Offshore articles from September 2005

Offshore archives from September 2005

New editors strengthen Offshore staff.(COMMENT)
September 1, 2005... Two new editors joined the Offshore team this month, and a third will be coming aboard next month. Senior Editor David Paganie will take a leadership role in developing magazine, website, and eNewsletter content. He will also work closely...

Active rig fleet, August 2005.(GLOBAL DATA)(Illustration)
September 1, 2005... Active rig fleet, August 2005 Floaters Jackups US GoM 35 (+1) 101 (-1) Mex GoM 12 (0) 30 (0) North Sea 39 (+1) 30 (-1) East Atlantic 2 (0) 2 (0) L. America ...

GoM drilling permits issued.(GLOBAL DATA)
September 1, 2005... GoM drilling permits issued Drilling permits Jan. 89 Feb. 66 Mar. 87 April 82 May 94 June 94 July 71 Source: US Minerals Management Service ...

This month Infield Systems Ltd. looks at the number of subsea injection.(GLOBAL DATA)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... This month Infield Systems Ltd. looks at the number of subsea injection wells across the world. The next five years is expected to see the number of injection wells drilled grow strongly across the world. The adjacent graphic shows that...

Gulf of Mexico day rates.(GLOBAL DATA)(Illustration)
September 1, 2005... Gulf of Mexico day rates Month/Year Minimum Average Maximum Drillship Aug 2004 $75,000 $172,880 $205,000 Sep 2004 $135,000 $177,021 $205,000 Oct 2004 $135,000 $179,207 $205,000 Nov 2004 ...

Repsol YPF purchased three oil fields and one gas field offshore Trinidad & Tobago.(Americas)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Repsol YPF purchased three oil fields and one gas field offshore Trinidad & Tobago. This purchase places the company among the ranks of the main producers of oil and gas in the Caribbean. Currently, the oil fields produce 20,500 boe/d....

Santos Ltd. is expanding its oil and gas exploration acreage in the Sorrell basin, offshore Tasmania with the award of a gas block.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Santos Ltd. is expanding its oil and gas exploration acreage in the Sorrell basin, offshore Tasmania with the award of a gas block, T/40P 100 km off the northwest coast. The 315-sq-km permit area is Santos' fifth offshore exploration...

TGS-Nopec Geophysical Co. and partners initiated two new seismic programs offshore Russia in August.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... TGS-Nopec Geophysical Co. and partners initiated two new seismic programs offshore Russia in August. TGS and partner Dalmorneftegeophysica (DMNG) will acquire 8,000 km of multi-client 2D seismic data in the Sea of Okhotsk near Sakhalin Island....

WesternGeco also recently had a "first" in Southeast Asia with the Q-Marine for Sabah Shell Petroleum Co. Ltd.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... WesternGeco also recently had a "first" in Southeast Asia with the Q-Marine for Sabah Shell Petroleum Co. Ltd. over the St. Joseph field offshore Malaysia. The 100-sq-km survey, which began in June, is the first Q-Marine project in...

Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol) and BP announced the Juno-1 oil discovery in ultra-deepwater block 31, offshore Angola.(Africa)
September 1, 2005... Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol) and BP announced the Juno-1 oil discovery in ultra-deepwater block 31, offshore Angola. Juno-1 is the seventh successful discovery well BP has drilled in block 31 following Plutao,...

Total's Nigerian operating subsidiary Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. signed a production sharing contract with the Nigerian National.(Africa)
September 1, 2005... Total's Nigerian operating subsidiary Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. signed a production sharing contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. for oil prospecting license (OPL) 223 offshore southeast Nigeria. OPL 223 lies in water depths...

Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd. signed a petroleum agreement for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the North West Safi area offshore Morocco.(Africa)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd. signed a petroleum agreement for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the North West Safi area offshore Morocco. The exploration phase of the eight-year agreement covers a 6,540-sq-km area. The decision...

Independent E&P company, Sterling Energy Plc., signed a farm-out deal with Exxon Mobil Corp.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Independent E&P company, Sterling Energy Plc., signed a farm-out deal with Exxon Mobil Corp. for the Ambilobe and Ampasindava licenses offshore Madagascar. Sterling secured 100% interest and operatorship of the two licenses, which cover...

ExxonMobil Corp. started production on Kizomba B offshore Angola five months ahead of schedule.(Africa)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... ExxonMobil Corp. started production on Kizomba B offshore Angola five months ahead of schedule. The company estimates that the field contains 1 Bbbl of recoverable oil, and hopes to produce 250,000 b/d. Kizomba B is the third field to begin...

