Offshore articles from January 2006

Offshore archives from January 2006

GoM drilling on the rise.(COMMENT)
January 1, 2006... Things are looking up for the Gulf of Mexico in 2006, as several of the articles in our annual GoM Special Report this month indicate. First of all, GoM drilling is expected to increase by 13% this year--reaching a total of 837 wells. Of...

Active rig fleet, December 2005.(GLOBAL DATA)
January 1, 2006... GoM drilling permits issued Drilling permits May 94 June 94 July 71 Aug. 80 Sept. 17 Oct. 84 Nov. 73 Source: US Minerals Management Service...

GoM drilling permits issued.(GLOBAL DATA)
January 1, 2006... GoM drilling permits issued Drilling permits May 94 June 94 July 71 Aug. 80 Sept. 17 Oct. 84 Nov. 73 Source: US Minerals Management Service...

Global data.(subsea developments)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... This month, Infield Systems Ltd. looks at the breakdown of producing field developments which include a subsea completed element. Taken from Infield's offshore energy database, which currently tracks over 3,400 producing offshore fields...

Gulf of Mexico day rates.(GLOBAL DATA)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... Gulf of Mexico day rates Month/Year Minimum Average Maximum Drillship Dec 2004 $103,000 $171,267 $205,000 Jan 2005 $105,000 $173,634 $205,000 Feb 2005 $105,000 $176,361 $205,000 Mar 2005 ...

Pioneer Natural Resources Co. says development activities have begun on its South Coast gas project offshore South Africa.(Africa)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Pioneer Natural Resources Co. says development activities have begun on its South Coast gas project offshore South Africa. Pioneer is partnering with PetroSA, the national oil company of South Africa, to jointly develop the South Coast gas...

PA Resources AB has entered into a contract with Diamond Offshore.(Africa)
January 1, 2006... PA Resources AB has entered into a contract with Diamond Offshore to charter the 300-fl jackup drilling rig Ocean Spur for 12 months. The rig is expected to be available in the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, in 1Q 2006 when it will start the...

Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. (BSP) has reported its fifth successive discovery.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. (BSP) has reported its fifth successive discovery in the Seria Shallow Marine North Flank area. BSP is a 50-50 joint venture between the Brunei government and Royal Dutch/Shell. "More than 100 m of net oil...

The Thai government is expected to lease out three petroleum exploration concessions.(Asia-PAcific)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The Thai government is expected to lease out three petroleum exploration concessions in the Gulf of Thailand to Chevron, Total, and PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP). Chevron has won the concession to block G4/48 on August 15, and its...

The lower hull of the mega P-52 floating production unit (FPU), designed to produce 180,000 b/d from the Campos basin field, will leave Singapore.(Americas)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The lower hull of the mega P-52 floating production unit (FPU), designed to produce 180,000 b/d from the Campos basin field, will leave Singapore between mid-January and early February for Brazil. Singapore's Keppel FELS Ltd. built the hull...

Special-purpose company CDC has signed a contract with Petrobras to build the topside of the P-53 FPSO.(Americas)
January 1, 2006... Special-purpose company CDC has signed a contract with Petrobras to build the topside of the P-53 FPSO. The FPSO will produce oil at the Marlim Leste field in the Campos Basin, located 120 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state at a water...

Vulcan Minerals Inc. successfully bid for parcel 7 offshore Western Newfoundland in the recent call for bids.(americas)(Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Vulcan Minerals Inc. successfully bid for parcel 7 offshore Western Newfoundland in the recent call for bids by the Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB). Vulcan submitted a joint bid on a 50/50 basis with a...

Suriname's state oil company Staatsolie has launched its 2006 international bid round for three exploration blocks in the southeast of the country's offshore territory in the Suriname-Guyana Basin, the company said in a statement.(Americas)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Suriname's state oil company Staatsolie has launched its 2006 international bid round for three exploration blocks in the southeast of the country's offshore territory in the Suriname-Guyana Basin, the company said in a statement. The bids are...

Norway gaining momentum.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Norway's latest license awards reflect resurgent international interest in the sector. Twenty-six companies secured interests in 45 production licenses in the North Sea and the Mid-Norwegian Haltenbanken, under the Ministry of Petroleum and...

Venture in SSP alliance.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Venture Production ties with Sevan Marine for Sevan Stabilized Platform)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... One of the hordes of small independents revitalizing the UK shelf, and in the process replenishing the Chancellor's coffers, is Aberdeen-based Venture Production. The company has been in overdrive mode of late. In November, it snapped up the...

