Offshore articles from October 2007

Offshore archives from October 2007

Offshore celebrates 60th anniversary of the industry.(COMMENT)
October 1, 2007... "Earlier this month, the global offshore petroleum industry marked the 60th anniversary of completion of the first commercial offshore oil well drilled by a "mobile" rig out of sight of land...." So begins the saga of 60 years of offshore...

Big deepwater growth ahead.(COMMENT)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Our industry will be spending more than $24.6 billion a year on deepwater projects alone by 2012 according to a recent forecast by analysts Douglas-Westwood Ltd. Deepwater oil and gas production is increasing rapidly, and output is...

GoM drilling permits issued.(GLOBAL DATA)
October 1, 2007... GoM drilling permits issued Drilling permits Feb. 68 Mar. 64 Apr. 61 May 78 June 55 July 50 Aug 41 Source: US Minerals Management Service Note: Table made from bar graph.

Gulf of Mexico day rates.(GLOBAL DATA)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Gulf of Mexico day rates Month/Year Minimum Average Maximum Drillship Sept 2006 $182,000 $240,499 $301,700 Oct 2006 $190,900 $244,677 $301,700 Nov 2006 $190,900 $244,700 $301,700 Dec 2006 ...

Global data.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The impact of deepwater production growth is very apparent. Its total share relative to shallow-water output has grown rapidly from 8% in 2002 to nearly 12% in 2006. It will represent nearly 20% in 2011. The jump is mostly attributable to...

Active rig fleet, September 2007.(GLOBAL DATA)
October 1, 2007... Active rig fleet, September 2007 Floaters Jackups US GoM 39 (+1) 87 (+1) Mex GoM 2 (-1) 31 (+1) North Sea 40 (0) 36 (+1) East Atlantic 0 (-2) 0 (0) L. America ...

There were some notable discoveries offshore West Africa in the past few weeks.(Africa)
October 1, 2007... There were some notable discoveries offshore West Africa in the past few weeks. In early August, Total hit oil in the ultra deep offshore block Mer Tres Profonde Sud (MTPS), which lies approximately 170 km (106 mi) offshore Republic of the...

Increasing investment and the striking of new deals indicate the world's growing interest in China's offshore.(Asia-Pacific)
October 1, 2007... Increasing investment and the striking of new deals indicate the world's growing interest in China's offshore. In August, CNOOC Ltd. solidified an old relationship and laid the groundwork for a new one in the signing of a number of...

While China is well into its offshore E&P program, the Philippines is just beginning to increase offshore activity.(Asia-Pacific)(exploration and production)(Nido Petroleum Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... While China is well into its offshore E&P program, the Philippines is just beginning to increase offshore activity. In early August, Nido Petroleum Ltd. announced it expects first oil from the Galoc oil field in the Northwest Palawan basin...

In late August, TPAO announced that it expects to see first gas from the East Ayazli and Ayazli fields in the Turkish Black Sea in 3Q 2007.(Europe)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... In late August, TPAO announced that it expects to see first gas from the East Ayazli and Ayazli fields in the Turkish Black Sea in 3Q 2007. East Ayazli was delayed by repairs to the spur line tying the field's tripod into the trunkline...

Offshore Rumania, national oil company Petrom reported in early September that the Delta 4 well in the Black Sea was its first successful offshore exploration in eight years.(Europe)
October 1, 2007... Offshore Rumania, national oil company Petrom reported in early September that the Delta 4 well in the Black Sea was its first successful offshore exploration in eight years. The well was a result of the 2005 3D seismic offshore campaign. ...

The Hebron-Ben Nevis project offshore Newfoundland, which has been under discussion for several years, now is looking like a viable project.(Americas)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The Hebron-Ben Nevis project offshore Newfoundland, which has been under discussion for several years, now is looking like a viable project. At a press conference in St. John's in late August, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny...

Most of the big Latin America news in the last few weeks has come out of Brazil.(Americas)
October 1, 2007... Most of the big Latin America news in the last few weeks has come out of Brazil. In mid-August, Petrobras publicized its business plan for 2008-2012, establishing production targets for oil and gas in Brazil. According to the plan, the...

