Offshore articles from February 2007

Offshore archives from February 2007

Correction.(Correction notice)
February 1, 2007... Correction Notice Correction: The caption with the photo on page 38 in the December issue is incorrect. Please see the correct caption with the photo on page 116.

West Africa: now and the future.(COMMENT)
February 1, 2007... As part of our special report on West Africa in this month's issue, our editors looked at what's happening now and what might happen in the near future. For example, late last year, oil started flowing from Total's second production center...

Angola is in the West Africa limelight again with the recent ultra deepwater discovery announced by Sonangol and Total E&P Angola.(Africa)
February 1, 2007... Angola is in the West Africa limelight again with the recent ultra deepwater discovery announced by Sonangol and Total E&P Angola. Salsa-1, the sixth exploration well on block 32 was drilled in 1,806 m (5,925 ft) water depth and tested at a...

Production from Africa's offshore is up slightly as a result of Hess Corp. and its partners, Tullow Oil and GEPetrol, bringing onstream the Okume complex off the coast of Equatorial Guinea.(Africa)
February 1, 2007... Production from Africa's offshore is up slightly as a result of Hess Corp. and its partners, Tullow Oil and GEPetrol, bringing onstream the Okume complex off the coast of Equatorial Guinea. First oil was achieved on Dec. 14, 2006, at the...

China National Offshore Oil Corp. Ltd. is on the move to increase domestic production.(Asia-Pacific)
February 1, 2007... China National Offshore Oil Corp. Ltd. is on the move to increase domestic production. In fact, the company reportedly plans to bring 16 new projects onstream this year, and plans are in place to pursue as many as 60 onshore and offshore...

Libya is back in the big picture, and a handful of companies are actively pursuing offshore acreage.(Mediterranean)
February 1, 2007... Libya is back in the big picture, and a handful of companies are actively pursuing offshore acreage. Interestingly, Russia's Gazprom is one of the companies that has been successful in the bidding process. On Dec. 20, Gazprom was...

While Gazprom is just getting into the game in the Mediterranean, Lundin Petroleum is cashing in.(Mediterranean)
February 1, 2007... While Gazprom is just getting into the game in the Mediterranean, Lundin Petroleum is cashing in. Late in December, Lundin Petroleum AB and Atlantis Holding Norway AS announced that gross oil production from the Oudna field offshore...

Statoil celebrated a milestone offshore Venezuela early this year with the completion of drilling operations on the Cocuina-2X well.(Americas)
February 1, 2007... Statoil celebrated a milestone offshore Venezuela early this year with the completion of drilling operations on the Cocuina-2X well. This well is part of a three-well exploration campaign on block 4 of Plataforma Deltana offshore eastern...

More drilling is in the works offshore Trinidad as well.(Americas)
February 1, 2007... More drilling is in the works offshore Trinidad as well. Canadian Superior Energy Inc. has scheduled refurbishment work on the Kan Tan IV semisubmersible rig, which has been contracted to drill three wells off the east coast of Trinidad....

While Canadian Superior prepares its drilling operations, BG Group Plc. and partner Chevron have entered into heads of agreement with the National Gas Co. of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. to supply 220 MMcf/d of gas for up to 15 years beginning Jan. 1, 2009.(Americas)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... While Canadian Superior prepares its drilling operations, BG Group Plc. and partner Chevron have entered into heads of agreement with the National Gas Co. of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. to supply 220 MMcf/d of gas for up to 15 years beginning Jan....

Offshore Brazil, Petrobras began Phase 1 of production operations with the P-34 platform on the Jubarte field.(Americas)
February 1, 2007... Offshore Brazil, Petrobras began Phase 1 of production operations with the P-34 platform on the Jubarte field. The Jubarte-4 horizontal well is expected to produce 15,000 b/d of heavy oil. Three other wells will constitute a contribution to...

According to an announcement by the Irish Ministry of Marine & Natural Resources in early January, Ireland will hold a licensing round offering exploration blocks in the Porcupine basin this year.(Europe)
February 1, 2007... According to an announcement by the Irish Ministry of Marine & Natural Resources in early January, Ireland will hold a licensing round offering exploration blocks in the Porcupine basin this year. Noel Dempsey, minister for communications...