Ekofisk still growing.(ConocoPhillips, Statoil expansion)
January 1, 2006... ConocoPhillips' latest expansion of Ekofisk has started up, with five production wells coming onstream. The centrepiece of the Ekofisk Area Growth scheme, initiated in 2003, is a new platform, with 25 further producer wells to be added. At...

Tax threatens UK revival.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)
January 1, 2006... Britain's E&P sector is in good shape--but for how much longer? Rumors of a new windfall tax were borne out when the UK Chancellor reeled off his pre-budget report last month. The main knockout blow was the imposition of a 10% rise in...

Investment interest in GoM E&P increasing.(GULF OF MEXICO)(exploration and planning)
January 1, 2006... The oil and gas industry witnessed a number of corporate-level strategy changes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005. Four foreign-based companies announced strategic plans to expand their interests in the GoM, while two US players opted out of the...

Hurricane-damaged platforms.(GULF OF MEXICO)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Some of the platforms destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita are creating potential obstacles for operators and mariners in the Gulf of Mexico. So far, the US Mineral Management Service has collected locations for 115 of the platforms. ...

Lease Sale 198.(GULF OF MEXICO)(MMS)
January 1, 2006... The MMS has announced a date for its yearly Central Gulf lease sale. The regulatory agency confirms that it is proposing to hold Central Gulf Lease Sale 198 on March 15, 2006. Bidders will be required to submit their bids to the MMS by 10 a.m....

Two contracts for Subsea 7.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
January 1, 2006... ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS has awarded Subsea 7 two North Sea contracts initially valued at $69 million. The first is for work on the Ekofisk 2/4 NIP by-pass project in water depths ranging to 80 m. The contract, worth approximately $32...

New subsea valve.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... A collaborative effort between Weir Valves & Controls UK and Weir Norge has produced a new valve for controlling MEG dosage applications on christmas trees. The first two templates will be used by local EPIC contractor FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS...

Oceaneering gets contracts.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
January 1, 2006... Houston-based Oceaneering International, Inc. has been awarded two recent contracts for their engineering and hardware services. The first contract, from Petrobras America, Inc., went to their division Oceaneering Multiflex for a steel tube...

Subsea processing, boosting.(drilling )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... One of the main drivers of subsea processing and boosting technology is the need to increase oil recovery from deepwater satellite wells, according to Aker Kvaerner. The industry also seeks to boost late-life production in several offshore...

Valkyrie Commissioning Services Inc.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Valkyrie Commissioning Services, Inc. has set a new subseas hydrotesting depth and pressure record by pressurizing a subsea-to-subsea pipeline to 12,563 psig and remotely recording hydrotesting data in 5,715 ft of seawater. Valkyrie's Subsea...

Allseas adding to fleet.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Swiss-based Allseas Group S.A. is adding a fourth pipelay vessel to its fleet with the conversion of the 73,808-dwt-bulk carrier Geeview into the DP pipelay vessel Audacia. On Dec. 6, 2005, ownership of the vessel was officially transferred to...

Rowan builds new design.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Rowan plans to add two new jackups to its offshore fleet based on a new design called the LeTourneau 240C. According to Rowan, each rig will cost approximately $165 million and will be fabricated at the LeTourneau Vicksburg, Mississippi...

EXMAR invests in LNGRV.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
January 1, 2006... Netherlands-based EXMAR confirms it has executed a long-term charter with Woodlands, Texas-based Excelerate Energy LP, for a liquefied natural gas regasification vessel (LNGRV), bringing the total number of ships included in the Excelerate...

MISC Berhad awarded FSO contract.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(fleet support operations contract with Petrofac Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... MISC Berhad (formerly known as Malaysia International Shipping Corp. Berhad) confirms that it has signed a contract with Petrofac (Malaysia-PM304) Ltd. for the provision of an FSO vessel to be deployed 140 km offshore Terengganu, Malaysia. ...

Modular derrick drilling machine.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Transocean)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Offshore drilling contractor Transocean and Aker Kvaerner MH AS (AKMH) have designed what they describe as a radically different derrick drilling machine that provides enhanced safety, efficiency, and drilling uptime. Transocean has contracted...

Moving to ultra-deep.(drilling forecats)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... As the drilling industry moves further into the ultra-deepwater arena and rigs drill deeper and more challenging wells, higher failure rates are occurring for top-drives, as some operator programs today require extensive operating time at the...

