Offshore articles from December 2004

Offshore archives from December 2004

Out of the fog.(forecasts of offshore oil and gas industry)
December 1, 2004... For the offshore oil and gas industry, the sun is breaking through the clouds. That's the consensus of the panel of forecasters who contributed to our annual Forecast issue this year. The market is growing, they say, and will continue...

Africa.(Global E&P)(Chevron Overseas (Congo) Ltd.'s petroleum discovery)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... ChevronTexaco Corp. subsidiary Chevron Overseas Congo Ltd. and its partners have a significant discovery at the Lianzi-1 exploration well in the deepwater area between Angola and Congo. The discovery, in the shared 14K/A-IMI unit, is on the...

Americas.(Global E&P)(Jamaica's petroleum exploration)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Jamaica announced its first block licensing at the American Association of Petroleum Geologists' conference in Cancun, Mexico, at the end of October. According to Philip Paulwell, Jamaica's energy minister, "A major new investigative report...

Europe.(Global E&P)(Centrica Energy's joint venture, gas field)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Shell UK Ltd. with co-venturers Esso Exploration and Production UK Ltd., Paladin Resources Plc., and Centrica Energy, recently saw first production from the Goldeneye gas condensate field in the Outer Moray Firth, 100 km north of St Fergus on...

Asia-Pacific.(Global E&P)(Kerr-McGee Corp.'s petroleum explorations)
December 1, 2004... Kerr-McGee Corp. continues its exploration success in Bohai Bay, China, announcing its eighth discovery, the CFD 14-5-1 well in block 09/18, where Kerr-McGee holds a 100% foreign contractor's interest. The well is in 75 ft of water and was...

Reduced gas flaring in Angola.(engineering contract)
December 1, 2004... Houston-based Paragon Engineering Services Inc. is supporting ChevronTexaco on a front-end engineering contract for five projects to reduce routine gas flaring in Angola. As part of its Area A gas management program in Angola,...

Caspian Sea.(GeoTeniz and Yuzhmorgeoeko get engineering and geological work contract)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... KazMunaiGaz and Lukoil have started engineering and geological work at Tub-Karagan in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea. GeoTeniz (Kazakhstan) and Yuzhmorgeoeko (Russia) are carrying out the work by order of the Tub-Karagan Operating...

Middle East.(Global E&P)(ENI Corp.'s acqusitions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Eni brought its South Pars gas and condensate field in the Islamic Republic of Iran onstream in early 3Q. South Pars, located in the Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf, will initially produce 14 MMcm/d of gas, and at full capacity will reach 58...

Field developments back in vogue.(Offshore Europe)(Marathon's petroleum extraction contract)
December 1, 2004... Development work is picking up pace across the North Sea, with five new projects under way last month alone. The largest in terms of scope and investment are both in the Norwegian North Sea. Marathon's NKr9.2 billion Alvheim scheme aims to...

Shell cleared to revive Corrib.(Offshore Europe)(Shell Petroleum Company Ltd.'s subsea-shore development )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Ireland's first subsea-shore development looks to be back on track following an enforced break. Progress on the Corrib gas field 75 km west of County Mayo on the west coast, had stalled due to planning difficulties associated with the...

Pipeline damage calls shuttle tankers to action.(Gulf Of Mexico)
December 1, 2004... In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, the US Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) has monitored the progress made by the oil and gas industry in returning to normal levels of operation in the Gulf of Mexico. About...

Two semisubmersibles head to Gulf.(Gulf Of Mexico)(BP and Global Santa Fe's semisubmersible drilling rigs)(BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americas) Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... BP's Thunder Horse semisubmersible arrived at the Kiewit Offshore Services yard in Ingleside, Texas, in late September for topsides installation and commissioning before it heads out to Mississippi Canyon blocks 778 and 822 after the New Year....

Rigs in demand.(Gulf Of Mexico)(Oil and gas production forecasts)(Brief Article)(Column)
December 1, 2004... As reported in the October column, day rates are continuing to move up in the Gulf of Mexico. Operators are drilling more now than they have in the recent past because of leases nearing expiration. According to Danny McNease, chairman and CEO,...

