Offshore articles from November 2004

Offshore archives from November 2004

CoilTAC[TM] eliminates blockage guesswork.(Unplugged: extended reach coiled tubing capabilities)
November 1, 2004... Previous technologies to remove pipeline blockages required cutting the line, sometimes more than once, to clean intervals less than 5,000'. Superior Energy Services takes the guesswork out of pipeline intervention with the CoilTAC extended...

Growth ahead for marine construction.(Comment)(forecasts and trends)
November 1, 2004... The future looks bright for the offshore engineering and construction segment. That's the message I got from Daniel Valot, CEO of Technip, at an E&C forum in Houston recently. In both his remarks to the forum and his conversation with me...

Noble Energy Inc. subsidiary Noble Energy EG Ltd. has acquired an interest in a production-sharing contract (PSC) with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea covering block I offshore Bioko Island.(Africa)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Noble Energy Inc. subsidiary Noble Energy EG Ltd. has acquired an interest in a production-sharing contract (PSC) with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea covering block I offshore Bioko Island. The Ministry of Mines, Industry, and Energy...

Total has found oil on its ultra-deep Mer Tres Profonde Sud (MTPS) block 200 km southwest.(Africa)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Total has found oil on its ultra-deep Mer Tres Profonde Sud (MTPS) block 200 km southwest of Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, in nearly 2,000 m of water. Discovery well Pegase Nord Marine 1 reached a TD of 3,622 m and tested at a flow rate...

Greenland's most recent licensing round closed Oct. 1 with the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum.(Americas)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Greenland's most recent licensing round closed Oct. 1 with the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum receiving one complete application. The licensing round covered four areas between 62[degrees] N and 69[degrees] N offshore West Greenland. The...

OAO Gazprom, OAO NK Rosneft, and Statoil ASA have signed a memorandum of understanding for six months.(Europe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... OAO Gazprom, OAO NK Rosneft, and Statoil ASA have signed a memorandum of understanding for six months of joint studies on a number of projects. The projects include phase one of the Shtokmanovskoye gas condensate field (SGCF), including...

ConocoPhillips has also formed a Russian partnership.(Europe)(ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ConocoPhillips has also formed a Russian partnership. Conoco and Lukoil agreed to form a broad-based strategic alliance in which ConocoPhillips will become a strategic equity investor in Lukoil. The two companies also announced the creation of...

Offshore West Africa 2005 expands.(Global E&P)(conferences)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... This year's Offshore West Africa Conference for the first time encompasses all of Africa, including the emerging exploration areas on the continent's east coast. Operators, including Total, Shell, ChevronTexaco, and Petrobras will...

BG Group and its partners in the Rosetta Concession offshore Egypt have reached agreement with Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. (EGAS) to increase Rosetta's production to 345 MMcf/d.(Mediterranean)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BG Group and its partners in the Rosetta Concession offshore Egypt have reached agreement with Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. (EGAS) to increase Rosetta's production to 345 MMcf/d. This represents a 77...

North Korea is getting into the oil and gas game.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... North Korea is getting into the oil and gas game. Aminex Plc. of the UK recently signed a 20-yr agreement to develop North Korea's petroleum industry. Aminex, which will initially provide technical assistance, has limited financial...

PetroVietnam opened Vietnam's 2004 licensing round Oct. 1.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PetroVietnam opened Vietnam's 2004 licensing round Oct. 1. The licensing round covers 9 blocks in the Phu Khanh basin offshore central Vietnam with an average of 7,000 sq km/block. Recently, PetroVietnam carried out a seismic program to...

Late September saw the official sanction for the third and final stage in developing the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli.(Central Asia)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Late September saw the official sanction for the third and final stage in developing the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil field in the Caspian Sea. The ACG production-sharing agreement was the first of its kind to be concluded between...

While ACG moves into production, Maersk Oil could begin drilling in the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian.(Central Asia)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... While ACG moves into production, Maersk Oil could begin drilling in the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian. Caspian Drilling Co. reportedly won a tender to drill an exploration well in the Turkmenistan sector of the sea. Drilling could begin in...

According to KazMunaiGaz, the company signed a cooperation agreement with the Korean Consortium for the Caspian Oil Project.(Central Asia)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... According to KazMunaiGaz, the company signed a cooperation agreement with the Korean Consortium for the Caspian Oil Project. The Zhambyl block in the northwestern part of Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea has been determined as a new...

