Offshore articles from March 2006

Offshore archives from March 2006

Seismic activity increases.(COMMENT)
March 1, 2006... The growing optimism that permeated the seismic vessel market this time last year continues into 2006, but it is tempered with experience and the lingering memory of the industry's challenges in the late 1990s. That summarizes the findings of...

Global data.(Table)
March 1, 2006... The differences between Brazil and West Africa in terms of dry and wet tree Completions show just how important subsea developments are in the South American country. This is a forward-looking comparison based on all prospects currently...

Trinidad and Venezuela will hold talks on how to divide offshore natural gas fields.(Americas)(Chevron Corp.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Trinidad and Venezuela will hold talks on how to divide offshore natural gas fields that Chevron Corp. seeks to develop. Trinidadian Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Chevron CEO David J. O'Reilly say cooperation between the two nations is...

Petrobras says it has started producing natural gas at its offshore.(Americas)
March 1, 2006... Petrobras says it has started producing natural gas at its offshore, shallow water Peroa field in the Espirito Santo basin, and the first of three wells there, 3-ESS-89A, was expected to reach its project capacity of over 1 MMcm/d of gas by the...

Kosmos Energy has entered into agreements with West Africa Drilling NV and Aban Singapore Pte. Ltd.(Africa)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Kosmos Energy has entered into agreements with West Africa Drilling NV and Aban Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Aban) to acquire drilling services from the drillship Peregrine III. Aban will upgrade the dynamically positioned drillship in a Singapore...

Norway's Hydro has been awarded an E&P license.(Africa)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Norway's Hydro has been awarded an E&P license for areas 2 and 5 in the Rovuma basin offshore Mozambique. Water depths in the license area range from shallow to over 2,000 m. Hydro will operate the concession, which extends over 14,500...

FirstAfrica Oil Plc has completed the East Orovinyare4 (EOV-4) appraisal/development well offshore Gabon.(Africa)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... FirstAfrica Oil Plc has completed the East Orovinyare4 (EOV-4) appraisal/development well offshore Gabon. Using the jackup rig Adriatic IX, an oil column of 165 ft (128 ft forecast) was encountered. EOV-4 has been temporarily suspended with...

Toreador Resources Corp. and its partners, Stratic Energy Corp. and Turkey's state-run TPAO.(Middle East)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Toreador Resources Corp. and its partners, Stratic Energy Corp. and Turkey's state-run TPAO, have scored success with their Dogu Ayazli-1 exploratory well in the Black Sea. Testing of the well has confirmed the presence of commercial...

Petrobras has won exploration rights two offshore blocks in the Turkish sector of the Black Sea.(Middle East)(Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. won rights with TPAO)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Petrobras has won exploration rights for two offshore blocks in the Turkish sector of the Black Sea, jointly with TPAO. The two companies will have equal stakes in the Kirklarelli and Sinop deepwater blocks with good geological prospects,...

The Indonesian government is expected to invite bids this month for 27 oil and gas blocks.(Asia-Pacific)(Iin Arifin Takhyan)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The Indonesian government is expected to invite bids this month for 27 oil and gas blocks, 17 of which would be negotiated on a direct offer scheme and the rest through regular tenders, says the Energy Ministry's Director General of oil and...

Korean National Oil Corp.(Asia-Pacific)(explores natural gas deposit)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Korean National Oil Corp. has discovered an economically viable natural gas deposit in the East Sea. The Donghae 6-1 sector deposit is estimated to hold 10 bcf of high-quality LNG. The drilling site is 75 km southeast of Ulsan and was...

CNOOC Ltd.(Asia-Pacific)(China National Offshore Oil Corp. in contract with Devon Energy Corp.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... CNOOC Ltd.'s parent company, China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), has signed a production sharing contract with Devon Energy Corp. for block 11/34 in the South Yellow Sea. Block 11/34 covers a total area of approximately 10,840 sq km...

Statoil set for steep gas growth.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)
March 1, 2006... Last year was a record-breaker for Statoil in terms of production and field activity, according to CEO Helge Lund. The company's global output rose to 1.2 MMboe/d, due in large part to start-up of fields offshore Angola and Azerbaijan. In...

Gaz de France unfurls four fields.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)
March 1, 2006... Gaz de France has achieved the unusual feat of bringing four gas fields onstream at the same time, doubling its production capacity in The Netherlands. The $358-million project, which also took in reserves in block K2, involved construction of...

Marathon steps in at Seven Heads.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Marathon Oil Co.)(Ramco Energy PLC)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Ramco Energy's troubles with the Seven Heads gas field off southern Ireland are finally over. Marathon has agreed to take outright control of the project, which had stalled following serious water breakthrough in the wells. The five-well...

