Offshore articles from February 2003

Offshore archives from February 2003

Far East. (Global E & P Briefs).(KCA Deutag, design contract; Hyundai Heavy Industries)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... KCA Deutag, a division of Abbot Group plc, announced that it has been awarded a detailed design contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the Sakhalin-1 project in the Russian Far East. The main contract for the drilling package...

Mediterranean. (Global E & P Briefs).(Eni, offshore gas drilling; Egypt)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC Exploration BV, has successfully drilled exploration well Tennin 1 offshore Egypt in the East Delta Deep marine exploration license. The well was drilled at water depth of 300 m. Preliminary appraisal...

Middle East. (Global E & P Briefs).(Oman, petroleum exploration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The government of the Sultanate of Oman has announced that blocks 18A, 18B, and 41 in the Gulf of Oman will be licensed this year. The blocks cover a 45,240-sq-km area. The three blocks on offer were selected following interpretation of the new...

Asia-Pacific. (Global E & P Briefs).(Reliance Industries Ltd. struck oil in Krishna-Godavari basin off India in early 2003)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... In early 2003, Reliance Industries Ltd. struck oil in the Krishna-Godavari basin off India. This discovery followed a significant gas find in December 2002 in the same area off India's east coast. In fact, Reliance has had a 100% success rate...

Central Asia. (Global E & P Briefs).(Activity in the Caspian Basin promoted by U.S. State Department)
February 1, 2003... Activity in the Caspian Basin is set to get a boost from the US government. US State Department representatives met with oil and gas industry participants in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 9 at the Caspian Basin Energy Conference to discuss...

Multidiscipline team puts a 6-in. hole in mature reservoir economics. (Oilfield Bulletin).
February 1, 2003... In the North Sea Brent field, Shell U.K. Exploration and Production (Shell Expro) and Schlumberger have successfully drilled the industry's first 6 1/8-in. horizontal lateral using a rotary steerable system. Accurately and efficiently targeting...

The Druzhba-Adria pipeline integration project, initiated by Russia's Transneft, will create an export route to transport Russian and CIS countries' oil to world markets. (Global E & P Briefs: Europe).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Druzhba-Adria pipeline integration project, initiated by Russia's Transneft, will create an export route to transport Russian and CIS countries' oil to world markets. Representatives of six east European countries signed an agreement in...

Forest Oil Corp. (Global E & P Briefs: Americas).(starts crude oil production from Cook Inlet, Alaska)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Forest Oil Corp. has begun production from the Redoubt Shoal field in the Cook Inlet of Alaska. The field, which began producing Dec. 9, 2002, is producing in excess of 4,200 b/d from two of the four wells capable of production. Production is...

ChevronTexaco's Angolan affiliate, Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. (Global E & P Briefs: Africa).(discovers oil off Angolan coast)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ChevronTexaco's Angolan affiliate, Cabinda Gulf Oil Co., has a ninth significant discovery in Angola's prolific deepwater block 14. The Negage discovery is 29 mi southwest of the Gabela discovery, made in 2002, and was drilled in 4,738 ft...

Semi changes hands. (New Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades).(drilling rig bought by Diamond Offshore Drilling Ltd. )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Diamond Offshore Drilling Ltd., a subsidiary of Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc., has signed a memorandum of agreement to purchase the semisubmersible drilling rig Omega for $65 million. Before delivery, the Omega will undergo its regularly...

Torch adds to deepwater fleet. (New Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades).(Torch Offshore Inc. to buy ship from Global Marine Shipping Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Torch Offshore Inc. has entered into an agreement to purchase the Wave Alert from Global Marine Shipping Ltd. The 340-ft cable-laying DP2 vessel will join Torch's deepwater fleet as a deepwater subsea construction vessel and will be...

Bollinger delivers new supply vessel. (New Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades).(Bollinger Shipyards Inc. delivers boat to MNM Boats)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Bollinger Shipyards Inc. has delivered the supply boat, Ms Sara Jane, to MNM Boats. The Ms Sara Jane is a new design effort between Bollinger and MNM. The vessel is a high cargo capacity offshore support vessel (OSV) that can work on and off...