TGS-Nopec Geophysical Co. has completed an 8,025-km multi-client 2D seismic, gravity, and magnetic data survey offshore Egypt.(Mediterranean)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... TGS-Nopec Geophysical Co. has completed an 8,025-km multi-client 2D seismic, gravity, and magnetic data survey offshore Egypt. The survey was acquired under a license agreement among TGS, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co., and the Egyptian...

Central Europe's OMV signed an agreement with the Ukraine oil and gas companies National Joint Stock Co. (NJSC) Naftogas of Ukraine and National Stock Co. (NSC) Chornomornaftogaz.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Central Europe's OMV signed an agreement with the Ukraine oil and gas companies National Joint Stock Co. (NJSC) Naftogas of Ukraine and National Stock Co. (NSC) Chornomornaftogaz on joint activities in the Black Sea. The area selected for...

BG undecided on Maria's scope.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(BG Group PLC increasing its capacity)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... BG Group is trying to maximize capacity at its Armada platform in the central UK North Sea, close to the median line with Norway. The single-well North West Seymour light oil accumulation is providing new throughput to the multi-field complex,...

Norwegian gas surge to offset oil decline.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Development spending offshore Norway is scaling new heights, but may also have peaked, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). This year, NPD foresees Nkr83 billion in total being allocated to new platforms, wells,...

Ramco perseveres off Ireland.(OFFSHORE EUROPE)(Ramco Energy PLC manages in its continues loss)
September 1, 2005... Ramco Energy remains afloat, despite incurring crippling losses following water ingress in its Seven Heads field gas wells off southern Ireland. The intrusion brought production to a halt soon after start-up in 2003, and deliveries, via...

Team concept.(GULF OF MEXICO)
September 1, 2005... The eastern GoM region continues to maintain its healthy reputation as the "hot-play" in the deep and ultra deepwaters of the Gulf. Companies are collaborating to exploit the area's untapped reserves. Last year, five independents and one...

BHP focuses on Neptune.(GULF OF MEXICO)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... BHP Billiton and partners have awarded Atlantia offshore a contract to supply a SeaStar-designed TLP for installation on its Neptune field, just a few weeks following announcement of the $850-million project's sanctioning. BHP's Neptune...

Lease sale.(GULF OF MEXICO)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Western GoM Lease Sale 196, held in New Orleans on Aug. 17, drew a total of $335,628,130 from 422 bids on 346 tracts. A total of 56 companies participated in the lease sale, which offered 3,762 tracts. "We continue to see strong bidding...

Oceaneering secures $13-million contract.(GULF OF MEXICO)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Oceaneering Multiflex picked up a contract from Newfield to supply steel tube umbilicals for installation on the Wrigley field, located in Mississippi Canyon block 506. The $13-million contract calls for supply of a 28-mi umbilical for...

Statoil awards subsea contracts.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
September 1, 2005... Statoil has awarded NKr 90 million for Skinfaks development and the Rimfaks expansion projects in the North Sea. Of the contracts, NKr 420 million is for subsea work, including deals with Subsea 7 and Siapem. Located in the Tampen area, the...

Wet gas meters for Independence Hub.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
September 1, 2005... Roxar will supply its wet gas meters and sand monitoring system for the Independence Hub development in the Gulf of Mexico. The meters detect and measure real-time hydrocarbon flow rates and water production as well as flow assurance input...

Venture Production, operator for the Chestnut partnership, has signed a $64-million contract with Sevan Marine for the use of Sevan's SSP 300 FPSO on the Chestnut field in 120 m of water in the central UK North Sea.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)
September 1, 2005... Venture Production, operator for the Chestnut partnership, has signed a $64-million contract with Sevan Marine for the use of Sevan's SSP 300 FPSO on the Chestnut field in 120 m of water in the central UK North Sea. The contract replaces a...

Subsea 7 gets Australian job.(Anzon Australia Ltd)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Anzon Australia Ltd. has awarded a $13-million contract to Subsea 7 (Australia) Pty. Ltd for work at the Basker-Manta field development located offshore Victoria in the Bass Strait, in 150 m of water. The contract includes the installation...

Total plans 35 subsea wells for Usan.(SUBSEA/SURFACE SYSTEMS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Total says it will seek government approval to develop the Usan field offshore Nigeria with 35 subsea wells connected to a 2-MMbbl floating storage tanker. Total recently found more oil in the Usan field following two appraisal wells that...