MMS damage assessments.(Minerals Management Service)
March 1, 2006... The MMS has been compiling damage reports from last year's hurricanes Katrina and Rita, granting leniency to lessees and operators dealing with economic constraints, and recently, drafting a proposed five-year leasing program for the OCS. ...

Lease extensions.(Minerals Management Service implements lease extensions policy)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The MMS has decided to offer leniency to the Gulf's lessees and operators directly impacted by developing economic constraints. In effect, the agency issued two Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) to help offset these problems and other...

Five-year leasing plan.(GULF OF MEXICO)
March 1, 2006... The MMS has released its draft five-year plan for OCS leasing, which is currently under development. The final draft is expected to be approved in the spring of 2007. The current five-year program is scheduled to lapse on June 30, 2007 ...

Sub-salt exploration.(GULF OF MEXICO)
March 1, 2006... Kerr-McGee intends to allocate a portion of its $400 million deepwater E&P capital budget for 2006 to search for reserves in sub-salt formations in the GoM. The company estimates that the deeper, older rock in the Miocene and Eocene...

Louisiana OCS revenues.(outer continental shelf, petroleum fields development and coastal infrastructre management )
March 1, 2006... Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita slammed the Gulf Coast last year, Louisiana officials have stepped up their efforts to convince the federal government to amend its OCS revenue-sharing policy. The state's position is that the added revenues...

Consolidation.(GULF OF MEXICO)(Gulfsands Petroleum acguistion of PetroHawk Energy L.L.C.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Houston-based Northstar GOM LLC (formerly Northstar Gulfsands LLC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulfsands Petroleum Plc, continues its GoM expansion program through acquisition of additional assets from Petrohawk Energy Corp. According to...

Tenders for Algeria-Spain subsea pipeline.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Tenders were issued to pre-qualified companies for two contracts on the estimated $762-million subsea section of the Medgaz pipeline running from Algeria to Spain. A total of three tenders have been issued for material supply and installation...

Statoil awards contract for Vigdis expansion.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
March 1, 2006... FMC Technologies has been awarded a $25 million contract to provide subsea systems for Statoil's Vigdis Extension Phase 2 Project in the North Sea. The contract includes subsea trees, a template structure with integrated manifold, topside...

Fugro awarded Brazil contract.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Fugro GEOS Ltd.)(Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Petrobras has awarded a $24.5-million contract to Fugro OceansatPEG SA, a joint venture in which Fugro has an interest of 62%, for a variety of inspection and construction support services in Brazilian waters over a period of two years. The...

Oooguruk field subsea flowline.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Pioneer Natural Resources Co. is beginning the development of the Oooguruk field on the North Slope of Alaska and will build a subsea towline to carry produced liquids onshore. The field is located in the shallow waters of the Beaufort Sea...

Houston--based Deep Marine Technology, Inc. has acquired two new Triton XLS ROVs from Perry Slingsby Systems.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Houston -- based Deep Marine Technology, Inc. has acquired two new Triton XLS ROVs from Perry Slingsby Systems. The two 150-hp ROVs, designated XLS 21 and 22, are rated to 3,000-m water depth. Additional capabilities include 600 m of useable...

Casino subsea field onstream early.(Santos Ltd.'s offshore gas production management)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Production from the Santos-operated Casino gas project, offshore Victoria, has started three years after discovery with the delivery of first commissioning gas to TRUenergy's Iona processing plant near Port Campbell. In 70 m of water, the...

New construction frenzy.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
March 1, 2006... The newbuild construction rage continues across all facets of offshore field development from drilling rigs to construction barges. Thule Drilling ASA exercised an $80 million option with UAE rig construction yard QGM Group LLC for a...

Turbo oil/water separator.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Enviro Voraxial Technology Inc.)
March 1, 2006... According to a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., company, Enviro Voraxial Technology Inc., it has developed a continuous-flow turbo machine that produces a high centrifugal force to separate liquid mixtures. From its origin as an aerospace...

Real-time telemetry.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Grant Prideco)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Grant Prideco has announced the commercial launch of its IntelliServ Network, which the company describes as the industry's first reliable high-speed, real-time drillstring telemetry system. The technology will transform the drillstring...

emgs awarded offshore India seabed logging contract.(GEOSCIENCES)
March 1, 2006... Norway's Electromagnetic Geoservices AS (emgs) has been awarded a contract with India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. (ONGC) for the provision of marine electromagnetic surveys to locate hydrocarbon reservoirs before drilling. emgs says...