There were some interesting developments late last year in the Aral Sea when the members of a consortium of investors, including Uzbekneftegaz, Lukoil Overseas, Petronas Carigali Overseas, CNPC International Ltd., and KNOC Aral Ltd., signed a joint operating agreement and a single operator agreement to implement a production-sharing agreement (PSA) in the Uzbek sector of the sea.(Central Europe/Caspian)
February 1, 2007... There were some interesting developments late last year in the Aral Sea when the members of a consortium of investors, including Uzbekneftegaz, Lukoil Overseas, Petronas Carigali Overseas, CNPC International Ltd., and KNOC Aral Ltd., signed a...

Venture strengthens Sevan alliance.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Sevan Marine and Venture Production in contract )
February 1, 2007... Venture Production has contracted Sevan Marine for a second FPSO for its UK North Sea operations. It will be similar to the Sevan Hummingbird, currently under construction in China, which is due to sail out later this year to Venture's Chestnut...

Goliat heads Norwegian exploration roll call.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)
February 1, 2007... Norwegian sector operators spudded 26 exploration wells across the shelf last yea; according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). This was nearly double the 2005 total, although fewer wells were drilled than planned, mainly due to rig...

Bush lifts ban on Gulf, Alaska acreage.(GULF OF MEXICO)
February 1, 2007... US President George W. Bush has lifted the executive ban on oil and gas leasing in two areas in the outer continental shelf (OCS), one in Lease Sale 181 South in the central Gulf of Mexico and the other in the Bristol Bay, North Aleutian basin...

Helix Producer I under construction.(GULF OF MEXICO)(Helix Energy Solution's )(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Construction is under way on Helix Energy Solution's $140-million disconnectable floating production system for installation on the Phoenix (previously Typhoon) field in Green Canyon block 236/237. The train ferry Karl is being converted in...

Independence Hub sets sail.(GULF OF MEXICO)
February 1, 2007... The Independence Hub floating production platform set sail on Jan. 29 from Corpus Christi, Texas, for a five-day trip to Mississippi Canyon block 920 where it will be installed. The hub, owned by Enterprise Products Partners (80%) and Helix...

Semi study for Gotcha.(GULF OF MEXICO)
February 1, 2007... Total USA E&P has contracted Exmar Offshore Co. to provide project management and engineering services for the semisubmersible pre-FEED study for the Gotcha development. The field is in Alaminos Canyon block 856 in 2,438 m (8,000 ft) of...

ATP acquires acreage.(GULF OF MEXICO)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... ATP has completed the acquisition of a percentage working interest in a number of US Gulf of Mexico blocks. The company now owns a 50% working interest in Aconcagua (Mississippi Canyon block 305), a 16.67% working interest in Camden Hills...

Contracts issued for BC-10 fields.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
February 1, 2007... Shell Brasil Ltd. as operator for development of the BC10 fields in the Campos basin offshore Brazil has contracted Subsea 7 to install 10 steel pipelines totaling 109 km (69 mi), to fabricate and install six steel lazy-wave risers totaling 18...

Floating production system orders jump.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Since July 2006, there have been 20 orders for floating production facilities, according to International Maritime Associates (IMA). There are 62 on order for delivery in the next two years to join the 188 in service or available at the end of...

Shell awards umbilicals for Perdido fields.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
February 1, 2007... Shell Offshore Inc. has awarded a contract to Technip subsidiary Duco Inc. for the umbilicals to develop the Gulf of Mexico's Great White, Tobago, and Silvertip fields which will produce through the Perdido project. The contract is for...

Subsea Tieback Forum provides answers, defines future.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
February 1, 2007... The big news recently has been in deepwater discoveries. If those discoveries are going to contribute to the world's oil supply, some big news in production technology will have to follow. The 7th Annual Subsea Tieback Forum & Exhibition (SSTB)...

Heerema adds newbuild.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(Heerema Marine Contractors)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Heerema Marine Contractors is investing $1 billion for a new deepwater construction vessel. "A new generation, deepwater construction vessel is needed to meet the demands of national and international oil companies. Market developments and...

Frontline converts vessel.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
February 1, 2007... The market for heavy-lift vessels has prompted Frontline Ltd. to get into the game. Late last year, Frontline declared an option with COSCO Shipyard, China, to convert the Front Target to a heavy-lift vessel. The conversion, scheduled to begin...