Improving performance.(drilling)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Approximately one year ago, Transocean launched an initiative to improve the operational uptime and performance from top-drive and pipe-handling equipment in its fleet. The company's TDS/PHS performance team very quickly realized that in order...

Meeting growing need.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Once tested and proven the MDDM will enable high-specification offshore drilling rigs to meet growing needs to drill more demanding and complex wells while improving safety. To reduce exposure to certain safety incidents, new work platforms...

Deepwater GoM discoveries down fourth straight year: ten successful wells in 2005.(DEEPWATER GULF OF MEXICO)
January 1, 2006... The number of deepwater discoveries in greater than or equal to 1,000 ft of water in the GoM is down for the fourth straight year in a row. According to data compiled by Offshore, 10 discoveries were reported in 2005 as of December 15, down...

US Gulf of Mexico deepwater discoveries and status.(by-products)
January 1, 2006... US Gulf of Mexico deepwater discoveries and status Year of Field name Location discovery Aconcagua Mississippi Canyon 305 ...

Total number of wells in 2006 projected to increase: independents increasing presence in GoM.(GULF OF MEXICO)
January 1, 2006... Look for operators to bounce back in the GoM in 2006 with healthy E&P budgets driven by strong commodity prices in 2005 and delayed drilling plans resulting from the passage of record-breaking hurricanes during the year. According to the...

TODCO carries momentum into 2006 with reactivation of seven cold-stacked rigs; company anticipates 800 new employees by end-2006.(GULF OF MEXICO)
January 1, 2006... TODCO secured contracts for reactivation of seven rigs (six in GoM) in 2005 and expects to reactivate most of its 16 remaining GoM-based cold-stacked rigs (six jackups, 10 inland barges) against term contracts by 4Q 2006. The company...

Indonesian president calls for oil and gas industry rejuvenation; new laws aim to resolve regulatory uncertainty, boost investment.(SPECIAL REPORT: ASIA-PACIFIC)
January 1, 2006... Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has emphasized that his country still needs the oil sector, although the government has been promoting the importance of non-oil/gas sector in developing the national economy. "But there is a...

Horizontal technology optimizes wellbore placement: Shell Nigeria sidetrack in Bonga field hits target precisely.(drilling)
January 1, 2006... During the drilling of the Bonga 10ST 3(sidetrack No. 3) horizontal well in deepwater offshore Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Exploration Co. (Snepco) introduced an at-bit-inclination sensor and agitator tools that allowed the driller to optimally...

Monitoring subsea events and operations, sandface to the host facilities: surveillance system innovations.(surveillance equipment)
January 1, 2006... The industry's new advances in surveillance systems have allowed innovative ways to monitor subsea systems and production operations extending from the sandface to the host facilities. This enables productivity optimization through closed loop...

New drilling process increases rate of penetration, footage per day.(development in drilling)
January 1, 2006... ExxonMobil has developed a new approach to drilling optimization, called the ExxonMobil Fast Drill Process (FDP), that uses real time analysis of the energy consumption of the drilling system to maximize the rate of penetration (ROP)....

Methodology for long horizontal gravel pack wells in Brazilian offshore deepwater.(oil field production)
January 1, 2006... A new methodology for Brazilian offshore deepwater field development provides economic benefits that include heavy-oil fields in ultra-deepwater with 1,000-m to 2,000-m horizontal sections, The method enables openhole gravel packing in long...

Gas demand driving upsurge in Asia-Pacific pipelay; two major offshore projects to begin.(SUBSEA)
January 1, 2006... The Gorgon project, Australia's largest and potentially most complex gas field development, took a big step forward this summer with the award of two major engineering contracts. A joint venture of Technip Oceania and JP Kenny (Perth) was...

Carbon fiber shows potential for deepwater, ultra-deep mooring; testing confirms proof of concept.(usage of carbon fibers)
January 1, 2006... Carbon fiber shows strong potential as a competitive deepwater and ultra-deepwater mooring product to replace steel, but work remains on validating its performance. The main objectives in any study would be to ensure that carbon fiber...

Offshore Asia conference & exhibition 2006 conference program.(calendar)(Calendar)
January 1, 2006... Tuesday, 17 January 2006 17:00-18:30 WELCOME RECEPTION Wednesday, 18 January 2006 07:15-08:30 CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 08:30-09:45 OPENING PLENARY SESSION WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Eldon Ball--Petroleum Conferences...

Seafloor seismic growing in popularity.(technology application)
January 1, 2006... The implementation of seafloor seismic techniques for subsurface imaging continues to grow in popularity, as E&P companies look to recover reserves from areas that present challenges in terms of accessibility or from reservoirs that are...