Jurong Shipyard to build two ultra deepwater semis.(Seatankers Management Co. Ltd)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... SembCorp Marine subsidiary Jurong Shipyard secured an EPC contract to build two ultra deepwater semisubmersibles for Seatankers Management Co. Ltd. in late 3Q. Under the contract, Jurong Shipyard will build the 6th generation ultra...

Newbuild for Subsea 7.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... SIEM subsidiary Subsea 7 has signed a contract for a newbuild rigid pipelay and construction vessel. The decision to build was reached following SIEM's board of directors' assessment of the medium-to long-term market for rigid pipelay and...

Ulstein Verft launches new design.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... France's Bourbon subsidiary Bourbon Offshore Norway signed a contract with Ulstein Verft for two platform supply vessels. The two Ulstein PX105 PSVs will be the first in the world with the Ulstein X-bow. Earlier this year, the ship owner...

Jackup contracts.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
September 1, 2005... Rowan Companies Inc. subsidiary LeTourneau Inc. won a contract to furnish vessel design and components (a LeTourneau kit) for the construction of two Super 116 Class jackup drilling rigs. Keppel AmFELS will build the rigs for Scorpion...

New pipelay vessel in the works.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Swiss-based Allseas Group has announced that it will build a new DP pipelay ship. The vessel, to be named Audacia, will be 225 m long and will be suited for installation of pipelines up to a diameter of 44 in. including coating. The Audacia is...

Noble Drilling awarded QCI Marine Offshore LLC extensive quarters renovation and equipment replacement contracts.(VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES)
September 1, 2005... Noble Drilling awarded QCI Marine Offshore LLC extensive quarters renovation and equipment replacement contracts for the Noble Paul Wolff and Noble Lester Pettus semisubmersible drilling rigs. The Noble Lester Pettus will be renovated in...

Rotary steerable systems, bit designs.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Bit design for rotary steerable systems is a topic of major concern to both manufacturers and users, and it came under intense discussion by four manufacturers recently. Representatives of Smith, ReedHycalog, Hughes Christensen, and Security...

Drilling simulator.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... To understand how the bit interacts at the cutter to rock interface, designers want to know how the cutter engages, he said. Once the designers model in the drilling simulator and determine the actual engagement area of the cutter, then they...

Bit evolution.(Oil well drilling)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Over the past few years, the industry has seen an evolution of the rotary steerable bit, Morris said. When the system first came out it was focused on just steerability with side cutting ability to make the system work. As the industry has...

Little consistency.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... "We see very little consistency across the world as related to the different demands we encounter," Williams said. "One of the key things you need to remember is that performance of the bit will be different in different rock types. It's...

New jackup order.(DRILLING & PRODUCTION)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Noble Corp. has received a letter of intent from Shell E and P Offshore Services B.V. to for two new F&G JU-2000E enhanced premium jackup drilling rigs to be constructed by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co., Ltd./Dalian New...

Petrobras leads in deepwater EWT with DP FPSO.(LATIN AMERICA)
September 1, 2005... Operators rely on extended well testing (EWT) to provide data related to reservoir flow characteristics. Extended well tests and early production systems (EPS) help operators determine the commerciality of a field. They also help when...

Petrobras sets pace for artificial lift and fluid flow research.(LATIN AMERICA)
September 1, 2005... Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro SA is prepared to set an important milestone for deepwater and ultra-deepwater petroleum production. The company is pioneering a technological application on artificial lift and fluid flow. The final testing of...

Pemex struggles to keep up output; Mexican government shelves industry reforms.(LATIN AMERICA)(Cover Story)
September 1, 2005... Petroleos Mexicanos is spending more E&P dollars in an effort to increase domestic production, but critics insist that the investment falls short of what the country needs. Pemex's current investment budget is about $10 billion annually,...

E&P wave sweeps Atlantic Canada: more drilling on the way.(EASTERN CANADA)
September 1, 2005... International operators are dipping into their coffers and investing unprecedented amounts offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. A lease sale in 2003 laid the foundation for a sizable portion of today's exploration activity with the award of...

Joint Nigerian venture clinches Bonga installations; shipowners to operate from local units.(SUPPORT VESSEL REPORT)
September 1, 2005... Supply vessel owner and operator Bourbon has formalized a long-running collaboration in Nigeria, following new legislation from the government. This requires ship-owners active in the country's maritime zone to operate via companies established...

DP guidelines designed to cut risk of collisions.(SUPPORT VESSEL REPORT)
September 1, 2005... A cross-industry group is working on new guidelines for offshore supply vessels (OSVs) operating in dynamic positioning mode. The latest survey by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) suggests that station-keeping incidents...