Total began production on the third phase of development on the Al Khalij oil field.(Middle East)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Total began production on the third phase of development on the Al Khalij oil field, offshore Qatar. Total will produce an extra 20,000 b/d with the AI Khalij North development start-up and finalization of the drilling phase in January...

Adding production in Bohai Bay.(Global E&P)(China Offshore Oil Bohai Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... China Offshore Oil Bohai Corp. brought the CFD 11 field in Bohai Bay, China, onstream ahead of schedule in 3Q 2004. Oil was exported via the APL SYS (single anchor loading yoke) system to the FPSO Hal Yahg Shi You 112. The Kerr-McGee...

Majors, newcomers get 97 UK licenses.(Offshore Europe)(Endeavour)(Century Exploration)
November 1, 2004... Britain's Energy Ministry has issued 97 offshore permits covering 163 blocks under the UK's 22nd licensing round. The UK awarded 58 companies, including 15 newcomers, all of which were granted Promote licenses that provide a two-year window for...

Small projects gaining momentum.(Offshore Europe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Another report from Wood Mackenze has identified 35 new UK field developments likely to be sanctioned over the next three years. Combined yields from these projects, covering 42 separate offshore accumulations, are estimated at 1 Bboe, or 10%...

Gas imports on the rise.(Offshore Europe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... As gas production from UKCS fields continues to slide, rising demand from the mainland could lead to Britain becoming a net importer next year, according to a new study from the University of Aberdeen. By 2010, the authors say, imports could be...

Russia/Norway review cooperation.(Offshore Europe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Russia is expected to issue new proposals for joint oil and gas activity in the disputed zone of the Barents Sea adjoining Norwegian waters. According to Norwegian consultant Johann Petter Barlindhaug, "Norway says it needs strict border...

GoM platforms damaged, lost.(Gulf Of Mexico, Hurricane Ivan)
November 1, 2004... In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, Gulf of Mexico operators have indicated that it could be weeks or months before production returns to pre-hurricane levels. Hurricane Ivan barreled through the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 15 bringing with it...

Total awards Rosa field subsea contracts.(Subsea/Surface Systems)(Total Petroleum Inc., FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Total has awarded contracts to FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS, a unit of FMC Technologies, Inc., to supply subsea systems for the Rosa project offshore Angola. The total value of the contracts is approximately $120 million. The contracts include...

Petrobras, Statoil award subsea processing studies.(Subsea/Surface Systems)(Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., FMC Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Two national oil companies have contracted FMC Technologies to perform studies to advance subsea separation and processing technologies under development. FMC designed the two studies--sponsored by Petrobras and Statoil--to demonstrate the...

Pemex commissions Lobina pipeline project.(Subsea/Surface Systems)(Pemex Exploration and Production's contract with Global Offshore Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Pemex Exploration and Production has issued a letter of intent to Global Offshore Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., a unit of Global Industries Ltd., for installation of four pipelines totaling 50 km as part of the Lobina project in Mexico's Bay of...

Bollinger builds new supply boat.(Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades)(Bollinger Shipyards Inc., M/V Cheramie Botruc 38 , Cheramie Botruc 39)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Bollinger Shipyards Inc. has delivered two newly designed offshore supply vessels to L & M Bo-Truc Rental Inc. Bollinger delivered the M/V Cheramie Botruc 38 early this summer, and the second vessel, Cheramie Botruc 39, in late September,...

Topsides move offshore.(Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades)(South Venture)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The South Venture topsides is the largest offshore component ever built in Nova Scotia. Exxon Mobil Corp., operator of the Sable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP), commissioned the Halifax Shipyard to build the structure in late 2002. Construction...

New semi undergoes testing.(Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades)(GlobalSantaFe Corp.'s GSF Development Driller I )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... GlobalSantaFe designed the GSF Development Driller I to meet deepwater drilling challenges, and it is optimized for development drilling and subsea completion projects. Its design includes 18,000 sq ft of useable deck space and more than 7,000...

ABS releases new guide.(Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades)(American Bureau of Shipping)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The American Bureau of Shipping recently released its "Guide for the Buckling and Ultimate Strength Assessment of Offshore Structures," for achieving optimum levels of structural security and safety for offshore structures. ABS can now...