Another construction vessel enters fleet.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(MPU Enterprise AS awards contract to Grenland Group)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... MPU Enterprise AS awarded Grenland Group an engineering contract for a new semisubmersible concrete vessel, the MPU Heavy Lifter. The vessel is a U-shaped multi-purpose buoyancy lifter for use in offshore installations. It is designed to lift...

Jurong to build jackup barge.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
February 1, 2007... Jurong Shipyard has received a letter of award from Saudi Aramco for the design, construction, and delivery of a self-elevating, heavy-lift jackup barge to be completed in 1Q 2010. The jackup will be a self-elevating heavy-lift, subsea...

Shell plans deepwater seabed production boosting systems.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)
February 1, 2007... Shell and Baker Hughes Centrilift plan to install two major deepwater seabed production boosting systems for subsea projects--one in the Gulf of Mexico and one offshore Brazil. This marks the first project using electrical submersible pumping...

ExxonMobil installing subsea multi-phase meters.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)
February 1, 2007... ExxonMobil plans to install 19 Vetco Gray-supplied Roxar subsea multi-phase meters in the Mondo and Saxi/Batuque fields, part of the Kizomba C development. The project is operated by ExxonMobil subsidiary Esso Exploration Angola (block 15) Ltd....

AWE developing Tui field offshore New Zealand.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Australian WorldWide Exploration Ltd.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Australian Worldwide Exploration (AWE) continues its drilling program for the Tui Area Development by running the surface casing and cementing on the Pateke-3H, Tui 2H, and Tui-3H production wells. The Pateke-3H well was cased and...

OHM charters dedicated survey vessel.(GEOSCIENCES)(Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping Plc., Seatrans)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping Plc. has chartered a dedicated CSEM vessel from Seatrans for five years. The OHM Express is scheduled for a May 2007 launch. OHM's engineering team has been working with Seatrans over the last months to...

Falkland plans 2D assessment, CSEM survey.(GEOSCIENCES)
February 1, 2007... Falkland Oil & Gas expects to begin assessing 10,000 km (6.214 mi) of 2D seismic work, planning a CSEM survey to begin in January, and then beginning a sea bottom coring program in February. Wavefield InSeis was contracted for the 2D...

TGS starts Indonesia surveys.(GEOSCIENCES)
February 1, 2007... TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. ASA has begun acquisition of geoscientific surveys over Indonesia's frontier basis. The survey will cover about 1 million sq km (386,102 sq mi) in 16 sedimentary basins, according to TGS. The studies are scheduled...

Scan Geo Searcher sets company records.(GEOSCIENCES)(Scan Geophysical ASA)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Scan Geophysical ASA's 2D vessel, the M/V Geo Searcher, has set both single day and daily average production records for the company while working offshore Pakistan. The vessel shot 232.5 km (144.4 mi) on Nov. 11, 2006, a record daily...

Rig utilization stands at 100% around the globe: all regions expect shortages in 2007.(TOP 10 DRILLING CONTRACTORS)
February 1, 2007... The offshore rig market experienced a year of highs in 2006, and the trend is not expected to stop in 2007. Rig demand is stronger than ever. Rig owners are struggling to meet customers' demands, and many operators face difficulty meeting their...

Total brings onstream second deepwater hub in Angola's prolific block 17: 240,000 b/d of oil year-end target.(GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS: WEST AFRICA)
February 1, 2007... Late last year, oil started flowing from Total's second production center in Angola's block 17. Dalia, like its forerunner Girassol, is being developed via one of the world's largest FPSO's linked to an extensive network of deepwater subsea...

The other Africa: frontiers off the east and west coast hold promise.(GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS: WEST AFRICA)
February 1, 2007... With industry focus on the established players and the big plays offshore West Africa, much of the region's nascent activity has been overlooked. The new prospects could well be as promising as some of the giants now moving into production, but...

West Africa operations venture into new depths: spending to hit $13 billion by 2010.(GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS: WEST AFRICA)
February 1, 2007... West Africa will lead the world in operations spending, reaching $13 billion by 2010, say Douglas-Westwood analysts. The increasing demand for oil and gas in new areas of the world has brought with it a tremendous upswing in E&P activity that...

Combining expandable sand screens with propped hydraulic fracturing technology: challenges, successes, best practices.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
February 1, 2007... Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and Halliburton Energy Services applied a combination of expandable sand screens (ESS) and hydraulic fracturing during the completion of two wells in the Egret field, Brunei. The result was effective sand control...