APL gets Alvheim contract.(Subsea/Surface Systems)(Advanced Production and Loading A/S, Marathon Petroleum Norge A/S)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Marathon Petroleum Norge AS, a subsidiary of the Houston-based Marathon Oil Corp., has awarded Advanced Production and Loading AS (APL) a Nkr400 million-contract to supply the turret mooting system for the Alvheim field FPSO. APL is an...

SUT subsea technology course.(Subsea/Surface Systems)(Society for Underwater Technology)
December 1, 2004... Forecasts indicate significant growth ahead worldwide for subsea development projects, and as the interest in subsea expands, so does the need for education and technology exchange. One forum serving that need is the Society for Underwater...

Bohai Bay umbilicals.(Subsea/Surface Systems)(APL Norway)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... JDR Cable Systems Ltd. supplied dynamic catenary umbilicals to APL Norway, who installed them on two projects in China's Bohal Bay--CFD 11, operated by Kerr-McGee, and BZ 25, operated by CNOOC/ChevronTexaco. The JDR cables form the dynamic...

FPSO heads for Campos basin.(floating production storage and off-loading)(KBR)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Halliburton subsidiary KBR and Petrobras have achieved a milestone in the development of the Barracuda and Carafinga fields in the Campos basin offshore Brazil. The first of the two oil tankers converted into FPSOs began its journey Oct. 13....

Belanak Natuna begins production in Southeast Asia.(Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades)(Belanak Natuna FPSO)
December 1, 2004... The Belanak Natuna Fl'SO sailed from Batam, Indonesia, in mid October to its installation site in the Belanak field in the South Natuna Sea block B, 200 km northeast of Singapore. "We are proud to be part of this landmark project in...

Multiwave brings C-Orion into operation.(Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades)(Multiwave Geophysical )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Norway's Multiwave Geophysical brought a new vessel into operation in early October as the company geared up for a major seismic acquisition campaign in the Mediterranean, which began later in the month. The vessel, C-Orion, was rigged by...

New AHTSs for Seabulk.(Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades)(anchor handling tug supply vessels, Seabulk International Inc., Labroy Shipbuilding and Engineering Pte Ltd. contracts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Seabulk International Inc. signed contracts with Labroy Shipbuilding and Engineering Pte Ltd. of Singapore for four newbuild anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTSs) for its international offshore fleet. Delivery of the vessels is scheduled...

Downhole tractor, real-time.(robotic tractor for drilling)
December 1, 2004... Although operators originally used wireline tractors in the North Sea, their use has spread to other global locations. Today, operators consider wireline tractors reliable for deploying logging, perforating, and mechanical services in highly...

SEG's energized explorers.(Society of Exploration Geophysicists)
December 1, 2004... This year's Society of Exploration Geophysicists convention enjoyed an energy that it hasn't had in recent years. Over 6,500 geophysicists from around the world gathered to share insights into the world of seismic, gravity, and magnetics. ...

Affordable wave equation.(Geosciences)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... CGG is offering its WaveVista wave equation migration process for the same economic conditions and turnaround as the Kirchhoff method. The process addresses complex wave-fronts associated with high-velocity layers, like salt, and claims...

Fault picking.(software)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Paradigm has introduced its new fault picking software, Automatic Fault Extraction. New interpretation efficiencies were presented by integrating Coherence Cube, 3D Propagator, Automatic Fault Outline, and Automatic Fault Extraction under the...

Sun grid.(Sun Microsystems Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Sun Microsystems Inc. has released Sun utility computing for high-end grid, utility-priced services for grid computing. Building on its Sun N1 Grid Utility Computing Pay-For-Use Cycles, the new offering will make pay-for-use services available...

Fly low, gather hi-res.(unmanned surveyer Georanger I)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Fugro Airborne Surveys introduced its Georanger I at the SEG convention. The unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) is a fixed wing, high-resolution aeromagnetic survey system resulting from a two-year research and development program for data...

Marlim 4D.(survey of the Marlim complex)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Petrobras has selected WesternGeco to acquire and process a 3D seismic survey over the Marlim complex, offshore Brazil. The Marlim complex, comprising the Marlim, Marlim East, and Marlim South fields, is the largest deepwater producer of oil...

