Offshore articles from February 2006

Offshore archives from February 2006

West Africa deepwater field development plans.(oil well development)
February 1, 2006... Offshore West Africa has become one of the industry's most active E&P arenas, not only in terms of activity, but also in advancing new field development concepts. As a case in point, consider BP's Greater Plutonio field, due onsfream next...

Active rig fleet, January 2006.(GLOBAL DATA)
February 1, 2006... Active rig fleet, January 2006 Floaters Jackups US GoM 36(+1) 103(-3) Mex GoM 10(0) 27(-1) North Sea 41(+1) 32(0) East Atlantic 2(0) ...

GoM drilling permits issued.(GLOBAL DATA)
February 1, 2006... GoM drilling permits issued June 94 July 71 Aug. 80 Sept. 17 Oct. 84 Nov. 73 Dec. 59 Source: US Minerals Management Service Note: Table made from bar graph.

Gulf of Mexico day rates.(drilling platforma rates)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2006... Gulf of Mexico day rates Month/Year Minimum Average Maximum Drill ship Jan 2005 $105,000 $173,634 $205,000 Feb 2005 $105,000 $176,361 $205,000 Mar 2005 $135,000 $186,182 $205,000 April 2005...

The graph shows the average water depth of subsea production wells over the periods 2005-2007 and 2008-2010.(GLOBAL DATA)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The graph shows the average water depth of subsea production wells over the periods 2005-2007 and 2008-2010. Over this is superimposed the maximum water depth in each region over the same six-year period. All regions across the world are...

Sonangol and Total of France have confirmed a new oil discovery in Angola's offshore block 32.(Africa)
February 1, 2006... Sonangol and Total of France have confirmed a new oil discovery in Angola's offshore block 32. Appraisal drilling in the Gengibre-2 well to 4,342 m had tested to 5,100 b/d. The Gengibre-2 appraisal well is located approximately 162 km (100...

Statoil ASA has secured two rigs for exploration drilling on land in Algeria.(Africa)
February 1, 2006... Statoil ASA has secured two rigs for exploration drilling on land in Algeria. The company says plans call for drilling of the group's first exploration well on the Statoil-operated Hassi Mouina block to begin in the summer. Statoil has a...

Petrobras has bought a 50% stake in deepwater block L in Equatorial Guinea from a group of companies for an undisclosed sum.(Africa)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Petrobras has bought a 50% stake in deepwater block L in Equatorial Guinea from a group of companies for an undisclosed sum. Petrobras acquired a 25% participation from Chevron Corp., 12.5% from Amerada Hess Corp., 10% from Energy Africa...

PTTEP boosts planned expenditures, adds 29 projects.(PTT Exploration and Production Public Co. Ltd.)
February 1, 2006... Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production Public Co. Ltd. (PTTEP) has revised its estimated capital expenditure (capex) and operating expenditure (opex) for 2006-2010 to $5.8 billion, up from $4.6 billion estimated for 2005-2009. The revision...

Malaysia's Tanjung Offshore Berhad's subsidiary, Tanjung Maintenance Services Sdn Bhd (TMS).(contract from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Malaysia's Tanjung Offshore Berhad's subsidiary, Tanjung Maintenance Services Sdn Bhd (TMS), has received a letter of award from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB) to provide maintenance services for mechanical rotating equipment at all offshore...

Singapore's PPL Shipyard has secured a $175 million contract to build a Baker Marine Pacific class 375 deep drilling offshore jackup rig for Aban Singapore Pte Ltd.(Asia-Pacific)
February 1, 2006... Singapore's PPL Shipyard has secured a $175 million contract to build a Baker Marine Pacific class 375 deep drilling offshore jackup rig for Aban Singapore Pte Ltd., a subsidiary of Mumbai-listed Aban Loyd Chiles Offshore Ltd. of India. ...

Shell Malaysia and the upstream unit of the Malaysian national oil company, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd.(gas delivery)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Shell Malaysia and the upstream unit of the Malaysian national oil company, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, delivered the first gas from their jointly operated new Shallow Clastics satellite field ahead of schedule. First gas from the Shallow...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan reports that foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan reached $4.3 billion over the first nine months of 2005.(Russia)
February 1, 2006... The National Bank of Kazakhstan reports that foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan reached $4.3 billion over the first nine months of 2005, representing an increase of 10% compared to the same period the previous year. Geological...

Swedish oil company Lundin Petroleum AB says its capital spending budget will amount to $310 million in 2006.(Europe)
February 1, 2006... Swedish oil company Lundin Petroleum AB says its capital spending budget will amount to $310 million in 2006. Its development budget this year will be in excess of $200 million with a major focus on projects in Norway and Tunisia expected to...