North Sea drilling driving standby revival.(SUPPORT VESSEL REPORT)
September 1, 2005... North Sea activity is on a prolonged high, with many rigs booked through to the end of 2006. High-end support vessels are also in demand, prompting a long overdue overhaul of the European standby fleet. One of the region's leading...

Reservoir drill-in fluid provides channels; opens door for increased production.(PRODUCTION)
September 1, 2005... Eliminating the need for costly and risky post-completion cleanup has been executed offshore California and the Gulf of Mexico where production has been shown to exceed expectations. A newly engineered reservoir drill-in fluid (RDF) that...

Electrical submersible pumping on seabed allows production bypass: new subsea boosting approach.(PRODUCTION)
September 1, 2005... Petrobras has pioneered a prototype subsea boosting electrical submersible pump (ESP) on the seabed that allows production bypass and pump retrieval without the removal of the christmas tree and the associated well completion. The ESP will...

Polyester mooring for Red Hawk among first in GoM: test inserts monitor mooring performance.(Gulf of Mexico)
September 1, 2005... Kerr-McGee's Red Hawk spar production facility, located in Garden Banks 877 in 5,300 ft of water, is one of the first permanent field developments to use a polyester mooring system in the Gulf of Mexico. The mooring incorporates two 45-ft...

Fugro GEOS.(People)
September 1, 2005... After 25 years, Dr. Ralph Rayner has resigned as managing director of Fugro GEOS and was replaced by Jeff Coutts.

Workstrings LLC.(People)
September 1, 2005... Workstrings LLC named Dick Rogers vice president--International and John Tritz vice president--Business Development.

Energy Cranes International Ltd.(People)
September 1, 2005... Energy Cranes International Ltd. has announced the appointment of John Jordan as chief executive officer of the group.

Neptune Marine Services Ltd.(People)
September 1, 2005... Neptune Marine Services Ltd. has made its chief financial officer Richard Wolanski its chief executive officer as part of its strategy to build multiple revenue streams in Australia, Southeast Asia and the United Arab Emirates over the next 12...

The Peak Group.(appoints Clarke Denney)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Clarke Denney, previously from Dong A/S in Denmark, joins The Peak Group as operations manager for the Houston, Texas office and will oversee the planning and execution of the growing well management business in the USA. Nick Muecke, previously...

Superior Energy Services.(People)
September 1, 2005... Superior Energy Services has promoted J.R. Gibbons to vice president--Operations for its Electric Line Division.

FMC Technologies, Inc.(People)
September 1, 2005... FMC Technologies, Inc. announced the election of C. Maury Devine to the company's board of directors.

Kerr-McGee Corp: Ronda Schmidt.(People)
September 1, 2005... Kerr-McGee Corp. named Ronda Schmidt vice president of financial analysis and planning. Schmidt is responsible for Kerr-McGee's financial forecasts, budgets, corporate strategic planning, and financial analysis.

Kerr-McGee Corp.: David A. Hager.(People)
September 1, 2005... The board of directors of Kerr-McGee Corp. named David A. Hager chief operating officer. In this new position, Hager continues to lead the company's worldwide exploration and production business, including operations, business development and...

U.S. Air Force.(People)
September 1, 2005... Anadarko Petroleum Corp. announced that Preston M. "Pete" Geren resigned from Anadarko's Board of Directors to accept an appointment as acting secretary of the U.S. Air Force.

W&T Offshore, Inc.(People)
September 1, 2005... W&T Offshore, Inc. announced the promotions of Joe Slattery and Jeff Durrant to semor vice president; of Steve Schroeder, Amy Brumfield, Cliff Williams and Dan Huffman to vice president; and Manuel Mondragon and Brian Harvey to assistant vice...

Devon Energy Corp.(People)
September 1, 2005... Devon Energy Corp. announced that William A. Van Wie has been appointed to the new position of vice president and general manager, exploration. He will be responsible for coordinating Devon's global exploration activities. Van Wie was...

InterMoor Inc.(People)
September 1, 2005... Brad Adkins has been appointed to vice president of Sales at InterMoor Inc., which designs, provides and installs integrated mooring systems to secure oil and gas platforms worldwide.

EV Offshore Ltd.(People)
September 1, 2005... EV Offshore Ltd., has appointed Darren Bowyer to the position of general manager of the company's operations base in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Baker Hughes Inc.(Baker Atlas )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Baker Hughes Inc. announced that Ray A. Ballantyne, president of INTEQ, has decided to retire after 30 years of service with the company. Martin S. Craighead, president of Baker Atlas, will succeed Ballantyne as president of INTEQ. David H....