Kvitebjorn topsides to move into the North Sea. (New Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The topsides for Statoil's Kvitebjern development has been installed on a barge at the ABB Offshore Systems yard in Haugesund north of Stavanger for tow-out to the North Sea field on March 1. The topsides measure 100m long, 45 m wide, and...

Prequalification begins. (New Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades).(FPSO off Western Australia)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Woodside Petroleum began the prequalification process for an FPSO with subsea completions for its 100% owned Enfield field off Western Australia. The company is planning to develop hydrocarbon reserves in deep offshore waters (350-900 m...

South Venture topsides awarded. (New Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades).(contract awarded to Halifax Shipyards Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The owners of Nova Scotia's Sable Project have awarded a contract for the South Venture topsides fabrication to Halifax Shipyards Ltd. of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Early this year, the final decision will be made on whether the proposed South...

Smedvig to build a tender rig. (New Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Smedvig has entered into an agreement with Malaysia Shipyard and Engineering Sdn Bnd in South Malaysia to build a self-erecting tender rig. The new unit is scheduled for delivery in 1Q 2004. The tender rig will be based on a new design...

BP awards classification. (New Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BP has awarded classification and verification services for its giant Plutonio FPSO to Bureau Veritas. The building contract for the Plutonio FPSO has not yet been awarded. The contract will he put out to tender following Sonangol's approval....

Drilling slump takes its toll. (Offshore Europe).(Norway)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
February 1, 2003... Exploratory drilling off Norway is in a trough, according to three recent forecasts. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate anticipates 15-20 exploration and appraisal wells on the shelf this year, down more than 30% on 2002 levels, when 30 such...

Ormen Lange heads for shore. (Offshore Europe).(Norsk Hydro contracts development of Ormen Lange deposit )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Ormen Lange, the sole super-giant discovery off Mid-Norway to date, is finally on track for development. Just before Christmas, operator Norsk Hydro finally swayed its partners into accepting a subsea-shore scheme, rather than a full-scale...

Paleocene play pays off. (Offshore Europe).(DONG, Ensco maintain high strike rate, Denmark)
February 1, 2003... DONG has maintained its high strike rate in its native Danish sector with two positive appraisal wells in the Ski area Nini-4, drilled by the jackup Ensco 70 in 59 m of water, found oil in Paleocene sandstone. A side-track was then drilled into...

New lives for old fields. (Offshore Europe).(redevelopment projects)(Industry Overview)
February 1, 2003... Tuscan Energy, a new operator on the UK Continental Shelf, has secured funding for its oilfleld development Ardmore in the central North Sea. In fact, this is a re-development of the Argyll field, a tilted fault block reservoir, which was...

Fishing for platforms. (Gulf of Mexico).(abandoned offshore oil rigs to be used as fish farms)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Gulf Marine Institute of Technology believes it has found a way to stave off abandonment costs for platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. The nonprofit firm is researching how to turn platforms into farms for GoM native cobia, red fish, amberjack,...

LNG regasification system planned off Louisiana. (Gulf of Mexico).(Liquefied natural gas)
February 1, 2003... El Paso Global LNG is moving along in its efforts to bring an offshore LNG regasification system to the Gulf of Mexico. In December 2002 the El Paso Corp. subsidiary filed an application with the US Coast Guard to develop its first Energy...

Mud pumps ordered for Mad Dog. (Gulf of Mexico).(by BHP Billiton from Varco International Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BHP Billiton ordered from Varco International Inc. two 2,200-hp triplex piston mud pumps manufactured by LeTourneau Ellis Williams Co. Inc. (Lewco). The order is the first under a recent agreement allowing Varco to sell, service, and support...

Multiphase solution for Ceiba may expand. (Subsea/Surface Systems).(Framo Engineering)
February 1, 2003... Framo Engineering reports success with the subsea multiphase pump system it installed on Triton Equatorial Guina's Ceiba field offshore EG. This installation, completed last fall, included two independent freestanding pump systems interfaced to...

Woodside taps FMC as preferred supplier. (Subsea/Surface Systems).(Woodside Energy Ltd. names FMC Technologies preferred supplier of subsea production systems)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... FMC Technologies has been chosen by Woodside Energy Ltd. as a preferred supplier of subsea production systems. This is the first agreement of its type in the Australian region. The agreement is for five years, with options for extension. It...