Domestically, Petrobras recorded a major "first" with a light oil discovery in the Santos basin.(Americas)
October 1, 2007... Domestically, Petrobras recorded a major "first" with a light oil discovery in the Santos basin. In early September, the company announced that exploratory well 1-BRSA-491-SPS (1-SPS-50) in block BM-S-9 had hit 27[degrees] API crude. The well...

In other drilling news, Norse Energy Corp. received an environmental license to drill the Gengibre prospect in block BCAM-40 in Brazil's Camamu-Almada basin in mid-August.(Americas)
October 1, 2007... In other drilling news, Norse Energy Corp. received an environmental license to drill the Gengibre .prospect in block BCAM-40 in Brazil's Camamu-Almada basin in mid-August. In partnership with Petrobras and Queiroz Galvao, Norse Energy...

Spain's Enagas is planning to build a subsea gas pipeline across the Mediterranean Sea that will link the Balearic Islands with mainland Spain.(Mediterranean)
October 1, 2007... Spain's Enagas is planning to build a subsea gas pipeline across the Mediterranean Sea that will link the Balearic Islands with mainland Spain. The line will comprise two sections: the first, from Denia to Punta de Cala Gracio on Ibiza,...

In early 3Q 2007, ONGC Videsh Ltd. spudded its first appraisal well, NN-3, in the Najwat Najem structure in the Arabian Gulf about 100 km (62 mi) northeast of Doha, Qatar.(Middle East)
October 1, 2007... In early 3Q 2007, ONGC Videsh Ltd. spudded its first appraisal well, NN-3, in the Najwat Najem structure in the Arabian Gulf about 100 km (62 mi) northeast of Doha, Qatar. This is OVL's first overseas project in which the company has 100%...

Eqypt's Gemsa Petroleum Co. and partners awarded Aker Kvaerner a contract to operate, manage, and maintain the Al Zaafarana FPSO operating in the Red Sea beginning on Sept. 1, 2007.(Middle East)
October 1, 2007... Eqypt's Gemsa Petroleum Co. and partners awarded Aker Kvaerner a contract to operate, manage, and maintain the Al Zaafarana FPSO operating in the Red Sea beginning on Sept. 1, 2007. "The award of this contract gives Aker Kvaerner Operations a...

Who owns the arctic?(GLOBAL E&P)
October 1, 2007... When the world believed that 25% of the planet's undiscovered oil and gas was inaccessible, nobody cared much about the arctic. Now, with promising technology inching closer to opening a passage through the ice, the fight for ownership has...

Troll facing pressure dilemma.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... De-pressurization at Troll will impact other nearby fields in the Norwegian North Sea, according to a study by Hydro and Statoil. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) requested a review, due to concerns over the companies' plans to step up...

Brent's long-term future unclear.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Heerema Hartlepool )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Shell has taken delivery of a new 2,000-metric ton (2,204-ton) compression module from Heerema Hartlepool for its Scan PD platform in the southern gas basin. The new equipment should help Shell deliver supplies to the UK mainland during peak...

Chevron offloads heavy oil.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)
October 1, 2007... Hydro has also been active in the UK northern North Sea, amassing stakes in various stranded heavy oil fields in Quadrant 9. The main transaction (pending UK government approval) brought Hydro Chevron's operating interests in the Bressay and...

Tormore extends gas base.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)
October 1, 2007... Total has discovered gas and condensate in a new location on the Atlantic Margin, 100-km (62 mi) northwest of the Shetland Islands. The Tormore well was drilled in 610 m (186 ft) of water in block 205/5a, testing 32 MMcf/d of gas, with a...

Statoil outspends in Sale 204.(GULF OF MEXICO)
October 1, 2007... Statoil was the big spender by far in Western Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale 204, according to MMS statistics. The company placed $139 million in high bids on 36 tracts, followed by a distant $31 million in high bids on 91 tracts from BE...

FloaTEC introduces dry tree semi.(GULF OF MEXICO)
October 1, 2007... FloaTEC introduced at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen, Scotland, a dry tree floating production concept which it plans to have ready for the market in 2008 for Gulf of Mexico and West Africa deepwater development. FloaTEC says it plans to...

Petrobras contracts BW Offshore for FPSO.(GULF OF MEXICO)
October 1, 2007... Petrobras America Inc. has selected BW Offshore Ltd. to convert, install, and operate an FPSO at Chinook and Cascade. The $740-million contract, subject to board approvals from Petrobras and partners, also will cover delivery and installation...