Challenges to drilling subsea, high-angle HP/HT wells: three drilling fluid systems applied in Kristin field development.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
February 1, 2007... Statoil confronted challenges in drilling subsea, high angle HP/HT wells in the Kristin field offshore Norway. The challenges included equivalent circulating density (ECD) management, hole stability, formation damage, weight material sag, and...

Managing deepwater intervention vessels offshore Angola can save costs: cooperation among operators holds key.(PRODUCTION)
February 1, 2007... The scarcity of intervention vessels continues to drive up day rates, adding significant costs to field operations offshore Angola. An analysis of the future demands for vessels in deepwater off Angola shows where operating expenses could be...

Subsea well intervention expected to grow.(PRODUCTION)(TSMarine)
February 1, 2007... The recent combination of higher oil prices and the large number of newbuild subsea support vessels entering the marketplace is a catalyst for growth in the rigless well intervention market. The subsea well intervention market is being driven,...

Raw water injection first for Columba E expansion scheme: lower cost, better delivery.(SUBSEA)
February 1, 2007... The world's first subsea raw seawater injection system will enter service soon in the UK northern North Sea. CNR International opted for a seabed pumping station as the waterflood solution for its Columba E field. The alternative, injecting...

Polyester ropes can meet design criteria to extend MODU mooring capability: pre-installed system cuts operating expenses.(CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION)
February 1, 2007... In the mid 1990s, Shell (US) was challenged to drill prospects in water depths nearly twice the water depth ratings of the rigs under contract. At the same time, the need to eliminate the risk of drive-off or drift-off, and the ability to...

Increasing demand for natural gas, amended legislation drive US LNG port applications: 15 issued to date, 5 approved.(TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS)
February 1, 2007... With demand for natural gas forecast to outpace supply through 2020, regulatory legislation has been modified to allow the construction of deepwater ports to facilitate LNG imports for domestic consumption. LNG imports to the US will...

US export control laws: what you don't know and some of the things you need to know.(TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS)
February 1, 2007... A relatively small percentage of US businesses are aware of the extensive and very serious laws and regulations that apply to exports from the US. These laws and regulations apply to items leaving the US regardless of destination country or...

Seafloor seismic acquisition coming of age: new development expands applications.(GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS)(Ocean-bottom cable)
February 1, 2007... Ocean-bottom cable (OBC) seismic data acquisition is coming of age rapidly. Two things in particular are feeding this maturation. One is the interest in the advantage of wide-azimuth/rich azimuth surveys, and the other is the interest in...

New tools and technology for the offshore industry: polymer can have advantages over steel in deviated wells.(New tools and technology)
February 1, 2007... The offshore market is becoming increasingly aware of the benefits that polymer products offer in some instances, says Serena Arif, director of PolyOil. "The primary benefit is in terms of significant friction reduction (found to be a...

Flotation Technologies develops new buoyancy module.(EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING)
February 1, 2007... Flotation Technologies Inc. has developed a new buoyancy module for Cameron to use on Chevron's Tahiti field. The Straked Buoyancy Module provides vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) suppression strakes as part of the module and an inter-module...

Bardex delivers deepwater mooring system.(EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Bardex Corp. has delivered a linear chain jack mooring system for a floating production facility designed for 1,300 m (4,625 ft) of water and installed offshore East Malaysia. The mooring system consists of 10 linear chain jack assemblies...

Askco develops offshore solids monitoring instrument.(EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING)(Askco Instrument Worldwide Solutions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Askco Instrument Worldwide Solutions has developed an instrument, Sandbox, which monitors solids during offshore operations by using direct, online filtration techniques. The unit provides a well flowline monitoring program that samples...

FMC Technologies Inc.(People)
February 1, 2007... FMC Technologies Inc. has made three executive appointments effective Jan.1, 2007. John Gremp has been appointed executive VE with worldwide responsibility for FMC Technologies' Energy Systems businesses. Robert Potter and Tore Halvorsen have...

Canadian Superior Energy Inc.(People)
February 1, 2007... Exploration Manager Ed Chau of Canadian Superior Energy Inc. has assumed responsibility for all of Canadian Superior's exploration and development programs. Chau will be taking over former VP of exploration Mel Marshall's duties and...