Aries expands fleet.(Vessels, Rigs, Upgrades)(Aries Marine Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Aries Marine Corp. of Lafayette, Louisiana, is adding a deepwater platform supply vessel (PSV) to its supply boat division. The company has placed an order for a newbuild PSV to complement its existing fleet of offshore supply vessels. Aries...

Drill bits no longer the weak link.(Drilling & Production)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... There's some good news in the drilling industry relating to making hole. Drill bits are no longer the weak link in the drilling process. Higher hydraulics, rotary speed, torque, and weight on bit (WOB) are now the limiting factors, even though...

PDC bit rental.(Drilling & Production)(usage, technology)
November 1, 2004... The accompanying charts track the average bit performance as related to the life of the product. Looking back at diamond bit usage indicates that in the 1980s PDC bits were a smaller part of the diamond business than natural diamonds. However,...

New exploration.(Geosciences)(oil fields)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The new exploration is exploitation. While the proportion of E&P capex has remained at around 15% of most companies' budgets, a larger proportion of the available money has been supporting production activities. Most reservoirs leave from...

Full-wave, fiber-optic JIP.(Geosciences)(QinetiQ Ltd. and Input/Output Inc.'s joint industry project)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... QinetiQ and Input/Output have begun a joint industry project (JIP) to develop and deploy the world's first fiber optic seabed seismic acquisition system to acquire full-wave seismic data from the seabed. The JIP is cosponsored and funded by BP,...

Communications.(Technology)(Schlumberger Information Solutions's expanded IPerformer and IPresence services)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) has expanded its satellite services offerings with IPerformer and IPresence services for Internet Protocol over Very Small Aperture Terminal (IPoVSAT). IPerformer offers a dedicated, flexible network...

Cross-software environment.(Technology)(Engineering Simulation and Scientific Software and CEI's new Cyclops)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ESSS and CEI have released Cyclops, software for integrating, manipulating, and visualizing geology and reservoir engineering data sets in a single environment. ESSS (Engineering Simulation and Scientific Software), a Brazilian company,...

Namibia.(Exploration)(4th Namibian Licensing Round)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Veritas recently hosted seminars in Houston for the 4th Namibian Licensing Round. Some 25 companies attended to hear presentations on this under-explored area. The seminars were attended by the Hon. Nickey Iyambo, Namibian Minister for Mines &...

New Zealand taxes.(gas exploration)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... As part of a package of measures to boost gas exploration in New Zealand over the next five years, the government announced that it would legislate to remove a tax obstacle by temporarily lifting the "183-day rule" for offshore rig operators....

Thailand to see continued development: Unocal to invest $4 billion in the next seven years.(Southeast Asia)
November 1, 2004... Unocal and its co-concessionaires expect to spend $4 billion in the Gulf of Thailand over the next seven years. The company will spend $577 million next year alone to pursue petroleum development activities. This sizable budget supports...

MISC achieves first oil in South China Sea.(Southeast Asia)(Malaysia International Shipping Corp.)
November 1, 2004... Malaysia International Shipping Corp. (MISC), a subsidiary of Petronas Carigali Malaysia, produced first oil in April, from the Penara and North Lukut fields 20-km apart in the South China Sea, around 300-km off the coast of West Malaysia. This...

Sakhalin II Phase 2 moves ahead despite challenges.(Russia/Sakhalin Island)
November 1, 2004... Phase 2 of Sakhalin II is forging ahead. Construction of the Lunskoye-A platform is moving toward completion and the 21,000-tonne integrated deck is currently under construction on Geoge Island, South Korea. Fabricator San]sung Heavy Industries...

Well recaps: #31, #103, #168.(ULTRADRIL system evaluation)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Salt-free in West Africa: TAMING THE SHALES OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA Shales offshore West Africa are as reactive, if not more so, than those in the North Sea or Gulf of Mexico. That's why an operator chose a KCl-base ULTRADRIL * system for...

Dominion cuts risk to capitalize on discovery: Devils Tower is world's deepest spar.(Construction & Installation)(Dominion Exploration and Production)
November 1, 2004... The Devils Tower field in 5,610 ft of water in Mississippi Canyon block 773 began production on May 5 as the world's deepest dry tree spar and the first deepwater facility Dominion E&P operates. The field, 140 mi southeast of New Orleans,...