Genesis Petroleum reaches seismic agreement.(GEOSCIENCES)
March 1, 2006... Genesis Petroleum Corp. Plc entered into an agreement with one of the world's leading offshore seismic data providers to access offshore 3D seismic data from a data library of approximately 150,000 sq km covering proven hydrocarbon basins...

Open for business in the Caspian: higher oil prices spur E&P investment.(CASPIAN/MIDDLE EAST)
March 1, 2006... After the break-up of the former Soviet Union, the countries in the Caspian Sea region struggled with difficult economic and political transitions. Rebuilding of these economies continues, and contributing to the recovery is the ongoing...

Gas demand driving North field developments.(CASPIAN/MIDDLE EAST)
March 1, 2006... Global gas demand is spurring a series of new developments on Qatar's giant North field. Much of the resulting production will be converted to LNG at the expanding network of process complexes in Ras Laffan Industrial City. The surge in...

LAM/Zhdanov overhaul program lifts production off Turkmenistan.(Petronas Carigali, offshore oil production management)
March 1, 2006... Production activity is heating up off Turkmenistan. In near-shore Block 1, Petronas Carigali is about to start an extended well test via a specially modified jackup platform. In the adjacent Cheleken contract area, Dragon Oil's longtime...

Focused formation fluid sampling method: sample cleans up faster, provides real-time information.
March 1, 2006... A new formation fluid sampling method separates filtrate contamination from the virgin reservoir fluid, and the fluid sample cleans up faster than with the conventional approach. In addition to the new focused sampling method, downhole fluid...

Planned, unplanned subsea interventions prevent production shut-in: avoiding costs and risks of abandoning flowing well in Petronella field.
March 1, 2006... As the number of subsea tiebacks and intervention operations in the UK sector of the North Sea has grown, so has the trend to conduct the intervention operations from fit-for-purpose subsea intervention vessels. The support capabilities of...

InterMoor launches new deepwater installation method: installing subsea structures from anchor-handling vessels saves time, money.(SUBSEA)
March 1, 2006... Installation of equipment in deep waters such as permanent mooring systems and marine trees is typically performed from large construction vessels or drilling rigs. InterMoor Inc., an Acteon company, has devised a subsea installation method...

Blind faith subsea plan finalized.
March 1, 2006... INTEC Engineering has finalized the layout for the subsea portion of the Blind Faith development after nearly two years of conducting feasibility studies, conceptual engineering and front-end design work. Currently, the company is...

Overcoming difficult thermal challenges in deeper waters.(petroleum pipelines and transportation management)
March 1, 2006... Oil and gas subsea field developments in deeper waters face various technical challenges as a result of the more hostile environmental conditions. Overcoming these challenges requires a combination of careful and innovative design, and...

Seismic vessel market continues upward swing: vessel demand spurs record backlogs.
March 1, 2006... The growing optimism that permeated the seismic vessel market this time last year continues into 2006, but it is tempered with experience and the lingering memory of the industry's challenges in the late 1990s. The fleet reductions that were so...

Worldwide seismic vessel survey.(Table)
March 1, 2006... Worldwide Seismic Vessel Survey Year Vessel rigged or Total Total name converted length beam BGP/Noreen Shipping Ltd., Norway * ...

Vertical receiver arrays come of age: WesternGeco's Over/Under technique extends bandwidth, improves signal-to-noise.(WesternGeco Inc. gets intouch with bandwidth technology )
March 1, 2006... As exploration activities are driving operators to deeper waters and deeper reservoirs, a number of technical challenges must be circumvented. The seismic acquisition arena is not immune to these technical challenges, particularly as operators...

4D seismic provides quantitative data: time-lapse seismic technique guides field management.(GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS)
March 1, 2006... Applied widely in Europe and now gaining recognition in other oil and gas producing areas of the world, 4D (time lapse) seismic technology has for several years been recognized for qualitative information. That changes exist in the seismic...

4D seismic provides quantitative data: time-lapse seismic technique guides field management. locations and drill fluid composition.(DRILLING FLUID MIXING)
March 1, 2006... Submersible agitators from ITT Flygt are to be installed on six drilling rigs under construction for Maersk Contractors (four semi-submersibles and two jackups). In volume terms the order is one of ITT Flygt's largest for the offshore sector,...

Low-nickel duplex grade improves yield strength and corrosion resistance.(Outokumpu Oyj launches lean duplex stainless steel)
March 1, 2006... Anew lean duplex stainless steel, known as LDX 2101, offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional duplex and super martensitic steels in applications requiring high mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. First deliveries to...