Versabar says it has lifted the largest Katrina-toppled deck since the hurricane hit the GoM about two years ago.(GULF OF MEXICO)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Versabar says it has lifted the largest Katrina-toppled deck since the hurricane hit the GoM about two years ago. The company used its Bottom Feeder to salvage Chevron's 1,400-ton (1,422-metric-ton) topsides...

Aker Kvaerner completes Blind Faith.(GULF OF MEXICO)
October 1, 2007... Aker Kvaerner has completed the semisubmersible hull for Chevron's Blind Faith platform. Chevron and partner Anadarko awarded the original engineering, procurement, and construction contract to Aker Kvaerner Inc. in Oct. 2005. The...

Deepwater Specialists to commission Perdido hub.(GULF OF MEXICO)
October 1, 2007... Shell Offshore Inc. has selected John Wood Group company, Deepwater Specialists Inc. (DSI), to commission the Perdido regional host facility, which will be installed in the Alaminos Canyon area of the Gulf. DSI's work scope includes the...

Noble Denton secures Thunder Hawk warranty.(GULF OF MEXICO)(Noble Denton Marine Services Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... SBM Atlantia has awarded Noble Denton Marine Services Inc. the marine warranty for the semisubmersible Thunder Hawk. Denton's work scope includes the review and attendance for the hull and deck loadout, transport, offload, deck integration...

Noble Drilling is upgrading the mooring systems of its GoM-based semisubmersible fleet.(GULF OF MEXICO)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Noble Drilling is upgrading the mooring systems of its GoM-based semisubmersible fleet. The Noble Clyde Boudreaux was first in line. Its mooring system has been upgraded from eight-point to 16-point. The rig...

VetcoGray introduces production control system.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
October 1, 2007... Aimed at fasttrack, shallow-water subsea projects, VetcoGray's PCS 1000 production control system consists of both topside and subsea hardware. Key components of the PCS 1000 include: * An electro-hydraulic subsea control module for subsea...

Aker Kvaerner has new subsea tree.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(RapidSolution preconfigured subsea tree )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Aker Kvaerner has introduced its RapidSolution preconfigured subsea tree system designed to reduce the lead time required to production. RapidSolution is a complete subsea tree system based on Offshore Aker Kvaerner Subsea's standard...

Statoil buys subsea equipment from Aker, FMC, Vetco.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
October 1, 2007... Statoil expects to contract with Aker Kvaerner Subsea and FMC Technologies for subsea equipment and services that could reach a total of $2.6-54.4 billion over five years. Statoil says the contracts cover equipment for existing facilities,...

Expro hits milestone.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This year will see the deployment of the 1,000th Expro Landing String Assembly (ELSA) subsea safety system. Expro recently completed an ultra deepwater application of ELSA and its Express control system in 7,861 ft...

FMC, Grenland make subsea systems pact.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS)(Grenland Group ASA )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Grenland Group ASA and FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS have signed a memorandum of understanding to partner on the delivery of subsea production systems for the Norwegian continental shelf as well as global markets. The agreement was scheduled to be...

Intec to verify Bass Lite risers.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Mariner Energy contract with Intec Engineering )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Mariner Energy has contracted Intec Engineering to act as its verification agent for the Bass Lite steel catenary riser on the Devils Tower spar in Mississippi Canyon block 733 in the GoM. Intec's scope of work includes: * Evaluating the...

Lamprell books backlog.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
October 1, 2007... Lamprell, a UAE-based engineering services company, has landed a number of significant contracts. In June, the company announced the award of topside and process module fabrication contracts from Kanfa AS, DP Producer AS, and Scana AMT, as well...

UMW, Standard build jackups.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
October 1, 2007... UMW Oil & Gas and Norway's Standard Drilling Far East Pte. Ltd. formed a 51:49 joint venture in mid-June to build two jackup rigs for the Southeast Asian market. Naga 2 is designed to operate in 350 ft (107 m) water depth and drill to...

Keppel makes delivery, takes order.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
October 1, 2007... Keppel FELS Ltd. delivered another KFELS Super B Class jackup to Sinvest AS, a subsidiary of the Chennai-owned Aban Singapore Pte. Ltd., in late June. The Deep Driller 5 is the yard's third rig for Sinvest and follows delivery of the Deep...