Drilling has started on ExxonMobil's Kogge gas prospect in the Norwegian North Sea.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Drilling has started on ExxonMobil's Kogge gas prospect in the Norwegian North Sea. The Maersk Gallant is expected to drill for three months to depths of 5,500 m. ExxonMobil, as operator, owns 30% in license PL-315. Other owners include...

Petrobras plans to invest, along with its partners.(Petroleo Brasileiro S.A)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Petrobras plans to invest, along with its partners, about $18 billion over the next 10 years in natural gas and oil production development in the Santos basin. Petrobras says the offshore BS-500 block, the biggest of five planned...

Canadian Superior Energy Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada says its year-end 2005 exit production rate was 3,470 boe/d, up 27%.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Canadian Superior Energy Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada says its year-end 2005 exit production rate was 3,470 boe/d, up 27% from the production rate at the beginning of the year. Prior to year-end 2005, the company's well-site geohazard...

Mixed prospects for Norway, Denmark.(petroleum)
February 1, 2006... Investments offshore Norway, excluding exploration, soared by NOK16 billion last year to a near-record NOK83 billion, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. NPD predicts a slightly lower total in 2006, with field expenditure dropping...

Statoil probes Faroese basalt.(drilling operations resumes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Statoil aims to resume drilling off the Faroe Islands this summer, with a well on a sub-basalt prospect in license 006. The semi-submersible Stena Don will test Brugdan, a large anticlinal structure, in a location farther north than all four...

Total takes on Victoria.(TOTAL S.A. to acquire a gas field from Exxon Mobil Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Total aims to become operator of Victoria, a potentially large high-pressure, high-temperature gas field in the Norwegian Sea. Under a proposed share swap plus cash arrangement, current operator ExxonMobil would cede its 30% interest in the...

Statoil contracts lay barges.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)
February 1, 2006... Statoil has contracted Stolt Offshore to lay two large diameter pipelines next summer in the Norwegian Sea, between the Tyrihans oil and gas field and the Kristin platform. The contract, valued at over NOK 550 million, covers one line for the...

Statoil sets 2006 drilling plans.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Statoil expects to participate in 15-20 wells across the Norwegian shelf in 2006, half of them as operator. "We have secured rig capacity so that we can increase drilling activity," says Tim Dodson, senior VP for NCS Exploration, adding...

Chevron hits pay in deepwater GoM.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Chevron kicked off the New Year on a high-note with the announcement of an oil discovery on the Big Foot prospect located in Walker Ridge block 29, approximately 225 mi south of New Orleans. The Chevron-operated Big Foot No. 2 well, situated in...

Independence Hub expansion.(natural gas pipeline construction for production of natural gas)
February 1, 2006... Enterprise Partners LP and the Atwater Valley Producers Group have agreed to increase both the processing capacity of the Independence Hub semisubmerisble production platform and the transportation capacity of the Independence Trail Natural Gas...

Fabrication yard consolidation targets deepwater.(Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. acquires machinery and equipment of Gulf Marine Fabricators Inc. from Technip-Coflexip USA Holding, Inc. )
February 1, 2006... Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (GIFI) has executed an $80 million ($40 million in cash and $40 million in GIFI stock) agreement with Technip-Coflexip USA Holding, Inc. for purchase of all facilities, machinery and equipment of...

M&A continues.(CalDive acquired Remington Oil and Gas Corp.)
February 1, 2006... M&A activity in the GoM continues in 2006 with two major announcements. First, CalDive announced that it and Remington Oil & Gas have signed an agreement under which CalDive will acquire Remington for approximately $1.4 billion. The deal is...

Western GoM lease sale 196 nets over $283 million.(Gulf of Mexico)
February 1, 2006... The MMS has accepted the high bids on 342 of 346 tracts for a net amount of $283,441,874 offered during Western GoM Lease Sale 196, held on Aug. 17, 2005. Of the 346 tracts receiving bids during the sale, the MMS rejected four high bids...

Total amends FMC Technologies contract.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
February 1, 2006... Total has increased its contract with FMC Technologies, Inc. for the Rosa project, offshore Angola. The amended contract will include an additional five subsea trees including well jumpers. This amendment has an approximate value of $27 million...

Another North Sea contract for Subsea 7.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
February 1, 2006... Subsea 7 has received a contract award from BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. for subsea construction services in the North Sea. The $85-million contract adds to a growing list of subsea awards for the company in the North Sea. The...