Rigdon Marine.(People)
September 1, 2005... Larry Rigdon, president and chief executive officer of Rigdon Marine, announced the appointment of Jim Whitley as director of Technical Services. Whitely will be responsible for vessel engineering, new construction, maintenance and repair,...

BJ Process and Pipeline Services.(People)
September 1, 2005... BJ Process and Pipeline Services announced Derek Clark as the business development manager for the USA & Latin America Region. Clark will oversee all of BJ PPS' business development initiatives throughout the United States and Latin America.

Prosafe.(People)
September 1, 2005... Prosafe has appointed Hugh Parry as president of their subsidiary, Prosafe Production Services Pte Ltd. He takes over from Bjorn Henriksen who returned to Prosafe ASA to take up the position of executive vice president and CFO.

Studsvik AB.(People)
September 1, 2005... The board of directors of Studsvik AB appointed Magnus Groth as the new president and chief executive officer of Studsvik.

Sonsub.(People)
September 1, 2005... Sonsub appointed Giorgio Martelli as the new managing director of both Sonsub Ltd in Aberdeen and Sonsub A/S in Stavanger. Martelli moves to Sonsub from his previous post with the Saipem Group as commercial manager for the North Atlantic...

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd.(People)
September 1, 2005... Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. hired Hoe Eng Hock as the executive director of Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd., following the retirement of Goh Boon Kiat.

Subsea 7 announced contract award by Statoil ASA for the Skinfaks/Rimfaks development, located 190 km west/northwest of Bergen in water depths of around 140 m.(Companies)
September 1, 2005... Subsea 7 announced contract award by Statoil ASA for the Skinfaks/Rimfaks development, located 190 km west/northwest of Bergen in water depths of around 140 m. The contract is valued at $29 million.

WellDynamics and BP have signed a multi-well contract for the provision of SmartWell downhole flow control and ancillary completion equipment to manage water injection in BP's deepwater.(Companies)
September 1, 2005... WellDynamics and BP have signed a multi-well contract for the provision of SmartWell downhole flow control and ancillary completion equipment to manage water injection in BP's deepwater, Greater Plutonio development offshore Angola.

InterMoor Inc. and Brazilian-based Fluke Engenharia Ltda have entered into an exclusive cooperation to design, fabricate and install mooring systems servicing.(Companies)
September 1, 2005... InterMoor Inc. and Brazilian-based Fluke Engenharia Ltda have entered into an exclusive cooperation to design, fabricate and install mooring systems servicing both Petrobras and private foreign operators in waters offshore Brazil.

Hercules Offshore LLC.(Companies)(Hercules Offshore LLC acquired Transocean Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Hercules Offshore LLC, a jackup drilling rig and liftboat contractor based in Houston, Texas with operations in the Gulf of Mexico, has completed the acquisition of the Jupiter jackup drilling rig from Transocean Inc. The Jupiter is an...

Woods Hole Group.(Companies)
September 1, 2005... Woods Hole Group is opening a new office in Houston, Texas, through which it will provide dedicated Meteorological and Oceanographic services to the offshore oil and gas industry.

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. (Keppel O&M) has entered into an agreement with Consafe Offshore.(Companies)
September 1, 2005... Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. (Keppel O&M) has entered into an agreement with Consafe Offshore to sell its entire 85% stake in the Special Purpose Company (SPC).

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S's subsidiary.(Companies)
September 1, 2005... A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S's subsidiary, Maersk Olie og Gas AS (MOG), will acquire the majority of Kerr-McGee's UK oil and gas interests.

Roxar.(Companies)
September 1, 2005... Roxar, a technology solutions provider to the upstream oil and gas industry, donated over $26 million of its IRAP RMS reservoir modeling software for academic use at seven European Universities.

The investors' perspective.(BEYOND THE HORIZON)
September 1, 2005... Historically, private equity (PE) was not attracted to exploration and production for cyclical market reasons. It was oil price driven. It was not a private company environment, and there were few available assets. Many people have...

Environmental drilling & completion fluids directory. Part_1.(Part 1)(Directory)
September 1, 2005... The 2005 Environmental Drilling and Completions Fluids Directory appearing on the following pages is a listing of industry fluid manufacturers and their individual products. The directory is differentiated into 15 sections based on type of...

Environmental drilling & completion fluids directory. Part_2.(Part 2)(Directory)
September 1, 2005... Note: See Part 1 for first portion of table. Product Dis- Non- Saturated Fresh name persed dispersed salt water BACTERIACIDES AMBAR AMCIDE * ...