James Pappas.(People)(James Pappas selected as 2007 Houston Area Engineer of the Year)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Representatives of various Houston engineering organizations have selected James Pappas, P.E. as the 2007 Houston Area Engineer of the Year. The selection of Pappas is a result of his record of service to his profession, contributions to...

Hughes Inc.(People)
February 1, 2007... Hughes Inc. has appointed Didier Charreton VP of human resources. Charreton is expected to assume his duties by March 1, 2007. He replaces Greg Nakanishi, who is retired effective Jan. 2, 2007.

Wood Group ESP.(People)
February 1, 2007... Wood Group ESP has appointed Frank Claborn as region manager, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Claborn will manage operations for the company's electric submersible pumping systems products and services.

Rowan Companies Inc.(People)
February 1, 2007... Rowan Companies Inc. has made the following management title changes, effective Jan. 1, 2007. John Buvens is now executive VP, legal. Mark Keller is executive VP, business development. David Russell is executive VP, drilling operations. William...

Sub-Atlantic Ltd.(People)
February 1, 2007... Sub-Atlantic Ltd. has appointed John Ferguson as production manager to coordinate the manufacturing of the company's full product range.

Weatherford International Ltd.(People)
February 1, 2007... Weatherford International Ltd. has appointed E. Lee Colley as COO. In the newly created post, Colley will be responsible for the company's global operations.

PSL Energy Services Ltd.(People)
February 1, 2007... PSL Energy Services Ltd. has appointed Charlie Topp as regional manager for the Middle East. Topp will lead the company's strategic growth in the Middle East and oversee a number of business opportunities that PSL is pursuing in the region.

Clough Ltd.(People)
February 1, 2007... David Singleton, managing director and CEO of Clough Ltd., has resigned effective immediately and John Cooper has been appointed the new CEO.

Braemar Seascope Group Plc.(People)(appoints Quentin Soanes, Denis Petropoulos)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Braemar Seascope Group Plc. has appointed Quentin Soanes and Denis Petropoulos as executive directors. Petropoulos is responsible for Braemar's tanker chartering activities, encompassing deep-sea crude and clean product, gas, chemicals, and...

Advantica.(People)
February 1, 2007... Advantica has appointed Paul Shrieve executive director, UK and Europe. Shrieve's role will include business development, sales, and project delivery. He will be based at both Advantica's Aberdeen office and Loughborough headquarters.

Total.(People)
February 1, 2007... Philippe Boisseau was appointed president of Total's gas and power business. He succeeds Yves-Louis Darricarrere, who has been appointed president of exploration and production. Ladislas Paszkiewicz will succeed Boisseau as president, Middle...

Pride International Inc.(People)
February 1, 2007... Pride International Inc. has appointed Jeffrey Chastain to the position of VP, investor relations.

BP.(People)
February 1, 2007... Tony Hayward, currently BP's head of exploration and production, will succeed Lord John Browne following his retirement as group chief executive.

3i has agreed on the buyout of Dockwise Transport N.V., the Dutch heavy transportation company based in Breda, the Netherlands, from Heerema Group and Norwegian maritime Wilhelmsen Group.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... 3i has agreed on the buyout of Dockwise Transport N.V., the Dutch heavy transportation company based in Breda, the Netherlands, from Heerema Group and Norwegian maritime Wilhelmsen Group. The deal is valued at over $700 million.

AGR EmiTeam AS, part of the Norway-based AGR oil technology and services group, has acquired Safe Control NDT AB of Sweden in a deal worth $785,000.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... AGR EmiTeam AS, part of the Norway-based AGR oil technology and services group, has acquired Safe Control NDT AB of Sweden in a deal worth $785,000. Safe Control was 100% owned by Lars Carlsson, chief executive. Carlsson will remain with the...

Weatherford International Ltd.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... Weatherford International Ltd. is merging its evaluation, drilling, and intervention division with its completion and production systems division to form one operating group. The merger will facilitate the company's growth plans over the next...

A private equity, syndicate comprising Candover, 3i, and JPMorgan Partners have sold Vetco Gray to GE's Oil & Gas division for $1.9 billion on a debt-free, cash-free basis.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... A private equity, syndicate comprising Candover, 3i, and JPMorgan Partners have sold Vetco Gray to GE's Oil & Gas division for $1.9 billion on a debt-free, cash-free basis. Completion of the deal is expected in February 2007. The sale of Vetco...