Growth in gas projects to dominate upstream development.(Global Forecast)
December 1, 2004... There is little doubt that the global natural gas industry is poised to dominate the world's upstream development stage during the next decade. Major gas discoveries made during the last several decades that were once considered "stranded" are...

Declining production points to new opportunities: North Sea, GoM still hold promise.(Gulf of Mexico)
December 1, 2004... Offshore Europe's oil production could fall to 50% of its present levels by 2020. Today, Western Europe is the world's seventh largest oil producer, and almost all of the hydrocarbons come from offshore. Activity off Norway and the UK, which...

Deepwater growth for 2005 specific to regions.(Global Forecast)
December 1, 2004... Although PFC Energy analysts project the total deepwater market for 2005 to exceed $8.7 billion (excluding drilling), which is up 10% on 2004, some significant regional trends bear examination. After the reduction in deepwater expenditure...

50 pioneers who shaped the offshore industry.(Anniversary Special)
December 1, 2004... Since 1947, when Kerr-McGee drilled the first well out of sight of land, the offshore environment has challenged the people of the oil and gas industry to develop equipment and systems to find and produce hydrocarbons from beneath the sea. ...

What if you never had to shut off the mud pumps? Continuous drilling fluid circulation while making connections.(Drilling & Production)
December 1, 2004... Varco has developed a system that enables continuous circulation of drilling fluid throughout the drilling process--even while making and breaking drill pipe connections. For the first time since rotary drilling was introduced, a section of...

RCLS, mud motor combination adds efficiencies: precise wellbore placement without reduced penetration rates.(rotary steering and closed-loop)
December 1, 2004... Operators around the world have experienced the benefits of rotary steering and closed-loop (RCLS) navigation. RCLS technology has lowered cost, improved drilling performance, and hit targets too small or too risky to hit with other...

Majors call for education, training.
December 1, 2004... Education and training is a global issue, oil companies and training providers determined at a meeting in Aberdeen during Offshore Europe 2003. Global Education & Training for Energy (getenergy 2005) brings together the oil and gas...

Sand injectites provide a global exploration opportunity: intrusive traps form from "hazardous" zones.(Geology & Geophysics)
December 1, 2004... As an exploration play, sand injectites remain lightly explored and poorly understood. The Northwest European continental margin (NWECM) provides the most extensive documentation and broadest recognition of sand injectites. Despite this, many...

Access and maintenance lifts.(Sweden technology profiles)(Alimak AB. services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Alimak specializes in rack and pinion-driven lifts for industrial locations and has more than 25 years' experience in offshore applications. The modular-built lifts are adaptable in size and capacity and do not need a machine room or lift...

Acid-proof unit heaters.(Sweden technology profiles)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Coiltech's ATD Aero temper unit heater is now available in acid-proof material for offshore and marine applications. Typical installations include workshops, changing rooms, galleries, and store houses. Hot water as well as steam can be used as...

Drinking water treatment.(Sweden technology profiles)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... E.C.T. Offshore Service provides comprehensive systems and services for treating drinking water offshore. Its systems operate on over 250 rigs and platforms, many of which have annual service contracts with E.C.T. Due to the company's close...

On/off-line turbine cleaning.(Sweden technology profiles)(Gas Turbine Efficiency)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Gas Turbine Efficiency develops systems for cleaning gas turbines which minimize environmental impact by keeping CO2 and NOx emissions as low as possible. The GTE concept provides a high degree of atomization of heated water with or without...

Hydraulic drives.(Sweden technology profiles)(Hagglunds hydraulic drive systems)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Hagglunds hydraulic drive systems are engineered to perform under severe conditions, and to provide reliable power to applications above or below the water line. The company's high torque, low speed motors have a very low moment of inertia and...

Living quarter materials.(Sweden technology profiles)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Isolamin, Momec, and Premec are fabricators and worldwide suppliers of floating floors, walls, ceilings, doors and wet units for offshore vessels and platform/rig accommodation modules. All products are designed to complement each other and are...