Transocean names drillship.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
October 1, 2007... Transocean Inc. has named its newbuild Enterprise-class drillship Discoverer Americas. The drillship is designed to work in water depths to 12,000 ft (3,658 m) and to drill wells to a depth of 40,000 ft (12,192 m). The Discoverer Americas...

P-52 goes to work.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... In late June, Petrobras launched the P-52 semisubmersible platform from the Brasfels shipyard in Angra dos Reis in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Operating at its maximum capacity, the senfisubmersible can process 180,000 b/d of oil and can...

First real-time HP/HT camera.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)
October 1, 2007... EV Offshore Ltd. has developed the EVOLeye HPHT 200 camera inspection system. It is the first of its kind to capture images in real time downhole under high pressure and high temperature conditions. The company says that following an...

Sand control screen solutions.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)
October 1, 2007... Halliburton has developed three new screen solutions for sand control. These are the EquiFlow Oil Selector valve, which is capable of reducing unwanted water or gas production without wellbore intervention; EquiFlow inflow control device, which...

Tordis subsea facility installed.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Statoil's Tordis subsea facility is on the seabed near Gullfaks field in the North Sea. The Saipem S7000 crane vessel lowered the 1,250-ton (1,134-metric ton) structure onto the Tordis field and completed the operation the following day. ...

Environmentally compliant drilling fluid.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)
October 1, 2007... Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids has developed the Terra-Max system, a customizable, high-performance water-based mud designed for improved drilling and environmental performance in a low salinity environment. The company says that by combining...

ONGC uses rotary steerable.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The use of a rotary steerable system for extended reach drilling (ERD) in ONGC's Mumbai High has enabled the Indian E&P major to drill successfully. The rotary steerable system was introduced to ONGC in 2003 and has made drilling operations...

Improving reservoir characterization.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)
October 1, 2007... Schlumberger has developed a new downhole fluid analysis (DFA) tool that promises to increased accuracy in its measurements of hydrocarbon composition, gas/oil ratio, carbon dioxide (C[O.sub.2]), formation water pH, and mud filtrate...

Namibia 2D.(GEOSCIENCES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Namibia 2D: Neptune Petroleum (Namibia) Ltd. has finished a 2D seismic acquisition program over the northwestern areas of its offshore Namibia license coveting blocks 1920A, 1911, and 2011A. Sana Navigation Co. Ltd. used the Northern Explorer...

Mideast 3D.(GEOSCIENCES)
October 1, 2007... Mideast 3D: CGGVeritas has announced several contracts totaling $250 million for multi-year agreements. Included in this is a 3D seismic survey in the Middle East Gulf starting in 4Q 2007 using the Orion. The project is expected to last 18...

Schlumberger opens Breakthrough Performance Center in Houston.(GEOSCIENCES)(Schlumberger Information Solutions )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Schlumberger Information Solutions opened its Houston Breakthrough Performance Center which is aimed at fostering collaboration, technological innovation, and solution deployment among Schlumberger, its customers, and its technological...

GoM "wave".(GEOSCIENCES)(GGS-Spectrum acquired Big Wave )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... GoM "wave": "Big Wave is the first modern seismic survey to cover the Lloyd Ridge, Henderson, and Florida Plain areas of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico," says Derek Skoyles, president, GGS-Spectrum USA. "Initial interpretation of the Phase 1 data...

Surinam plan.(GEOSCIENCES)
October 1, 2007... Surinam plan: Murphy Oil has announced plans for a 3D seismic program offshore Suriname in block 37 in 1Q 2008, pending location of an available vessel. The block covers roughly 2.1 million acres (849,800 ha) in water depths of 160-1,000 ft...

Russian geophysical center modernized.(GEOSCIENCES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Paradigm has completed an upgrade and modernization of the Saratovneflegeofizika JSC data processing and interpretation center in Saratov, Russia. Saratovneftegeofizika now has access to a wide range of Paradigm E&P technologies, including...

Sclumberger.(Acquisition trail)
October 1, 2007... Sclumberger has acquired the data quality management company InnerLogix. "InnerLogix technology delivers the next level of innovation for information management. A proven solution for automated data quality management, this technology is...