Atkins has acquired Boreas Consultants Ltd. for $7.4 million.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... Atkins has acquired Boreas Consultants Ltd. for $7.4 million. Boreas specializes in subsea engineering of oil and gas facilities from offices in Aberdeen, Cranfield, Newcastle. and Weybridge. "Boreas has an outstanding reputation in subsea...

Fairwinds International.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... Fairwinds International has assumed all responsibility for the current US-based projects for Pheco. Fairwinds hired the key project staff effective Oct. 4, 2006.

AGR Group has agreed to acquire Upstream Petroleum Pty Ltd., the Australian-based provider of development and production services to the upstream oil and gas industry, for $66.4 million.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... AGR Group has agreed to acquire Upstream Petroleum Pty Ltd., the Australian-based provider of development and production services to the upstream oil and gas industry, for $66.4 million. Upstream will continue to operate under its own name,...

Aker Kvaerner has signed a letter of intent with Aker Floating Production to deliver a complete subsea production system for a customer in India.(Companies)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Aker Kvaerner has signed a letter of intent with Aker Floating Production to deliver a complete subsea production system for a customer in India. Aker Kvaerner also will deliver the marine installation equipment for the FPSO to be leased out by...

Atlantia Offshore Ltd. has awarded Aker Kvaerner a contract to install a semisubmersible floating production unit for the Thunder Hawk development in the Gulf of Mexico.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... Atlantia Offshore Ltd. has awarded Aker Kvaerner a contract to install a semisubmersible floating production unit for the Thunder Hawk development in the Gulf of Mexico. Atlantia will be the client and owner of the FPU, and Murphy Exploration...

Norway's Roxar AS and Nigeria's Sonar Ltd. have formed a joint venture to meet the increasing demands in Nigeria and West Africa for reservoir management and optimization solutions.(Companies)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Norway's Roxar AS and Nigeria's Sonar Ltd. have formed a joint venture to meet the increasing demands in Nigeria and West Africa for reservoir management and optimization solutions. The JV will be called Roxar-SONAR. Under the terms of the...

WellDynamics Inc. has acquired Halliburton's reservoir performance monitoring business.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... WellDynamics Inc. has acquired Halliburton's reservoir performance monitoring business. The RPM business consists of fiber optic systems, capillary tubing systems. and electronic systems. The acquisition is expected to expand WellDynamics...

SeaBird Exploration Ltd. has agreed to purchase GeoBird Management Middle East FZ Llc. for $2 million.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... SeaBird Exploration Ltd. has agreed to purchase GeoBird Management Middle East FZ Llc. for $2 million. GeoBird has conducted marine operations of the SeaBird vessels since 2003. The acquisition is effective immediately. Jan Eivind Fondal has...

ExxonMobil has signed a long-term contract with Seadrill Ltd. for the ultra deepwater drillship West Polaris to carry out international exploration activities.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... ExxonMobil has signed a long-term contract with Seadrill Ltd. for the ultra deepwater drillship West Polaris to carry out international exploration activities. The contract has a firm duration of three years, with an estimated value of $570...

A Chevron Corp. subsidiary has awarded Transocean Inc. a three-year contract for the semisubmersible Transocean Richardson to carry out exploration and appraisal drilling in Chevron areas that could include southern Africa.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... A Chevron Corp. subsidiary has awarded Transocean Inc. a three-year contract for the semisubmersible Transocean Richardson to carry out exploration and appraisal drilling in Chevron areas that could include southern Africa. The three-year...

InterMoor Inc.(Companies)(expands its facility)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... InterMoor Inc. is building a new 22-acre facility and expanding its services at Port Fourchon, Louisiana. The new facility will include more than 111 m (1,200 ft) of bulkhead waterfront clock space, three heavy-lift cranes, a warehouse, office,...

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. has issued a letter of intent to MODEC Inc. for the charter and operation of an FPSO in Brazil's Campos basin.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. has issued a letter of intent to MODEC Inc. for the charter and operation of an FPSO in Brazil's Campos basin. MODEC says this is the third FPSO for the company to charter and operate for Petrobras. The project includes...

BT has signed a three-year managed services agreement with Methanex.(Companies)
February 1, 2007... BT has signed a three-year managed services agreement with Methanex. As part of the agreement, valued at $2.3 million. BT will provide and manage an integrated portfolio of the following services: BT Infonet IP VPN Secure (IVS), IP VPN Internet...