Hot isostatic pressing.(Sweden technology profiles)(Metso Powdermet services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Metso Powdermet has won several challenging contracts from the offshore sector in recent years. It supplies HIPed near-net shape products from the world's largest hot isostatic processing facility, in Surahammar, Sweden. Main applications are...

Accommodation modules.(Sweden technology profiles)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Pharmadule Emtunga is a leading supplier of offshore accommodation modules. Between 2002 and 2004, it will have delivered more than 10 such modules to installations in the North Sea, Caspian, Gulf of Mexico, and Far East. The company fabricates...

Mooring chains and accessories.(Sweden technology profiles)(Ramnas Bruk. services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Ramnas Bruk specializes in offshore mooring chains--stud link and studless--which include chafe chains, adapters, shackles, and connectors, all produced at its factory in Ramnas, Sweden. The company has more than 25 years' experience working in...

Drill hole survey systems.(Sweden technology profiles)(Reflex Instrument. services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Reflex Instrument was established in 1984, and is today one of the world's leading manufacturers of drill hole survey instruments. The company currently makes five main products: Reflex Maxibor, Reflex EMS, Reflex EZ-Shot, Reflex EZ-AQ/EMS, and...

Heavy duty lighting.(Sweden technology profiles)(Sunnex Inc. services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Sunnex is a leading manufacturer of task lighting systems, which can offer configurations customized to the offshore industry's needs. Lighting for offshore environments must be designed to take into account heavy duty and regular use over a...

Spill-free handling.(Sweden technology profiles)(Todo services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Todo has been making and supplying couplings and valves for the oil and chemical industries for over 30 years. Its most notable product is the Todo-Matic Dry Break coupling, designed for spill-free connection and disconnection where aggressive...

Diesel engines.(Sweden technology profiles)(Volvo Penta)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Volvo Penta is one of the world's leading suppliers of marine engines for professional use. With outputs ranging from 100 to 2,000 hp, the company offers an extensive range of engines for powering everything from small, fast rescue and patrol...

Control station links common operational environments.(New tools and technology for the offshore industry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Cytec control station integrates drilling machinery, tools from service companies, and mud/cement process equipment into one solution. It is designed to fit into both retrofits and new builds onshore and offshore, the company says. The...

Groveley point detectors reduce maintenance costs.(New tools and technology for the offshore industry)
December 1, 2004... Two years after installation on Total E&P UK Plc's North Alwyn A&B oil platforms, Groveley's point infrared gas detectors have proven the company's claim to reduce maintenance costs through zero calibration. The North Sea installation...

BJ Services.(BJ Tubular Services appoints Brad Pellegrin)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... BJ Services has appointed Brad Pellegrin area manager--North America for BJ Tubular Services. In his new role, Pellegrin manages the division's operations in North America and is responsible for all aspects of budgeting and forecasting, and for...

The Department of the Interior's executive resource board selected Minerals Management Service veteran Bud Danenberger to fill the position of chief of offshore engineering and operations.(People)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Department of the Interior's executive resource board selected Minerals Management Service veteran Bud Danenberger to fill the position of chief of offshore engineering and operations. The MMS also announced three employees to fill new...

Horizon Offshore Inc.(Richard A. Sebastiao appointed)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Horizon Offshore Inc. board of directors has named Richard A. Sebastiao of RAS Management Advisors Inc., a turnaround and management consulting firm, as chief restructuring officer of the company. Sebastiao will serve as the company's principal...

Geotrace.(Jorge Cardenas appointed.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Jorge Cardenas has joined Geotrace as director of International Business Development. Jorge brings to Geotrace experience in sales, marketing, procurement, public relations, and business development activities in the US, Mexico, India, and...

Vetco International.(Peter Goode appointed)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Vetco International board of directors has appointed Peter Goode as group CEO. Prior to his appointment, Goode held a number of senior operational and technical positions with Schlumberger. Jaime Kammerzell * Houston

Statoil ASA.(People)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Statoil ASA has made changes to its organizational structure and appointed a new corporate executive committee. President and Chief Executive Helge Lund named Eldar Saetre CFO and head of planning, finance, and control. Margareth Oevrum is head...

Wood Group ESP.(Brian Sevin appointed)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Wood Group ESP has appointed Brian Sevin to vice president--Latin American operations, with responsibility for further developing the company's electric submersible and surface pump activities in Mexico and Central and in South America. Sevin...