JDR to provide intervention umbilicals.(JDR Cable Systems)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... JDR Cable Systems has been awarded a contract by Expro International Group PLC for the design, manufacture and testing of three Electro-Hydraulic (EH) umbilicals with air powered reelers and sheaves. They will control Expro's Electro-Hydraulic...

Deepwater drilling riser contract awarded.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
February 1, 2006... Maersk Contractors has awarded Aker Kvaerner Subsea a $32-million contract to deliver two deepwater drilling risers. Each riser will measure 2,250 m in length, and will be designed to operate in water depths to 3,000 m. The order includes...

Pioneer begins offshore South Africa gas development.(Pioneer Natural Resources Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Pioneer Natural Resources Co. has begun development activities on its South Coast Gas subsea project off the coast of South Africa. The project is a joint development between Pioneer and PetroSA, the South African national oil company, and will...

Rhum subsea tieback onstream.(British Petroleum Company PLC and Iranian Oil Co. UK Ltd. starts gas production and export)
February 1, 2006... BP and partner Iranian Oil Co. UK Ltd. have begun gas production and export from the Rhum field in 350 ft of water. This development has been a long time coming for the field, a subsea tieback to the BP-operated Bruce field. Drilled in 1973...

Shell extends subsea technology agreement.(Shell U.K. Ltd., Aker Kvaerner Subsea )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Shell UK Limited has extended its frame agreement with Aker Kvaerner Subsea by two years and expanded the scope to include Shell Norway. The new contract has an estimated value of NOK 230 million. Under the frame agreement, A-K Subsea will...

UK is the front runner in subsea industry.
February 1, 2006... "The UK leads the world in subsea." That is the consensus drawn from a recent study of the UK's oil and gas subsea sector carried out by Arthur D. Little on behalf of representative body Subsea UK. In a news release highlighting the study,...

First FPSO in GoM inevitable.
February 1, 2006... The first FPSO in the Gulf of Mexico is now a foregone conclusion with Bergesen's announcement that it has awarded Sembawang Shipyard, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SembCorp Marine, an S$88 million contract to convert the Ultra Large Crude...

Cal Dive enhances deepwater asset portfolio.(Cal Dive International Inc., plans)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Cal Dive has announced that it will add a deepwater pipelay vessel to its construction fleet and intends to add a drilling package to its semisubmersible Q4000. The company says it plans to convert a four-year old vessel, originally built...

PGS Production secures tanker; targets international market.(contract with Knutsen OAS Shipping)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Norway-based PGS Production, a wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleum Geo-Services ASA, says it has secured a tanker for conversion into an FPSO. PGS has entered into an agreement with Norway-based Knutsen OAS Shipping for purchase of the...

Rig reactivations.(Transocean ASA plans to begin operating a rig)
February 1, 2006... Transocean says a reactivation program is underway on its semisubmersible Transocean Winner against a three-year commitment with Hydro on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The rig is expected to begin operations on the contract by October 2006....

Maximizing drilling effectiveness.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)
February 1, 2006... Many executives and specialists working in the oil and gas industry are convinced that the amount of time you need to drill a well is defined by the technology used, and the level of experience of the people working with this technology....

First step.(petroleum drilling and production management)
February 1, 2006... "The first step is to review the existing optimal planning process. How does reality compare to company perceptions? Is the best possible process really in place? Compare it against industry best practice and check that it is indeed being fully...

Good management practice.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)
February 1, 2006... Managing is a real skill that must be taught and practiced. In David's view, the measure of management quality is an organization's ability to make good decisions. This starts from the ability of managers' to define the set of measures they...

OYO Geospace gets seabed acquisition system order.(Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... OYO Geospace has entered into a $7 million sales contract with the Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting (BGP) for a retrievable seabed data acquisition system. The 4,000-channel, four-component data acquisition system marks the first purchase by...

New seismic ventures for Veritas DGC.(Veritas DGC Inc. signs contracts with Eidesvik Offshore ASA, and BP America Production Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Veritas DGC Inc. has announced two new seismic ventures. The first is a charter agreement for a new-build seismic research vessel with Eidesvik Offshore ASA. Veritas' Viking Maritime Inc. will charter the vessel from Eidesvik for a fixed period...

EMGS deploys Ibrix software.(Electromagnetic Geoservices AS, Ibrix Fusion Parallel File System)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Ibrix Inc. says that Electromagnetic Geoservices AS (emgs), a seabed logging company, has implemented the Ibrix Fusion Parallel File System, an enterprise-class fully-integrated single namespace software suite, for generating more sophisticated...