New tools and technology for the offshore industry: Aspen Aerogels offers innovative insulation solution for offshore production.(New tools and technology)
January 1, 2006... Aspen Aerogels, a supplier of nanotechnology-enabled aerogels for insulating applications, has been making inroads into the offshore oil and gas sector. As offshore wellheads are placed farther away from production platforms and transportation...

Gulfport Energy Corp.(appoints James D. (Jim) Palm)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Independent Oil and Gas E&P company Gulfport Energy Corp. has appointed James D. (Jim) Palm their new chief executive officer. Palm comes to Gulfport after 30 years in Palm various management roles at Gulf Oil, Ricks Exploration Co., and...

Baker Atlas.(hires William P. "Wil" Faubel)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Baker Hughes has made a number of organizational changes effective Jan. 1, 2006. William P. "Wil" Faubel will be appointed president of Baker Atlas, succeeding David H. Barr who was acting as interim president of Baker Atlas since August 2005....

EnPro Industries.(People)
January 1, 2006... Milt Childress has been named vice president, Strategic Planning and Business Development, for EnPro Industries. In this role, Childress will be responsible for acquisition initiatives, strategic planning processes, and other business...

Subsea 7.(hires Allen L. Stevens)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Subsea 7 has appointed Allen L. Stevens a director of the company. Stevens, a graduate of the University of Michigan and Harvard Law and Business schools, brings to this role many years experience in shipping, finance, and management. He has...

Heerema Marine Contractors.(hires John B. Reed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Heerema Marine Contractors has reported that John B. Reed will re-join the company as chief executive officer. Reed will replace Hein Mulder, who is retiring in the first half of 2006. Reed started with the Heerema Group in 1981, and has held...

Fugro.(charter agreement with E. Forland Shipowners)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Fugro has signed a long-term charter agreement with E. Forland Shipowners for a new-build 3-D seismic vessel that will be complete by mid 2007. The vessel, known as the Geo Celtic, will contain all Fugro-owned seismic equipment, and will have a...

Chevron North Sea Ltd. has awarded a five-year contract to Bristow Helicopters Ltd. for helicopter services in the North Sea and West of Shetland.(Companies)
January 1, 2006... Chevron North Sea Ltd. has awarded a five-year contract to Bristow Helicopters Ltd. for helicopter services in the North Sea and West of Shetland. The contract starts in January 2006 with extension options. As part of the contract award,...

Atwood Oceanics, Inc.(gets contract from Toreador Turkey Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Houston-based Atwood Oceanics, Inc. has secured a contract from Toreador Turkey Ltd. To drill three wells off the coast of Turkey. The drilling rig Atwood Southern Cross will be used at a dayrate for all wells of $125.000. Toreador will provide...

Engineering consulting company EDG has tapped software developer Viasys Limited to help manage procurement projects through its Material Advantage software.(Companies)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Engineering consulting company EDG has tapped software developer Viasys Limited to help manage procurement projects through its Material Advantage software. EDG provides project management and engineering consulting services to the upstream and...

Cooper Cameron Corp. has acquired nearly all of the businesses in the Flow Control segment of Dresser, Inc.(Companies)
January 1, 2006... Cooper Cameron Corp. has acquired nearly all of the businesses in the Flow Control segment of Dresser, Inc. The closing of the Brazilian portion of the business is awaiting Brazilian regulatory confirmation of transfer of operating permits, and...

Saipem.(deals with Esso Exploration Angola (Block15) Ltd. and Pemex)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Esso Exploration Angola (Block15) Ltd. has awarded Saipem a lump sum turnkey contract for the Marimba field development in Block 15, approximately 150 km west of Soyo, offshore Angola. The field will tie back to the existing facilities at...

Petrofac.(in contract with CNR International Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Aberdeen-based oil and gas service operator Petrofac has received a Letter of Intent from CNR International Ltd. to provide suppoer services for four fixed installations in the UK Continental Shelf comprising the Ninian and Murchison fields....

Blue Sky Network.(providing services for ExxonMobil Global Services Co.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Blue Sky Network has been chosen to provide global satellite logistics to ExxonMobil Global Services Co. for operations in remote locations without an existing communications infrastructure. Blue Sky Network will provide all aspects of...

Oil and gas security question.(BEYOND THE HORIZON)
January 1, 2006... Analysts have not recognized the devastation a terrorist threat on the world oil supply could cause during this current environmental climate. While natural disasters are unavoidable, other threats are not, and it is time for the industry to...