Statoil.(appointments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Statoil has made several managerial appointments. Henrik Carlesen is senior vice-president for Barents Sea operations in the International Exploration and Production division; Kjolv Eivind Egeland is senior VP for business support in the same...

Cooper Cameron Corp.(Pete Lang appointed)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Cameron division of Cooper Cameron Corp. has named Pete Lang vice president and general manager, Cameron Willis and Controls. Lang will direct the technical marketing, engineering, and manufacturing of Cameron's Willis and Cameron Controls...

Venture.(People)(Venture Production appoints Mike Wagstaff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Mike Wagstaff has replaced Bruce Dingwall as chief executive of UK independent Venture production in Aberdeen. Jaime Kammerzell * Houston

Clarksons and Normarine Offshore Consultants have reached an agreement to join forces and create Clarkson Normarine Offshore.(Companies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Clarksons and Normarine Offshore Consultants have reached an agreement to join forces and create Clarkson Normarine Offshore. CNO will offer worldwide services to owners and end users in the offshore industry. With many companies today having...

PHI, provider of helicopter transportation, took delivery of the first of two S-92 helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft.(Companies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... PHI, provider of helicopter transportation, took delivery of the first of two S-92 helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft. The S-92 is a twin-engine, 19-passenger aircraft with state-of-the-art safety and avionics equipment. PHI Oil and Gas...

Bristow Helicopters has established a new company.(new company Sakhalin Bristow Air Services Ltd.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Bristow Helicopters has established a new company, Sakhalin Bristow Air Services Ltd., to take a controlling interest in the former operations of Sakhalin Air Services for the provision of fixed wing and helicopter support services on Sakhalin...

Wellogix Inc. and SAP will provide Marathon Oil Co.'s upstream procurement organization with business solutions to enhance its purchase to pay process for both supplies and complex services.(Companies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Wellogix Inc. and SAP will provide Marathon Oil Co.'s upstream procurement organization with business solutions to enhance its purchase to pay process for both supplies and complex services. Through SAP NetWeaver, SAP's open integration and...

Lufthansa.(Companies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Lufthansa has expanded service to the Middle East and is upgrading its business class accommodations to better serve the oil and gas industry. Jaime Kammerzell * Houston

GE Energy has signed a contract of more than $50 million to supply two compression modules to Petrobras Netherlands BV for a new floating production unit in the Campos basin, off the coast of Brazil.(Companies)(Petrobras Netherlands BV )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... GE Energy has signed a contract of more than $50 million to supply two compression modules to Petrobras Netherlands BV for a new floating production unit in the Campos basin, off the coast of Brazil. The new FPU, designated P51, will be one of...

The Minerals Management Service will have access to better quality digital well data, due to a new contract with A2D Technologies.(United States. Department of the Interior. Minerals Management Service.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Minerals Management Service will have access to better quality digital well data, due to a new contract with A2D Technologies. The new electronic capabilities provided by the contract, along with the upcoming OCS Connect Project, will help...

IMV Projects of Calgary has launched IMV Projects Atlantic (IMVPA).(Companies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... IMV Projects of Calgary has launched IMV Projects Atlantic (IMVPA), a multi-discipline EPCM organization with a head office in St. John's, Newfoundland. IMVPA provides project management and engineering services for domestic and international...

Noble Energy Inc.(divisions merges)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Noble Energy Inc. has combined the operations of its US onshore and offshore divisions to create a single domestic division. David L. Stover, senior vice president of domestic and business development, will lead this new division in addition to...

Groveley Detection.(smoke detection equipment usage at Sakhalin II project.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The largest order to date of Groveley Detection's GD-A gas and smoke detection aspirators has shipped for use on offshore platforms at Russia's Sakhalin II project. Nearly 50 units have been specially designed to withstand extreme temperatures...

Future communications infrastructure to build on new standards, satellites.(Beyond The Horizon)
December 1, 2004... The year 2005 promises to be an interesting time for those involved in providing communications services to offshore and remote E&P operations, including telecom companies, information technology integrators, and network service and solution...