Spar history reflects innovation, success: track record spans three generations.(Construction & Installation)
November 1, 2004... Archimedes was right." That was the comment made by Ed Horton, then president of Deep Offshore Technology [and the man who developed the modern spar design, at the moment of successfully upending the Oryx (now Kerr-McGee) Neptune spar in...

Commercial deepwater fields trending deeper: floating, subsea solutions increase as fixed platforms hold steady.(Construction & Installation)
November 1, 2004... The industry is increasingly employing floating and/or subsea production systems to develop deepwater fields, while the fields deemed commercially viable for development are trending deeper. Subsea production is being used more often to...

2004 global field development survey.(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... 2004 Global field development survey Floating Platform platform Operator count Tree count ...

Vessels adapted for long-distance shipments of subsea structures.(Construction & Installation)(BigLift Shipping)
November 1, 2004... Amsterdam-based BigLift Shipping operates a fleet of 14 multi-purpose, heavy lift vessels, all suited for offshore operations. Recent assignments have included long-distance shipments of various subsea and topsides structures ranging from reels...

Expansion of heavy-lift vessels gains momentum.(Construction & Installation)(Cosco Shipping Co.)
November 1, 2004... Cosco Shipping Co. Ltd. plans to expand its role in the offshore market by increasing its feet with the addition of two 50,000-dwt vessels. These "Big Sister" vessels will be equipped with a cargo deck of 150 x 42 m and will retain the...

Pushing the boundaries: Heerema sets heavy lift record in the Gulf of Mexico.(Construction & Installation)(Heerema Marine Contractors)
November 1, 2004... The limits of today's technology constantly challenge the oil and gas industry. Bigger and more complex deepwater production options make this particularly true for heavy lift activities. According to Hein Mulder, CEO for Heerema Marine...

Rising steel prices impact offshore development costs.(Construction & Installation)
November 1, 2004... The rising cost of raw steel--up 50% to $600/ton from $400/ton for some steel types since June 2003--and general instability in the international steel market are causing alarm in many industries, including the offshore market. As a direct...

Laser scanning gathers 'as-built' data for offshore installations.(Construction & Installation)
November 1, 2004... The challenges of executing projects on offshore platform facilities are many. Safety, quality, schedule, and cost suffer due to the lack of any "as-built" documentation. Now there is a technology that is fast becoming the tool of choice to...

Composite piping proves viable alternate to specialty alloys.(Construction & Installation)
November 1, 2004... After eight years in service, composite piping on Shell's Mars platform in the Gulf of Mexico has proven that it meets promises made years earlier. The L effort has paid off in lowered weight, enhanced corrosion resistance, and cost savings,...

Smaller operators increasing deepwater GoM holdings: larger companies shift focus to E&P.(Drilling & Completion)(exploration and production)
November 1, 2004... An analysis of Gulf of Mexico deepwater bidding activity shows smaller GoM competitors expanding their deepwater acreage holdings at a greater rate than the larger, more established competitors. Pioneer, Petrobras, and Woodside, for...

Stolt develops improvements to HRT: bundle designs ready for +2,000 m.(Drilling & Completion)(Stolt Offshore S.A., hybrid riser towers)
November 1, 2004... Since the success of hybrid riser towers in the deepwater conditions at the Girassol field offshore Angola, Stolt Offshore has undertaken a development program to improve the HRT concept and extend the range of conditions where the HRT can be...

RSS saves time, money in deepwater GoM: bit, fluid, weight cut $960,000 off budget.(Drilling & Completion)(rotary steerable system)
November 1, 2004... Using a rotary steerable system (RSS) and extended-gauge bit, ChevronTexaco drilled and logged the production interval on the Perseus deepwater project in the Gulf of Mexico four days faster than planned. Time saved equated to a cost savings of...

Water-base fluid cuts environmental costs in Bohai Bay.(Drilling & Completion)
November 1, 2004... A new generation water-based drilling fluid has proven itself an alternative to invert emulsion systems in China's Bohai Bay, where it saved an estimated $5 million compared to previous wells requiring cuttings re-injection (CRI). To date,...

Well architecture first to use technological innovations: Mutineer-Exeter working toward peak output in 2005.(Production)
November 1, 2004... Santos' Mutineer-Exeter development is on schedule for first oil in mid-2005. For the Australian operator, peak output from this project will allow it to double its total production. But there are numerous other technical innovations, mainly...