Shackle simplifies mooring connections on Volve turret.(MOORING CHAIN & ACCESSORIES)
March 1, 2006... Anchor chain manufacturer Ramnas has developed a shackle for joining chain to steel wire that simplifies mooring line installation. First use of the new RAM-plate shackle will be on Statoil's Volve development in the Norwegian North Sea. ...

Real-time drill-bit monitoring promises major cost savings.(DRILLPATH ANALYSIS)
March 1, 2006... Locating the position of the drill-bit in real time is a new technique from Guideline Oil Drilling Technology. The company aims to complete development of a land-based system this year, before adapting the system for offshore use. ...

Multi-stage water treatment technique enhances online turbine washing.(TURBINE CLEANING)(Gas Turbine Efficiency)
March 1, 2006... Gas Turbine Efficiency (GTE) has expanded its range of turbine cleaning systems with a water purification technique for use with online turbine washing. The first of these new systems will be delivered shortly to an offshore customer as part of...

Wireline duplex grade withstands higher breaking loads.(WIRELINE MATERIALS)(Sandvik AB)
March 1, 2006... Wireline products specialist Sandvik has launched an improved duplex material for use as wireline in wells with corrosive environments. SAF2205SH is a further development of SAF2205, the duplex stainless steel material being applied...

Gas turbine venture identifies niche in booming FPSO sector.(TURBINE ENCLOSURES)(Hedemora)(Petroleos Mexicanos)
March 1, 2006... This month, Hedemora Industriakustik (HIAK) should make its first delivery to the Mexican offshore sector, when its supplies two turbine exhaust silencers for Pemex's Ku Maloop Zaap FPSO. HIAK's client is Kanfa, part of the Sevan Marine...

Chemical-based technique achieves more efficient separation.(ViaTech Systems and SystemSeparation develops oil separation system)
March 1, 2006... Cost-effective separation based on a patented process could offer benefits in offshore applications, according to Viatech Systems' CEO Olev Maehans. The technology has been developed by sister companies Viatech and SystemSeparation. Both...

Steel casting improves all-round strength in offshore components.(HEAVY-DUTY CASTINGS)(Kohlswa Gjuteri)
March 1, 2006... Cast steel specialist Kohlswa Gjuteri is delivering 85 joining and anchor shackles, each unit weighing around 1 ton, to Statoil's Volve development in the North Sea. The shackles have been ordered by Ramnas, and will form part of its...

Networking solutions for Ormen Lange and Snehvit.(COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS)
March 1, 2006... Offshore operators and contractors are taking note of Westermo's connectivity solutions. The company recently signed a multi-year agreement with a leading ship systems designer and builder to supply local network solutions for installation on...

Ear protectors suppress noise while maintaining communication.(UMEC Earfoon)
March 1, 2006... Hearing protection is necessary not only to safeguard health of personnel at work, but also to prevent deterioration in performance. To be effective, the protection method must dampen environmental noise while at the same time allowing the user...

Port Fourchon position for future CoM E&P: facility services more than 75% of all deepwater production and over half the drilling rigs in the Gulf.(Port Fourchon Supplement)
March 1, 2006... Port Fourchon's 1,300 acres are strategically situated at the mouth of Bayou Lafourche ("the fork") in Lafourche Parish, serving as Louisiana's only port located literally on the GoM. The port's history dates all the way back to 1960 with...

LA 1 coalition established to improve highway transport to Port Fourchon.(Louisiana Highway 1)
March 1, 2006... As the only land route linking Port Fourchon in southern Louisiana with the rest of the state, Louisiana Highway 1 (LA 1) performs a number of vital functions. The two-lane highway is a primary transportation route for domestic oil and gas...

Chouest's Port Fourchon 'one-stop shop' designed to reduce turnaround time.(Port Fourchon Supplement)(Edison Chouest Offshore Inc.)(Company overview)
March 1, 2006... The Chouest family of companies, the largest tenant at Port Fourchon, was founded in Galliano, La., in 1960. Chouest's portfolio of services offered from Port Fourchon includes logistics support, staging and storage, tank cleaning, vessel...

Allison Marine serves marshaling niche.(Port Fourchon Supplement)
March 1, 2006... Located on E-Slip at Port Fourchon, the Allison facility is situated on 35 contiguous acres with 1,500 ft of bulkhead for vessel access, fully staffed for 24-hour operations. Allison's niche is marshaling for deepwater oil and gas development...

LOOP designed to offload world's largest tankers; connected to over 50% of US refining capacity.(Port Fourchon Supplement)(Louisiana Offshore Oil Port Inc.)
March 1, 2006... The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) is America's first and only deepwater oil port. The port facility is located in the GoM at the base of Port Fourchon, 18 mi south of Grand Isle, La., in 110 ft of water. LOOP is the only port in the...