Matterhorn hull fabrication complete. (Subsea/Surface Systems).(Atlantia Offshore completes hull fabrication for TotalFinaElf E&P USA Matterhorn SeaStar TLP)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Atlantia Offshore, a member of the IHC Caland Group, reports the TotalFinaElf E&P USA Matterhorn SeaStar TLP hull fabrication has been completed at the Keppel Fels yard in Singapore. This is Atlantia's first dry-tree SeaStar hull to be...

Daniel valve ships 30-in. subsea swing check valve. (Subsea/Surface Systems).(for subsea pipeline)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Daniel Valve has shipped a 30-in. swing check valve for a major operator's subsea pipeline in about 800-ft water depth. Made and tested in accordance with API-6D Q1, the cast body design conforms to ANSI B16.34. Fixtures for grasping and ROV...

Water management. (Drilling & Production).(BJ Services offers water management technology that features relative permeability modifier)
February 1, 2003... A new water management technology features a relative permeability modifier (RPM) that selectively blocks water flow to the well without blocking oil or gas. AquaCon RPM technology was developed by BJ Services to offer the oil industry a more...

Expandable tubular. (Drilling & Production).(Solid expandable tubular system is installed in El Paso Production well in East Cameron area in Gulf of Mexico by Enventure Global Technology)
February 1, 2003... The 100th solid expandable tubular system has been installed in an El Paso Production well in the East Cameron area in the Gulf of Mexico by Enventure Global Technology. Currently, the expandable tubular system is installed in major oil basins...

Real-time tool. (Drilling & Production).(Schlumberger Oilfield Services offers magnetic resonance logging-while-drilling tool)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A new magnetic resonance (MR) logging-while-drilling tool delivers real-time producibility information needed for steering decisions to enhance well performance. Schlumberger Oilfield Services recently announced the intro duction of the...

Expandable sand screen. (Drilling & Production).(Weatherford International Ltd. installs sand screens for Phillips China Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Completion Systems Division (WCS) of Weatherford International Ltd. has completed installation of 5-1/2 in. expandable sand screens (ESS), complete with enhanced connectors, in five wells for Phillips China Inc., a subsidiary of...

Expanding territories. (Geosciences).(available territory for deepwater drilling)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The envelope of available territory accessible to the drillbit is about to expand again. In the most recent years, expanding the drillable envelope was accomplished by new technology -- 3D seismic, high capacity semis, and deep-drilling...

Seabed research. (Geosciences).(Ocean Drilling Program places monitoring stations off Costa Rica)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 205 continued the placement of longterm monitoring stations with the installation of two new boreholes off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The CORKs (circulation ovviation retrofit kits) were installed in two...

Vessel loss. (Geosciences).(seismic vessel CGG Mistral)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Rarely does the marine seismic industry lose a vessel. According to CGG, on Dec. 20, 2002, off the coast of Trinidad the seismic vessel CGG Mistral experienced a fire that spread and engulfed the vessel. Fortunately, the crew was safely...

Internet dataroom. (Technology).(Petris Technology releases product)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Petris Technology has launched Version 3.0 of PetrisWINDS Internet Data Room (IDR). The software is flexible so that users can build their own online IDR in as little as one day. The new version uses ARC/IMS map server from Environmental...

Faster processing. (Technology).(SGI says its new Altix 3000 family of servers and superclusters topped the competition)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SGI says its new Altix 3000 family of servers and superclusters topped the competition in a series of high-performance system benchmarks. The new systems combine SGIs supercomputing architecture with Intel Itanium 2 processors and the Linux...

TotalfinaElf prepares to launch two further developments in Angola block 17: higher capacity FPSO for Dalia. (West Africa).(floating production storage and offloading)
February 1, 2003... Fourteen months after first oil, Angola's "flowers" block 17 continues to blossom. Girassol's wells are flowing beyond expectation, and future subsea tie-ins may warrant lifting the production threshold. Elsewhere in the 400-sq-km concession,...

Subsea installations running smoothly at Girassol: riser concerns creating headaches elsewhere. (West Africa).(Stolt Offshore)
February 1, 2003... Installation contractors are marshalling their resources in West Africa for at least 15 new deepwater projects. Physically, the challenge can be met, according to the market leader Stolt Offshore. Financially, problems may arise if operators...