Wellbore pressure boosting enhances recovery from natural gas wells: existing technology adapts to downhole environment.(Production)
November 1, 2004... Adapting existing technologies from other industrial sectors to the downhole environment is both technically and economically smart. Gas E&P companies have demonstrated that pressure boosting in closer proximity to the source reservoir can...

Fit-for-purpose engineering streamlines subsea developments: Kerr-McGee achieves production cheaper, faster.(Subsea)
November 1, 2004... Kerr-McGee Corp. pioneered the use of spar technology in deepwater field developments in 1997 at its Neptune field in the Gulf of Mexico in 1,930 ft of water. Kerr-McGee was also the first to use truss spar technology at its Nansen field in the...

New tools and technology for the offshore industry: unpiggable pipelines: things of the past?(Equipment & Engineering)(Shell and Astec Developments Ltd. contract)
November 1, 2004... While a large proportion of new and many older pipelines are conventionally piggable, for a significant number of lines, out of necessity or for financial reasons, this is not the case. To pig these lines or conduct inline operations, operators...

Geo-Pilot rotary steerable system.(Halliburton Co. and Security DBS contract)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... On a recent high stepout 3D well for Unocal, the Halliburton Gee-Pilot rotary steerable system, equipped with a new FM3000 PDC bit design from Security DBS, yielded outstanding results, Halliburton says. Unocal drilled the well in the Shin...

INTEQ launches LWD formation pressure tester.(Equipment & Engineering)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Statoil and Baker Hughes have made a successful pressure logging run using a Baker Hughes INTEQ 8 1/4-in. formation pressure-while-drilling device. The TesTrak system tester measures formation pressure through direct contact with the formation...

MetaCarta puts documents on the map.(Equipment & Engineering)(geographic information services)
November 1, 2004... MetaCarta's geOdrive is an automated, IT-based method to fuse text and geographic data. It is installed as a dedicated server on a company's network as a Linux appliance. This eases the integration process significantly, the company says. ...

Combinable reservoir pressure-while-logging service.(Equipment & Engineering)
November 1, 2004... Schlumberger Oilfield Services has introduced the new PressureXpress combinable reservoir pressure-while-logging service. This service provides formation pressure and fluid mobility data in typically less than a minute and with less risk of...

Transmitton's control system reduces costs, increases efficiency.(Equipment & Engineering)
November 1, 2004... Transmitton, international supplier of integrated system control and asset management solutions, has installed an innovative new control system for Shell's new NUI (normally unattended installation) Carrack QA gas production platform, 120 km...

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(H. Paulett Eberhart appointed to board of directors)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has appointed H. Paulett Eberhart to serve on Anadarko's board of directors. Eberhart is a retired senior executive of Electronic Data Systems Corp. where she held a number of positions throughout her 26-yr career. ...

Foster Wheeler Ltd.(Giuseppe Bonadies appointed as managing director)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Foster Wheeler Ltd. has named Giuseppe Bonadies as managing director, global sales, marketing, and strategic planning, Foster Wheeler International Corp. Bonadies succeeds Steven J. Davies, who has moved to chairman and CEO of Foster Wheeler...

Veritas DGC Inc.(Mark E. Baldwin appointed as executive vice president, chief finance officer and treasurer)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Veritas DGC Inc. board of directors has appointed Mark E. Baldwin executive vice president, CFO, and treasurer. Prior to his appointment and since 2003, Baldwin was an operating partner in First Reserve Corp., a privately held oilfield services...

Murphy Oil Corp.(Neal E. Schmale elected to board of directors)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Murphy Oil Corp. has elected Neal E. Schmale to its board of directors. Schmale is executive vice president and CFO at Sempra Energy in San Diego, California, and is a member of its board of directors. Kammerzell, Jaime Gulf of Mexico...

NuTech Energy Alliance.(Steve Roth promoted as vice president, sales, and marketing)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... NuTech Energy Alliance announced the promotion of Steve Roth to vice president, sales, and marketing. With more than 15 years in the oil and gas industry, Roth was most recently NuTech's manager of international business development. ...

Ernst & Young LLP.(Terence E. appointed for Houston and Gulf Coast area)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP has named Superior Energy Services President and CEO Terence E. "Terry" Hall the 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year, Energy Services category, for the Houston and Gulf Coast area. Kammerzell, Jaime...