TGS-NOPEC/Wavefield Inseis.(Acquisition trail)
October 1, 2007... On another front, the TGS-NOPEC/Wavefield Inseis merger has been approved by the respective boards of directors and involved governmental organizations. Gene Kliewer * Houston

Landmark has acquired the intellectual property, assets, and existing business of GeoSmith Consulting Group Llc. of Minnetonka, Minnesota.(Acquisition trail)
October 1, 2007... Landmark has acquired the intellectual property, assets, and existing business of GeoSmith Consulting Group Llc. of Minnetonka, Minnesota. GeoSmith is a developer of software components for 3D interpretation and geometric modeling...

Mahogany, Hyedua set down roots of deepwater play offshore Ghana: field could hold 1.3 Bbbl.(WEST AFRICA)
October 1, 2007... Tullow Oil is continuing its run of successes with frontier plays in Africa. Following exploration breakthroughs in Uganda's Lake Albert basin, the company recently discovered in a previously untested deepwater play fairway what may be Ghana's...

West Africa continues to draw investors despite security concerns: deepwater shows promise.(WEST AFRICA)
October 1, 2007... Despite harsh political and security issues, the hydrocarbon news from Nigeria is mostly positive. Three recent announcements from the region indicate that potential profits far outweigh potential difficulties. Recent projects The...

West Africa: on the edge: instability threatens progress.(WEST AFRICA)
October 1, 2007... Guns have dominated the headlines in Nigeria. The common sentiment from commentators across the board on the nations of Africa's Atlantic basin margin is that they collectively face a very bright offshore future. The only caveat--and it is...

Combined technology strengths drive StatoilHydro's expansion plans.(SPECIAL REPORT)
October 1, 2007... A new force is emerging on the international oil and gas stage--StatoilHydro, the result of the merger between Statoil and Norsk Hydro's oil and gas activities. When the merger plan was announced at the end of last year, the parties claimed it...

Web-based system connects monitoring to remote sites.(E-TECHNOLOGY)
October 1, 2007... Total, Marathon, and Talisman are using a suite of Web-based tools that incorporates a production monitoring system to ensure remote oilfields can use an Aberdeen skills base. Testing the limits Xplore allows operators to optimize...

High-resolution graphics take another step: new visualization technologies improve seismic interpretation.(GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS)(Industry overview)
October 1, 2007... Once upon a time, oil exploration could be as simple as a geologist's trained eye recognizing telltale bumps in the surrounding landscape. Since then, more than a century of large-scale production and intensifying competition have forced oil...

Dual ESP completions solve deferred production: risks drive innovative design decisions.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
October 1, 2007... Offshore West Africa rigs are in short supply. Availability estimates range from six months to a year, and day rates continue to rise. This complicates the scheduling of workovers and drives up their cost. It also defers production. West...

PDC and depth-of-cut control technology set drilling record.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
October 1, 2007... Proper bit selection is important in optimizing the rotary steearable system (RSS) performance. Bits with depth-of-cut control technology enhance stability for successful system deployment. Depth-of-cut control increases the rate of penetration...

Ultrasonic detection tool finds leaks in wellbore tubulars: new approach locates otherwise undetectable failures.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
October 1, 2007... When operators are faced with leaks in wellbore tubulars, a number of methods exist to detect them. When leaks preclude the use of conventional logging tools, however, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to detect their source. ...

Thermal technology improves cuttings handling: safety, environment come first.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
October 1, 2007... The treatment of non-aqueous fluid contaminated cuttings has gone through many phases and generated a number of "solutions" over the years. The driver for innovation and development in the field has been, and to a large extent remains,...

Perforating technology positioned to increase production: creating self-cleaning, debris-free holes.(DRILLING & COMPLETION)
October 1, 2007... A joint development effort by three companies has introduced a new perforating technology that has the potential to dramatically increase the production capability of oil and gas wells. The main purpose of perforating a well is to establish...

Global deepwater expenditure to exceed $108 billion through 2012: Africa leads in deepwater development.(PRODUCTION)
October 1, 2007... The World Deepwater Market Forecast, soon to be published by energy analysts Douglas-Westwood, forecasts continued growth in the deepwater sector with annual expenditures reaching over $24.6 billion by 2012. The key findings of the study in...

New design spar-like hulls show platform stability advantage: articulating connection reacts to loads differently.(PRODUCTION)(VersaBuoy)
October 1, 2007... The problem of setting topsides onto jackets in sea conditions with 12-ft (3.7-m) swells has led to a new design to configure drilling and production facilities for water depths of 1,000 m (3,281 ft) or more. The system In one of its...