Linked field developments cut gas wastage off Niger Delta: extensive upgrades planned. (West Africa).(Stolt Offshore)
February 1, 2003... One of Stolt Offshore's more work-intensive shallow-water projects involves redevelopment of the Forcados Yokri oil and gas field in the Niger Delta. The centerpiece will be the largest production platform produced to date by its Warribased...

Deepwater umbilical manufacturing comes to Lobito. (West Africa).(investment in Angola)
February 1, 2003... Angola's fabrication bases are slowly taking shape, courtesy of a few far sighted subsea contractors. They recognized early on that while the majors would hasten to monetize their deepwater finds, the onus would be on them to provide the...

Potential for oil brings new problems to Sao Tome: President Fradrique de Menezes reviews JDZ. (West Africa).(Joint Development Zone with Nigeria)
February 1, 2003... Until recently, few had heard of the two tiny volcanic islands that comprise the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (STP). But that was before the release of seismic reports last year indicating that 6 Bbbl of oil reserves may lie...

EA sees first oil ahead of schedule. (West Africa).(Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd., Kellogg Brown & Root development offshore Nigeria)
February 1, 2003... Shell Petroleum Development Co. of Nigeria Ltd. (SPDC) and Halliburton's engineering and construction unit Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) achieved a major first on the EA field offshore Nigeria. The group successfully completed the commissioning...

West African offshore activity promises huge petroleum potential. (West Africa).
February 1, 2003... E&P activity offshore West Africa during 2002 has underlined the region's potential to become one of the world's most significant petroleum production centers. The region holds huge petroleum potential, and the US regards the area as...

Dry semi completion unit in frame for future deepwater projects. (West Africa).
February 1, 2003... Aker Kvaerner Technology has completed the first phase of a production system comparison study for a leading operator in West Africa. This could lead ultimately to selection of a deepwater semi-submersible production platform with...

Drilling with water-base fluids in high-temperature wells: extreme technical, logistical challenges off Africa. (Wellbore Damage Control).
February 1, 2003... The Kudu field offshore Namibia, southwest Africa, was first drilled in the 1980s by a South African oil company known then as Soekor. When Soekor's interest shifted to the southeast coast of South Africa in the early 1990s, Shell picked up the...

50 Years of experience speaks: Rowan CEO Bob Palmer talks about people, platforms, and profits. (Management & Economics).(Interview)
February 1, 2003... In an exclusive interview with Offshore, Bob Palmer, chairman and CEO of Rowan Companies Inc., reflects on 50 years in the drilling industry. Offshore: You have been Rowan's chairman and CEO for 31 years and have been with the company for...

Software system allows geographic display, analysis of upstream activity. (Management & Economics).
February 1, 2003... A desktop software package from Deloitte & Touche allows users to combine and display disparate data in a geographical context. The system, available by subscription, includes access to exploration and production data provided and maintained by...

Replacing oil-based with water-based drilling fluids: an extended-reach-drilling case study. (Extending Reach Drilling).
February 1, 2003... An extended-reach well was planned and successfully drilled in the North Sea Central Graben with a water-based drilling fluid in an area where wells have historically been drilled with mineral oil-based and ester-based drilling fluids. ...

New generation of completion technology: Frac packs provide vertical connection. (Completion Technology).
February 1, 2003... Advancement of open-hole horizontal and frac pack completion technology continues to expand the envelope for developing deep and ultra-deepwater reserves. The application of these technologies differs by global region and is driven by varying...

New strategy for sand management safely improves production performance: revenue increase of $370,000 a day or $130 million a year. (Completion Technology).
February 1, 2003... Due to the potentially severe consequences associated with sand production, such as erosion, many operators decide on a conservative approach - typically a "zero sand production" criteria or a "maximum sand free rate" criteria. These criteria...

North sea platform proves permanent monitoring reliability: withstanding the test of time. (Downhole Communications).
February 1, 2003... Having withstood the test of time, an early permanent monitoring installation on the Scott platform in the North Sea now offers proof that permanent monitoring in offshore installations is not only cost effective, but has proven reliability -...