Unocal Corp.(Joseph H. Bryant as president and chief operating officer)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Unocal Corp. has named Joseph H. Bryant as president and COO. Bryant has been president of BP Angola since 2000. Previously, he was president of BP Canada and an Amoco joint venture in China. Kammerzell, Jaime Gulf of Mexico Editor

Rigdon Marine LLC.(Richard M. Currence promoted as vice president)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Larry T. Rigdon, president and CEO of Rigdon Marine LLC, has promoted Richard M. Currence to vice president, operations. Kammerzell, Jaime Gulf of Mexico Editor

Wood Mackenzie.(Nick Kamen appointed as executive director)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Wood Mackenzie, supplier of strategic research and knowledge based consulting to the energy and life science industries globally, has appointed Nick Kamen as executive director, marketing, and communications. Kamen will assume responsibility...

PGS.(Rune Eng promoted as marine geophysical president of Petroleum Geo-Services ASA)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PGS has promoted Rune Eng to marine geophysical president. He will report to CEO Svein Rennemo and be part of the Group Leader Team (GLT). Diz Mackewn, presently president marine geophysical, will take on a new assignment as group senior vice...

Fugro GEOS Inc.(Chris Rifle appointed as manager of measurement division)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Fugro GEOS Inc., a member of the Fugro group of companies, has named Chris Rifle manager of its measurement division. Rifle's expertise is in field operations, surveys, and oceanographic research. Kammerzell, Jaime Gulf of Mexico...

J. Ray McDermott SA, a subsidiary of McDermott International Inc., has sold its Oceanic 93 crane.(Companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... J. Ray McDermott SA, a subsidiary of McDermott International Inc., has sold its Oceanic 93 crane to Marine Management Group BV for $18.7 million. Kammerzell, Jaime Gulf of Mexico Editor

Compressor Products International.(opening of a new division in Texas)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Compressor Products International has announced the opening of a new sales, manufacturing, and service facility in Houston, Texas. The UK-based company specializes in the design and manufacture of sealing components for reciprocating...

Petroleum Development Oman and Enventure Global Technology have expanded a 5 1/2 x 6 1/8 in. open hole clad system in Oman.(Companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Petroleum Development Oman and Enventure Global Technology have expanded a 5 1/2 x 6 1/8 in. open hole clad system in Oman. This application marks Enventure's 250th installation worldwide of its solid expandable tubular technology. ...

Shell International Exploration and Production BV has selected Invensys as one of the strategic partners for its Smart Fields initiative.(Companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Shell International Exploration and Production BV has selected Invensys as one of the strategic partners for its Smart Fields initiative. The decision was made based on Invensys' domain expertise, the unique enabling technologies provided by...

Sondex, a British oilfield technology company, has signed an agreement to develop a downhole telemetry interface tool exclusively for Halliburton.(Companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Sondex, a British oilfield technology company, has signed an agreement to develop a downhole telemetry interface tool exclusively for Halliburton. The agreement calls for Sondex to develop, supply, and license its technology for use with...

The founders and former owners and operators of the TomoSeis Corp. have announced the formation of Z-Seis, a company staffed and equipped to provide a wide range of reservoir-seismic methodologies and services on a global basis.(company formation)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The founders and former owners and operators of the TomoSeis Corp. have announced the formation of Z-Seis, a company staffed and equipped to provide a wide range of reservoir-seismic methodologies and services on a global basis. Based in...

Tenaris SA has acquired Tubman International Ltd., the company that holds 84.9% of the equity of the Romanian company SC Silcotub SA and controlling interests in three minor subsidiaries.(company acquisition)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Tenaris SA has acquired Tubman International Ltd., the company that holds 84.9% of the equity of the Romanian company SC Silcotub SA and controlling interests in three minor subsidiaries. Under the agreement, Tenaris paid $42 million. ...

DSND Inc., an industrial investment company.(name changes)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DSND Inc., an industrial investment company, has changed its name to Siem Offshore Inc. Kammerzell, Jaime Gulf of Mexico Editor

Wood Group E&PF Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of John Wood Group PLC, has acquired Multiphase Solutions Inc.(Companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Wood Group E&PF Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of John Wood Group PLC, has acquired Multiphase Solutions Inc., a Houston-based company that provides engineering and consulting services and software applications for use in the design, operation,...