Simplicity, stability, flexibility: OPE's spherical hull design, center column defy hurricane force waves.(PRODUCTION)(Column)
October 1, 2007... Hurricanes Katrina and Rita taught the oil and gas industry some costly lessons. One of those lessons is that structures designed for operation in the Gulf of Mexico have to be able to contend with conditions that far exceed those previously...

FourStar ready for battle: new TLP design offers high payload, quayside integration.(PRODUCTION)
October 1, 2007... The tension leg platform (TLP) has been a reliable production system for decades. After delivering five such units for the deepwater Gulf of Mexico market--Morpeth, Allegheny, Typhoon, Matterhorn, and most recently Neptune (Offshore June 2007),...

Tyrihans tieback a showcase for novel IOR technologies.(SUBSEA)
October 1, 2007... Statoil is well under way with its Tyrihans oil/gas/condensate project in the Norwegian Sea off mid-Norway. The production templates for the field, which is being developed with subsea wells tied back to the Kristin floating production...

New traction control unit extends life of fiber rope: handling characteristics of equipment suit application.(CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION)
October 1, 2007... Aker Oilfield Services has awarded Norway's Odim ASA a contract for a 125-metric-ton (138-ton) cable traction control unit (CTCU). The contract, part of a joint industry project (JIP) supported by Norway's Demo 2000 research program, opens the...

Design, reliability issues impact mooring chain, connector selection: effects of application must be considered.(CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION)
October 1, 2007... Chain is widely used in mooring applications for offshore floating structures, usually as part of a system combining chain and rope, be it fiber or wire. Chain is favored for mooring systems for several reasons: * It is rugged and less...

West Africa logistics challenges met with flexibility: Okume complex installations completed on time.(CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2004, Hess awarded Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) a transportation and installation contract for the Okume project offshore Equatorial Guinea. A number of logistical challenges were encountered leading up to the...

Talisman forging ahead on Rev, Yme.(CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION)(Talisman Energy Ltd.)
October 1, 2007... These are busy days for Talisman in Norway, where the company is in the initial stages of implementing two recently approved projects. Yme, the first field redevelopment in the Norwegian sector, was approved in May, followed in June by Rev, the...

Direct heating safeguards flow through harsh-environment pipelines.(TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS)
October 1, 2007... Direct electrical heating (DEH) has become one of Statoil's preferred methods for securing flow assurance in multiphase pipelines. The technology is installed on the Asgard, Huldra, Kristin, and Urd fields and also is being applied in the...

EFH: another arrow in the flow assurance quiver.(TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS)(Electric flowline heating )
October 1, 2007... Electric flowline heating (EFH) has become an important concept in today's field development projects. Its significance can be summed up in two words --flow assurance. Flow assurance is an important topic of discussion given the increasing...

Managing wireless networks in offshore production: improved monitoring reduces operating costs.(Communications Supplement)
October 1, 2007... Wireless communication promises higher production availability at lower operating costs through improved monitoring. For offshore production, wireless communication can accomplish this by combining mobile video and sensors to reduce costs in a...

Rig maintenance package keeps data current.(Communications Supplement)
October 1, 2007... Maintenance, inventory, and logistics operations are challenged by offshore exploration. Some rigs, especially those moving, are not always connected to headquarters. When the rigs are connected, some current solutions suffer data...

Lundin extends North Sea profile beyond field rehabilitation.(SWEDEN)(Lundin Petroleum )(Company overview)
October 1, 2007... Since its emergence in 2001, Lundin Petroleum has established itself as Sweden's leading oil company, with interests around the world and promising potential for growth, in particular in the North Sea, one of its core areas. The company is...

Riser connector brings major savings in rig up/down time.(SWEDEN)
October 1, 2007... Sandvik Materials Technology has launched ClikLoc, a new workover/completions riser connector that offers make-up/ break-up times measured in seconds, effective metal-to-metal sealing, and good safety characteristics. ClikLoc has undergone...

Torque control critical for innovative drillfloor tool.(SWEDEN)
October 1, 2007... Last month, Norwegian company V-Tech was due to make its first commercial delivery of UniTong, its combined iron roughneck and casing tongs, which is powered by a Hagglunds drive system. UniTong, the brain-child of inventor Helge Halse, has...