OHM survey is first of its kind for the Falklands.(Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping plc conducts a survey for Rockhopper Exploration )
February 1, 2006... Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping plc (OHM) is conducting a shallow water Controlled Source Electromagnetic Imaging (CSEM) survey for Rockhopper Exploration plc in the North Falkland Basin, the first survey of its kind in the region. The data...

Worldwide demand for drilling rigs in 2006 will continue to outspace supply: day rates in 2006 have potential to eclipse record highs from 2005.(TOP 10 DRILLING CONTRACTORS)
February 1, 2006... The mobile offshore drilling rig market begins 2006 in an enviable position. Worldwide rig demand is strong and utilization of the marketed fleet is virtually 100% in every geographic region for every rig type. Day rates have reached all-time...

BP's Greater Plutonio cluster development may set stage for more: standardization shortens construction schedule.(WEST AFRICA)
February 1, 2006... Greater Plutonio, due onstream next year, could be the first of several cluster developments for BP offshore Angola. All are located in deepwater blocks 18 and 31, where the company has drilled a long sequence of discoveries since 1999. BP...

Chevron starts production from first compliant tower outside GoM: gravity-based facility is fifth tallest freestanding structure in the world.(WEST AFRICA)
February 1, 2006... Gabinda Gulf Oil Co. Ltd. (Cabgoc), a subsidiary of Chevron, has achieved first oil production from the $2.2-billion Benguela, Belize, Lobito, and Tomboco (BBLT) development, the first compliant piled tower (CPT) outside the Gulf of Mexico. ...

Offshore West Africa leads world in deepwater E&P spending: offshore West Africa conference preview.(WEST AFRICA)
February 1, 2006... Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co. shipped its first crude oil from the Bonga deepwater oil and gas field last month. Bonga has the distinction of being the first deepwater discovery in Nigeria. Since the Bonga discovery in 1996,...

Maersk Oil & Gas extends drilling envelope: integration of performance drilling motor, rotary steerable system.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
February 1, 2006... Maersk Oil & Gas has implemented a new system that integrates a specially designed drilling motor within a high speed rotary steering assembly. This new system has mitigated many of the challenges of continuous rotary drilling and the existing...

Statoil drills high angle HP/HT well on Kristin Development: one of the longest horizontal displacements.(oil well drilling)
February 1, 2006... Production from Statoil's Kristin oil and Icondensate (light oil) field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea began on Nov. 3, 2005. The operator developed the field from 12 subsea wells drilled from four templates using two semisubmersible...

Drilling thin sand in a long lateral well: monitoring position of formation and fluid boundaries.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
February 1, 2006... As demand for oil soars, operators look for ways to enhance the production capabilities of existing assets. Enhanced production was the impetus for Petrotfin, the national oil company of Trinidad and Tobago, to drill a horizontal well in a...

Designs considerations for floating facilities for the future.(PRODUCTION)
February 1, 2006... Innovations in system solutions for facilities have been limited over the last decade, mainly because proven solutions already exist. Development focus has been placed in areas such as deepwater subsea equipment and risers, where the...

Continued E&P growth expected for North Sea in 2006: service, supply companies in line for profit gains.(energy and petroleum)
February 1, 2006... Although the oil and gas market has experienced a prolonged period of upturn, we remain in a cyclical sector. The oil and gas industry has been through a period of high oil price, a price which may remain firm in the short to medium term, but...

North Sea high pressure, high temperature coiled tubing intervention operations.(petroleum production)
February 1, 2006... Within the last 10 years, a number of high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) fields have been discovered and brought into production, in the process leading to the extension of existing practices and the development of new technology to enhance...

Snohvit development employs subsea-to-beach long-offset control system.(SUBSEA)
February 1, 2006... The Snohvit project in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea is a milestone in offshore oil and gas development. It will be the first Norwegian and European production and export facility for liquefied natural gas (LNG). The field lies 140 km...

Ultra deepwater floating production facility for Makassar Strait.(CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION)
February 1, 2006... Developments of Indonesia's oil and gas prospects in the deepwater areas of Makassar Strait have unique challenges for floating systems using dry tree units. Despite benign wind and wave conditions, the area is subjected to strong persistent...

Ring spar designed to cut fabrication costs: fourth generation design.(CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION)
February 1, 2006... If the first three generations of spar technology can be characterized by the classic spar, the truss spar, and the cell spar, the fourth generation is characterized by the ring spar. Although hydrodynamically similar to the truss spar, this...

BP and Rosneft pushing the boundaries of exploration off northeast Russia: expanded Sakhalin projects hold potential production windfalls.(PIPELINE & TRANSPORTATION)
February 1, 2006... BP and partner Rosneft may bring in a second rig to accelerate drilling off the far north of Sakhalin Island. Rosneft, the region's leading acreage holder, also plans to extend offshore exploration to the western Kamchatka Peninsula. These...