North Sea emergency response and rescue services provider Viking Offshore Services has appointed Graeme Wood as their new operations director.(People)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... North Sea emergency response and rescue services provider Viking Offshore Services has appointed Graeme Wood as their new operations director. He succeeds Peter Hingston, who retired in December 2005. Graeme started his career as a marine...

W&T Offshore, Inc.(People)
March 1, 2006... W&T Offshore, Inc. recently announced that S. James Nelson Jr. has joined its board of directors. Nelson will serve as chairman of the company's audit committee. Nelson retired in 2004 from Cal Dive International Inc., where he was a founding...

Flow measurement technology provider McCrometer has expanded its reach in Asia-Pacific with the opening of a new regional office in Perth, Australia and the appointment of David Splatt as regional sales manager.(People)
March 1, 2006... Flow measurement technology provider McCrometer has expanded its reach in Asia-Pacific with the opening of a new regional office in Perth, Australia and the appointment of David Splatt as regional sales manager. Splatt will oversee McCrometer's...

Panasonic Computer Solutions Co.(People)(appoints Victoria A. Obenshain )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. has announced that Victoria A. Obenshain has joined as director of strategic wireless, responsible for further developing and managing the company's global wireless strategy for its line of Panasonic Toughbook...

Varel International.(People)(appoints Ron Mayo)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Varel International has appointed Ron Mayo the company's new Gulf Coast regional manager, working out of Houston. Mayo will be responsible for building and managing the operations and sales team for Mayo Varel's Gulf Coast Region. Mayo, a...

Knowledge System.(People)(appoints Kevin Brady)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Kevin Brady has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing of Knowledge Systems, a software provider that also provides training and consulting services to E&P companies worldwide to help avoid drilling hazards and improve drilling...

Houston-based Intec Engineering.(People)(appoints Bruce Crager )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Bruce Crager has been named CEO of Houston-based Intec Engineering, as of Feb. 14. Crager brings more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He was president of ABB Offshore Systems Inc. and previously senior VP of...

Enventure Global Technology.(People)(appoints Gary Prehoda)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Gary Prehoda joined Enventure Global Technology as its global director of sales. Prehoda will lead a business development team in sales of solid expandable tubular systems. He brings more than 33 years of oil and gas experience in service,...

Baker Hughes Inc. has acquired Nova Technology Corp. of Broussard, La., for approximately $70 million in cash and assumed debt.(Companies)
March 1, 2006... Baker Hughes Inc. has acquired Nova Technology Corp. of Broussard, La., for approximately $70 million in cash and assumed debt. Nova is a supplier of permanent monitoring, chemical injection systems, and multi-line services for deepwater and...

Belmet Marine (Pty) Ltd, a diversified steel fabrication company based in Cape Town, South Africa, has entered into cooperation agreement with the specialized high-pressure steel pipe fabrication and supply company 3CMetal of Pan, France.(Companies)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Belmet Marine (Pty) Ltd, a diversified steel fabrication company based in Cape Town, South Africa, has entered into a cooperation agreement with the specialized high-pressure steel pipe fabrication and supply company 3CMetal of Pan, France. The...

Vetco Gray.(Companies)(celebrates its 100 years anniversary)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Vetco International announced that its offshore drilling and subsea systems provider Vetco Gray will celebrate its 100-year anniversary of service to the oil and gas industry in 2006. Vetco Gray has introduced innovations such as metal-to-metal...

Ferguson Modular has secured a 1-million [pounds sterling] contract to provide Transocean with nine offshore accommodation modules for the deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig the Sedco 709.(Companies)
March 1, 2006... Ferguson Modular has secured a 1-million [pounds sterling] contract to provide Transocean with nine offshore accommodation modules for the deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig the Sedco 709. The modules will be manufactured and commissioned...

Offshore Logistics Inc., a provider of helicopter services and production management services to the offshore energy industry, changed its corporate name to Bristow Group Inc.(Companies)
March 1, 2006... Offshore Logistics Inc., a provider of helicopter services and production management services to the offshore energy industry, changed its corporate name to Bristow Group Inc. In conjunction with the corporate name change, the company also has...

Chinese offshore market and the next five-year outlook.(BEYOND THE HORIZON)
March 1, 2006... Currently offshore China is mostly in shallow waters in an area encompassing approximately 1.3 million sq km, including Bohai Bay, East China Sea, and South China Sea. National oil company Cnooc dominates and accelerates China's offshore E&P...