USA have terminated joint venture discussions after 9 months of study. The two were considering forming a company to manufacture and market white oils and related products in North America. Their decision resulted from...

Talisman Energy Inc.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, will acquire from Loram Corp., Calgary, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Pembina Resources Ltd., Calgary, for $501 million (Canadian). Pembina Resources owns all of the oil and gas assets of Pembina...

San Pascual Cogeneration Co. International BV.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... San Pascual Cogeneration Co. International BV (SPC) signed an agreement with Philippine electric utility National Power Corp. to supply electric power from a 304-MW cogeneration plant SPC is building at Batangas on the Philippines' Luzon...

Repsol SA's.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Repsol SA's Boqueron-1 exploratory well off Spain's Tarragona coast flowed on test at a rate of 10,000 b/d of 38 degrees gravity oil. The extended-reach well was drilled at angles as great as 60 degrees to a true vertical depth of 4,653 m and...

Union Pacific Resources Group Inc.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... The Danish Energy Agency confirmed dates for the country's fifth off-shore licensing round, first announced last year (OGJ, Nov. 18, 1996, p. 29). The round will include all unlicensed acreage in the Danish North Sea west of 6 degrees 15' East....

A joint venture of BASF Corp.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... A joint venture of BASF Corp., Mount Olive, N.J., and Fina Inc., Dallas, let a turnkey contract to ABB Lummus Global, Zurich, for detailed engineering and process licensing for a planned liquids cracker (OGJ, Sept. 29, 1997, Newsletter). The...

Sabic Marketing Ltd.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Sabic Marketing Ltd., the global marketing unit of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (Sabic), renewed a 12-month contract to supply a total of 120,000 metric tons (1.019 million bbl) of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) to Pakistan. Sabic first...

Star Enterprise's.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... Star Enterprise's Delaware City, Del., refinery will receive a single-train air separation plant from Praxair Inc., Danbury, Conn. Praxair sold the plant to Parsons Process Group Inc.--contractor for a coke gasification unit being built at the...

Two German refineries.
October 6, 1997... Two German refineries, Raffineriegesellschaft Vohburg/Ingolstadt mbH (RVI) and Erdol Raffinerie Neustadt Gmbh (ERN), are forming a single, interconnected facility under a new company, Erdolraffineriegesellschaft Vohburg/Ingolstadt/Neustadt Gmbh...

A combine of.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... A combine of Australian Gas Light, Sydney, and CMS Energy, Dearborn, Mich., is one of a reported 44 groups bidding to buy the Dampier-Bunbury gas pipeline, valued at $1 billion (Australian). The line is being expanded to 476 MMcfd from 443...

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... TransCanada PipeLines Ltd., Calgary, filed a preliminary submission with Canada's National Energy Board to begin determining the scope of environmental assessment for proposed expansions in Ontario. One project involves building a 24-km, 36-in....

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.(Brief Article)
October 6, 1997... The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled Williams Cos. must refund $15 million to customers for "take-or-pay" costs. A predecessor to its Williams Natural Gas Co. unit incurred the costs to buy out three contracts to purchase gas...

Number of catalyst formulations stable in a tough market.(Worldwide Catalyst Report)(Directory)
October 6, 1997... The total number of catalysts available to refiners has remained essentially even since the last survey of refining catalysts was published (OGJ, Oct. 2, 1995, p. 35). Both the former and current surveys list about 900 catalysts. The...

Argentine plant increases capacity, improves NGL recoveries.(Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A., natural gas liquids)
October 6, 1997... Total cryogenic processing capacity at Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A.'s (TGS) Cerri complex in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, is being increased from 22 MMcmd to 40 MMcmd (776 to 1,410 MMcfd) with a future ethane-recovery capacity of 1,900...

Ultrasonic processor reduces drill-cuttings size and eliminates subsea mounds.
October 6, 1997... Drill cuttings size reduction using ultrasonics eliminated a subsea clean-up and significantly reduced the environmental impact in a North Sea drilling project. Reduction in cuttings size allows for a wider areal dispersion when released...

Method estimates arctic well thermal insulation efficiency.
October 6, 1997... For wells in an arctic environment, a simple method was developed for estimating the effect of thermal insulation on the maximum radius of thawing of permafrost and then determining thermal insulation efficiency. Knowledge of the thawed...

Changes in the indexes for nonmetallic building materials. (refining cost indexes)
October 6, 1997... The accompanying table shows how Nelson-Farrar indexes have been changed over the period, 1994-1996, for selected basically non-metallic building materials. Data are included for the overall nonmetallic group, five nonmetallic materials,...

The integrated radiation environment at well sites - an adjunct to petroleum exploration.(integrated thermoluminescence radiometrics)
October 6, 1997... Integrated thermoluminescence (TL) radiometrics was used as an exploration adjunct to locate oil well spud-in sites at Helez field, Israel. The field combines stratigraphic-structural traps on a NE-SW tending faulted anticline (Late...