New tools and technology for the offshore industry: Keppel Shipyard undertakes first LNG floating storage, regasification conversion.(EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING)(Liquefied natural gas)
February 1, 2006... Independent LNG shipowner Golar LNG has signed a contract with Singapore-based Keppel Shipyard Ltd. for the conversion of an existing LNG carrier into an LNG floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), the world's first. The total contract...

Composite materials continue their move offshore: Alkan's composite materials offer unique alternative to metal alloys for offshore storage.(EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING)
February 1, 2006... The trend of replacing more conventional metal alloys with non-metallic, composite materials of construction continues in the building of shelters and storage units. The offshore oil and gas industry is faced with dual challenges of...

GE upgrades power module for higher output in oil and gas applications: new PGT25+G4 available in late 2006.(EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING)
February 1, 2006... GE's oil and gas business has developed a two-stage, high-speed power turbine module to be coupled with the enhanced LM2500+G4 gas generator recently introduced by GE Energy's aeroderivative business. The new oil and gas product, named...

Parker Drilling Co.(Michael D. Drennon appointed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Michael D. Drennon has been appointed vice president of operations for Parker Drilling Co. In this role, Drennon will be responsible for worldwide drilling operations and the associated financial performance. Prior to joining Parker Drilling,...

Halliburton.(Craig Nunez appointed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Craig Nunez has been named vice president and treasurer for Halliburton. Nunez will be responsible for managing the company's global cash, debt, foreign exchange, capital structure, risk management, and customer credit and collec tion...

Dresser, Inc.(R. Michael Carlson appointed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Dresser, Inc. has named R. Michael Carlson president of North American operations for its Dresser Wayne retail fueling business and Daniel E. Jezerinac president of its Natural Gas Solutions (NGS) business. Carlson joined Dresser in 1973 and...

Pride International.(People)
February 1, 2006... Shawn P. Vigeant has joined Pride International as director of Contracts and Marketing. Shawn spent the previous 12 years with Diamond Offshore Drilling, where he served most I recently as their manager of Contracts & Marketing.

MCS.(Enda O'Sullivan appointed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Subsea engineering consult firm MCS has appointed Enda O'Sullivan operations director for the company's growing subsea and riser consultancy business in Australia. Formally vice-president for MCS in Houston, O'Sullivan brings over 15 years of...

Aveva, Inc.(Otto Weiberth and Emon Zaman appointed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... IT solutions and service provider Aveva, Inc. has hired two new sales positions for its North and South American regions. Otto Weiberth has been appointed head of sales for U.S and Latin American operations, and Emon Zaman has been appointed...

Mustang Engineering, a subsidiary of international energy services company John Wood Group PLC, is providing the detailed design package for the Blind Faith field development operated by Chevron.(Companies)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Mustang Engineering, a subsidiary of international energy services company John Wood Group PLC, is providing the detailed design package for the Blind Faith field development operated by Chevron. Mustang, having completed the pre-FEED and...

Transocean Inc.(gave marketing rights PetroJack ASA)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Offshore drilling contractor Transocean Inc. has entered into agreements with PetroJack ASA of Norway, providing Transocean with the exclusive marketing rights for three PetroJack jackup rigs under construction. The three Baker Marine Pacific...

SPS.(Companies)(Petroleum services industries)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Wellbore assurances service company SPS has announced a number of contract awards in the North Sea and Europe. Talisman Energy has awarded them a $9-million, three-year contract to provide wellbore assurance services for assets in the UKCS and...

Schlumberger recently marked 25 years of continuous operation between the three Chinese major resource holders, namely PetroChina, Sinopec, and Cnooc, and Schlumberger with a celebration that was attended by executives and representatives from both the customers and Schlumberger.(Companies)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Schlumberger recently marked 25 years of continuous operation between the three Chinese major resource holders, namely PetroChina, Sinopec, and Cnooc, and Schlumberger with a celebration that was attended by executives and representatives from...

J. Ray McDermott.(Seneca Resources Corp. awarded a contract)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... McDermott International Inc. subsidiary J. Ray McDermott, S.A. has been awarded a contract by Seneca Resources Corp. for the design engineering, procurement, structural fabrication, process outfitting and loadout of a three-pile jacket and...

The promise of geomechanic modeling.(BEYOND THE HORIZON)
February 1, 2006... The technically challenging nature of today's reservoirs and the cost risk of unpleasant surprises are changing workflow processes. An integral component of these new workflows is the science of geomechanics. Geomechanics modeling is...