Premium dopeless connection designed for complex, sensitive environments. (Drilling Technology).
February 1, 2003... A new premium connection, TenarisBlue, has been designed for complex and environmentally sensitive oil and gas activities. The performance in severe conditions increases safety, lowers trouble time, and reduces risk. Additionally, a...

3D texture attributes aid seismic fades classification: Barents Sea carbonate reservoir detailed. (Geosciences).
February 1, 2003... Today's geologists involved with hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir characterization have to face an increasing number of seismic volumes. The interpreter is expected to comprehend data sets processed with different parameters or multi-sets...

Houston engineering organizations. (People).(choose Kenneth E. Arnold as 2003 Houston Area Engineer of the Year)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Representatives of various Houston engineering organizations have selected Kenneth E. Arnold, P.E., as the 2003 Houston Area Engineer of the Year. The organizations selected Arnold based on his outstanding educational, professional, technical,...

Deep Offshore Technology Conference 2002 in New Orleans for Nu Deep Deepwater Production System. (People).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Nils-Arne Soelvik and Lars-Petter Sollie of ABB won an award for best presentation at the Deep Offshore Technology Conference 2002 in New Orleans for Nu Deep Deepwater Production System -- A Novel System Design Enabling Ultra-deepwater Field...

BJ Services. (People).(names Gary Broiles, Bruce Campbell to new posts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BJ Services has appointed Gary Broiles as CIS area manager for its Middle East region Well Services Division. The company also promoted Bruce Campbell to the post of UK country manager for the Well Services Division within the Europe and Africa...

Burlington Resources Inc. (People).(names Randy L. Limbacher, Steven J. Shapiro to new posts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Burlington Resources Inc. has appointed Randy L. Limbacher as executive vice president and CEO, and Steven J. Shapiro as executive vice president in addition to his role as CFO. Both previously served as senior vice presidents.

Global Divers and Contractors. (People).(names Craig Milburn as diving operations manager)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Global Divers and Contractors has appointed Craig Milburn as diving operations manager. He will be assigned to the New Iberia, Louisiana, facility.

Occidental Petroleum Corp. (People).(names R. Chad Dreier to board)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Occidental Petroleum Corp. elected R. Chad Dreier to its board of directors. Dreier joins nine other independent, outside directors and two members of management who comprise the current board.

Sproule Associates Inc. (People).(hires Mark A. Clemans as Houston office manager)
February 1, 2003... Sproule Associates Inc. has hired Mark A. Clemans as manager of their Houston office.

Nexen Inc. (People).(names Thomas C. O'Neill to board)
February 1, 2003... Thomas C. O'Neill has joined the board of directors of Nexen Inc.

Itron Inc. (People).(names Thomas S. Foley to board)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Itron Inc. elected Thomas S. Foley, former Speaker of the House and Ambassador to Japan, to the company's board of directors. Itron also named Steve Helmbrecht vice president and general manager of its international business unit.

Sonsub. (People).(Bruce C. Gilman, president and CEO, leaves company)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Sonsub President and CEO Bruce C. Gilman has left the company after a long and distinguished tenure. Gilman was one of the founders of Sonat Subsea Services, which later became Sonsub. He has been an active participant in the marine/offshore...

Paragon Engineering Services Inc. (People).(hires Richard L. Rankin at Houston headquarters)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Richard L. Rankin has joined Paragon Engineering Services Inc. as vice president of midstream projects in the company's Houston headquarters. Rankin is in charge of bolstering Paragon's presence in the emerging areas of LNG, LPG, GTL,...

Deloitte and Touche. (People).(names Neil MacLeod tax director)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Deloitte and Touche has appointed David Holt as assurance and advisory partner and Neil MacLeod as tax director. As well as advising on tax issues, finance raising, strategic alliances, divestitures, and acquisitions, the team offers a...

EnCana Corp. (People).(names Randall K. Eresman senior executive vp, CEO)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... EnCana Corp. has appointed Randall K. Eresman as senior executive vice president and CEO. With this appointment Eresman assumes leadership of EnCana's worldwide oil and gas exploration and production activities.