While U.S. sanctions against iran threaten to impede the determination of export options for Caspian oil, talks concerning field development plans and exports are flourishing.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... While U.S. sanctions against Iran threaten to impede the determination of export options for Caspian oil (see related story, p. 27), talks concerning field development plans and exports are flourishing. Azeri state oil firm Socar is...

Meanwhile, amid the fallout from Total's latest pact with Iran, the U.S. seems mute on Italy's continuing participation in Libya's oil industry....(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Meanwhile, amid the fallout from Total's latest pact with Iran (see Watching Government, p. 34). the U.S. seems mute on Italy's continuing participation in Libya's oil industry--subject to the same U.S. sanctions as Iran. An official of...

Amerada Hess and Oryx have hit deep subsalt pay on Garden Banks 216 block in the Gulf of Mexico.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Amerada Hess and Oryx have hit deep subsalt pay on Garden Banks 216 block in the Gulf of Mexico. The Penn State Deep discovery well, GB 216 No. 3, cut 123 ft of net pay in four zones at about 20,500 ft in 1,450 ft of water. The new...

Union Pacific Resources has upped the ante in its bid to take over Pennzoil.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Union Pacific Resources has upped the ante in its bid to take over Pennzoil (OGI, June 30, 1997, p. 30). UPR says its new all-cash offering of $84/share for Pennzoil common eliminates Pennzoil's excuses for denying shareholders the right...

The oil industry has responded adroitly to a sizable oil spill in an area that is extremely sensitive, both politically and ecologically.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... The oil industry has responded adroitly to a sizable oil spill an area that is extremely sensitive, both politically and ecologically. A quick response, automatic shutdown, and calm seas helped contain damage from a subsea pipeline...

The Alliance Pipeline group and Nova have broken off talks to cooperate on a natural gas export pipeline project.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... The Alliance Pipeline group and Nova have broken off talks talks to cooperate on a natural gas export pipeline project. Nova said Alliance rejected its proposal to provide services in Alberta for the British Columbia-to-Chicago line. ...

BP has struck a virtually exclusive worldwide supply deal with Sumitomo Metal, under which Sumitomo will supply oil country tubular goods for several years beginning in 1998.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... BP has struck a virtually exclusive worldwide supply deal with Sumitomo Metal, under which Sumitomo will supply oil country tubular goods for several years beginning in 1998. Sumitomo will provide OCTG to BP worldwide, excepts for...

Foreign investment, much of it targeting equity stakes in state-owned operations, will continue to expand in Venezuela's booming petroleum sector.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Foreign investment, much of it targeting equity stakes in state-owned operations, will continue to expand in Venezuela's booming petroleum sector. That's the word from Pdvsa Pres. Luis Giusti, addressing an Ernst & Young conference in...

Global warming push begins.(Editorial)
October 13, 1997... U.S. President Bill Clinton made at least partial sense on two of the four points he made to weather forecasters about global warming this month. Vice-President Al Gore, as usual, made little sense at all. In a White House meeting launching...

U.S. Sanctions against oil giants at odds with its Caspian policy.(Column)
October 13, 1997... Manouchehr Takin Centre for Global Energy Studies London Adapted and updated from a paper presented at the International Forum, Nicosia, Cyprus, Apr. 28-30, 1997. The views expressed in this paper are the author's and do not necessarily...

Comment: Trans-Caucasus transport agreement is needed to solve Caspian problem.(Column)
October 13, 1997... M.G. Melconian President PetroTechnologies Inc. Princeton, N.J. John H. Lichtblau, chairman of Petroleum Industry Research Foundation Inc., made a rational case against U.S. sanctions toward Iran by arguing that the sanctions hurt U.S. oil...

Sanctions showdown.
October 13, 1997... The Clinton administration wants to avoid a confrontation with three international firms that have signed a $2 billion deal to help Iran develop South Pars field in the Persian Gulf. France's Total, Russia's Gazprom, and Indonesia's...

Oxy to get Elk Hills stake for $3.65 billion.
October 13, 1997... The U.S. Energy Department plans to sell its 78% interest in Elk Hills field, 15 miles west of Bakersfield, Calif., to Occidental Petroleum Corp. for $3.65 billion in cash. DOE said the sale would be the largest privatization in the history...

Finland presses merger of state energy firms.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Finland's Ministry of Trade and Industry has started negotiations expected to lead to the merger of the country's largely state-owned petroleum and electric power companies. The ministry says there are strong economic and strategic...

Gas developments highlight NW Europe action.
October 13, 1997... Development action continues apace off Northwest Europe, Off the U.K., BG Exploration & Production Ltd. began gas production on Oct. 1 from Armada development centered on North Sea Block 22/5b. Work under redevelopment of Brent field...

Ireland offers oil discovery, frontier blocks for bidding.
October 13, 1997... Ireland's newly named Department of Marine and Natural Resources has offered Seven Heads oil discovery and frontier acreage in the South Porcupine basin for bidding by petroleum companies. Seven Heads is a small accumulation of oil and some...

U.K., Norway revive rigs-to-reef ideas.
October 13, 1997... In the calm after the 1995 storm over a plan to dump the Brent spar loading buoy, Europe's oil industry has revived the issue of artificial reefs. British and Norwegian offshore operators associations, acting through their Offshore...

Canada's oilsands activity percolating.
October 13, 1997... Canadian oilsands action continues to percolate. Shell Canada Ltd., Calgary, will build a $1.8 billion (Canadian) oilsands upgrader plant in Alberta as part of an oilsands development program. In addition, Mobil Oil Canada Ltd.,...

More upheaval seen in Japan's retail sector.
October 13, 1997... Japan s refined products retail marketing sector continues to undergo massive upheaval. Severe price competition is likely to force the closure of about 40% of Japan's service stations during the next 5 years, according to a recent study by...

Norway's. (offshore strike)(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Norway's strike by mobile offshore unit workers was ended by the government, which persuaded unions and operators to accept arbitration over a long-running pay dispute. Trans-ocean Offshore Inc., which had three drilling rigs immobilized by the...

Promix LLC.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Promix LLC, a joint venture of Koch Hydrocarbon Southeast Inc., Dow Hydrocarbons & Resources Inc., and Shell Fractionation Inc., will double capacity at its Napoleonville, La., NGL plant. Current capacity is 62,500 b/d of NGL. Completion is...

Malaysia's government.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Malaysia's government approved a $2 billion project to build a 2 million b/d, 190-km, buried oil pipeline linking Alor Setar in Malaysia's Kedah state with Sai Buri, Thailand (OGJ, Jan. 13, 1997, p. 30). The line will ease tanker congestion in...

Georgia's government.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Georgia's government let contract to SNC-Lavalin Inc., Calgary, to conduct a feasibility study for moving Caspian oil through Georgia along the BakuSupsa route. An existing 100,000 b/d pipeline could be doubled in capacity. Work would include...

Empire Oil & Gas NL.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Empire Oil & Gas NL, Perth, hired CalEnergy Gas (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Omaha's CalEnergy Co. Inc., to study Empire's Gin Gin tight sands gas field for possible development. Gin Gin, about 80 km north of Perth, flowed gas during limited...

Brazilian regional utilities.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Brazilian regional utilities Eletrosul and Furnas struck a 20-year power purchase agreement with a combine of two Enron International Inc. subsidiaries. The companies will deliver 1,000 MW of electric power from Argentina to Brazil. The winning...

Amoco Corp.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Amoco Corp. discovered its second gas field in 3 weeks off Trinidad (OGJ, Sept. 22, 1997, p. 42). Renegade--44 miles southeast of Galeota Point--holds more than 600 bcf of gas, plus oil and condensate. The well was drilled in 230 ft of water to...

Pioneer Natural Resources USA Inc.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Pioneer Natural Resources USA Inc., Irving, Tex., signed a 1-year technical cooperation agreement with South Africa's Soekor (Pty.) Ltd. for Block 13A/14A off Port Elizabeth, South Africa (see map, OGJ, Sept. 8, 1997, p. 92). Pioneer has...

Robertson Research International Ltd.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Robertson Research International Ltd., Llandudno, U.K., agreed with Kazakhstan-caspishelf Joint Stock Co. to produce a joint geological survey report on the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea. The study is scheduled for completion in January 1998,...

PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd., Calgary, will spud a wildcat at Shoal Point off Newfoundland early in 1998. The well, with an estimated cost of $9 million, will be drilled in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. PanCanadian and Hunt Oil Co., Dallas, each hold a...

Apache Corp.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... Apache Corp., Houston, completed testing of its Beni Suef 1X discovery well in Egypt's western desert (OGJ, Sept. 29, 1997, p. 48). The well flowed 7,000 b/d of oil from Kharita and Baharlya formations. During tests of the Baharlya formation, the...

SOCO International plc.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... SOCO International pie, London, has persuaded the Petroleum Authority of Mongolia to expand its Blocks XIX and XX to the south and west. This will add 10,000 sq km of exploration acreage to SOCO's current 40,000 sq km there. SOCO CEO Ed Story...

An explosion.(Brief Article)
October 13, 1997... An explosion on the Croatian oil tanker Tomislavgrad killed one person and severely injured another. The explosion occurred while the tanker was offloading at the port of Split in southern Croatia. A subsequent fire was brought under control. An...