The Bayou Co. (People).(promotes Mike Kress, Danny Hebert, Richard Clement, Bobby Donaldson)
February 1, 2003... The Bayou Co. has promoted Mike Kress to vice president of business development and marketing, Danny Hebert to vice president commercial, Richard Clement to director of sales for The Bayou Co. and Bayou LLC, and Bobby Donaldson to operations...

Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. (People).(installs new slate of officers, including Russell J. Harding as vice chariman)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission installed a new slate of officers at the commission's annual meeting. The new officers will serve under the leadership of North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, who succeeds Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee....

ABB Inc. (People).(names Ken Graber to public relations post)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ABB Inc. has named Ken Graber senior public relations coordinator for the drives, motors, and machines business area of Automation Technologies.

Noble Energy Inc. (People).(hires Davld L. Stover as vp, business development)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Noble Energy Inc. has hired David L. Stover as vice president of business development. In this position, Stover will lead the business unit responsible for pursuing new business opportunities as well as managing global acquisition and...

Tenaris SA. (People).(names several people as new board members)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Tenaris SA appointed the following as new members of the board of directors: Roberto Bonatti, Carlos Franck, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Bruno Marchettini, Gianfelice Mario Rocca, Paolo Rocca, Roberto Rocca, Jaime Serra Puche, Amadeo Vazquez y...

Unocal Corp. (People).(names Tony Best to Pure Resources posts)
February 1, 2003... Unocal Corp. has named Tony Best president and CEO of its Pure Resources, Inc., subsidiary.

POSC. (People).(appoints new directors)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... POSC appointed new directors: Gary Lore, Yogesh B. Sinha, Ihab Toma, Andy Lane, Steve Peacock, Eldad Weiss, and Herb Yuan.

Shell Europe Oil Products in London. (People).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Steinar Stotvig, Shell Canada's CFO, will retire, effective March 31. Cathy Williams, currently controller, Shell Europe Oil Products in London, will take the position of CFO, effective April 1.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has completed the acquisition of Howell Corp. (Companies).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has completed the acquisition of Howell Corp., a Houston-based oil and gas exploration and production company.

Sonardyne International Ltd. (Companies).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Sonardyne International Ltd. sold its first Streamer Asset Tracking System to Veritas DCG for its latest vessel the Veritas Vantage. The system uses the radio frequency identification tags already found in many seismic streamers to...

OAO Lukoil. (Companies).(orders electrical equipment from Siemens)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... OAO Lukoil, Moscow, has ordered electrical equipment for a new offshore platform from Siemens. The value of the contract is around 5 million, and delivery of all the equipment to Lukoil is to be completed by March.

CRC-Evans. (Companies).(completes three major welding projects)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CRC-Evans has completed three major 13% chrome corrosion resistant flowline welding projects -- Sigyn, Valhall, and Farm Vest -- awarded by Coflexip Stena Offshore Norway. CRC-Evans supplied the automatic welding equipment, consumable parts,...

Petroleum Geo-Services ASA. (Companies).(sells PGS Production Group to Petrofac)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Petroleum Geo-Services ASA has completed the sale of its PGS Production Group Ltd. to Petrofac Ltd. under the Oct. 8, 2002, share sale agreement.

US Minerals Management Service. (Companies).(regional Internet online ordering system to have new section)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The US Minerals Management Service's regional internet online ordering system will now have a new section where customers can purchase fixed CD sets. Unlike custom CDs, in which the customer could choose what files to put on each CD, these new...

McMoRan Exploration Co. and KI USA Energy Production Corp. (Companies).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... McMoRan Exploration Co. and KI USA Energy Production Corp. have completed the K-Mc Venture I LLC. K-Mc acquired certain of McMoRan's Main Pass block 299 facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, which it will use to pursue new business activities using...

EPIC/LSTK: do you play soccer or football? (Beyond the Horizon).
February 1, 2003... Take Ronaldo from Brazil or Zidane from France. They are among the best soccer players in the world. Now ask them to play in an NFL football game in the US or Europe's Six Nations rugby tournament. Chances are that their performance will be...

Supermajors search for 'The Next Big Thing'. (Comment).
February 1, 2003... The recently announced Forties deal between BP and Apache is exciting enough on its surface, but if analysts are correct, this could be the start of something really big. Under the deal announced last month, BP will be shedding its fifth...