Daily Archives: October 15, 2012
Worldwide Field Development News Oct 9 – Oct 15, 2012
This week the SubseaIQ team added 0 new projects and updated 7 projects. You can see all the updates made over any time period via the Project Update History search. The latest offshore field development news and activities are listed below for your convenience.
S. America – Brazil
Petrobras Announces Farfan Discovery
Oct 11, 2012 – Petrobras announced the discovery of light hydrocarbons at its Farfan prospect in block SEAL-M-426 offshore Brazil. Well 1-BRSA-851-SES is being drilled in 8,923 of water by the Deepsea Metro II (UDW drillship). A hydrocarbon bearing zone of 144 feet was discovered at a depth of 18,314 feet and was confirmed by wireline testing and fluid sample analysis. The rig will continue drilling to the target depth of 19,685. Petrobras and partner IBV Brazil hold 60% and 40% interest in the well respectively.
Oct 11, 2012 – Petrobras released preliminary drilling results concerning appraisal well 3-RJS-683A at the Jupiter prospect confirming a discovery of natural gas and condensate. The discovery has proven a continuous reservoir between 3-RJS-683A and the Jupiter discovery well. A 577-foot oil column has also been detected in rocks displaying excellent permeability and porosity. Further appraisal is needed to determine the size of the field but initial estimates suggest that Jupiter could hold as much as 1 billion cubic feet of gas. To this point, the well has reached a depth of 17,834 feet and drilling will continue in an effort to reach deeper targets.
Project Details: Jupiter
Europe – North Sea
Lundin Announces Albert Results
Oct 11, 2012 – The Bredford Dolphin (mid-water semisub) wrapped up drilling operations at Lundin’s Albert prospect offshore Norway. Well 6201/11-3 was drilled to 9,760 feet and penetrated a thin Cretaceous oil bearing reservoir. The reservoir was found at a depth where the primary target was expected to be encountered. Due to the makeup of the structure and uncertain distribution, an estimation of resources in place cannot be made at this time. A minor column of movable hydrocarbons was encountered in a Paleocene secondary target. Further geophysical and geological studies are required to clarify the potential of the discovery.
Project Details: Albert
Heerema Delivers Andrew Process Module
Oct 11, 2012 – Heerema Fabrication recently completed construction of the new 750 ton process module for BP’s Andrew platform in the UK North Sea. The module was designed to be a “bolt-on” addition to the platform facilitated by the use of two large hinge pins that engage hooks welded to the existing structure. Heerema’s Hartlepool yard benefited from the project by the creation of 180 jobs. In addition, the module was delivered without a single lost time incident.
Project Details: Andrew (UK)
Providence Encouraged by Barryroe Development Modeling
Oct 9, 2012 – Providence Resources recently completed a suite of static and dynamic modeling of the main Basal Wealden oil bearing reservoir interval within the Barryroe complex offshore Ireland. Data from the new models was incorporated with maps made from the recent 3D seismic survey of the area allowing Providence to establish oil recovery factors ranging from 17% to 43%. A modeled recovery factor of 31% over 25 years was achieved based on a development scenario which implemented 41 horizontal production and 22 horizontal water injection wells. Also, the company awarded the Barryroe Concept Development Engineering Study to Procyon Oil and Gas. Procyon will help determine the best development plan for the field based on the different scenarios recently modeled by Providence.
Project Details: Barryroe
Ithaca Adds to Resources in UK North Sea
Oct 9, 2012 – Ithaca Energy has acquired interest in the Cook and MacCulloch fields in the UK North Sea through the acquisition of two Noble Energy subsidiaries. The Shell-operated Cook field is located in block 21/20a and is processed through the Anasuria FPSO. The acquisition will bring Ithaca’s stake in the field to 41.345%. The ConocoPhillips-operated MacCulloch field is found in block 15/24b and was developed through 4 subsea wells tied back to the North Sea Producer FPSO. Finalization of the acquisition, expected in early 2013, will give Ithaca a 14% stake in the field. With the addition of these assets, Ithaca’s net production – largely oil – should increase by 1,100 boepd. The company’s total consideration in the arrangement is $38.5 million.
Project Details: MacCulloch
Asia – Far East
Lufeng FSOU Gets an Upgrade
Oct 9, 2012 – InterMoor completed its first permanent mooring project in the Lufeng field in the South China Sea. The company was contracted by CNOOC to handle project management, engineering, procurement and installation of a new buoy turret mooring system for the Nanhai Sheng Kai FSOU. Installation of the new mooring system should allow CNOOC to get an additional 15 years of service life out of the vessel which was first deployed in 1992. Included in the work scope was the addition of a new 8-inch flexible flowline and riser between the mooring system and LF13-2 wellhead platform. The FSOU was previously anchored in the LF13-1 field but has been moved to the 13-2 field since the upgrade to expand development there.
Australia
Scarborough Partners Still Mulling Development Options
Oct 11, 2012 – ExxonMobil said a decision on how to develop the Scarborough gas field is not likely until the second half of 2013. Scarborough is considered one of the most difficult fields off Western Australia to develop. Water depth in the area is around 4,700 feet and the closest land is 170 miles away. The company is evaluating several options with its joint partner BHP Billiton. Some of the options include building a floating LNG platform or supplying gas to companies that have existing LNG plants.
MEO Ready for Farmout in Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
Oct 9, 2012 – MEO Australia announced its intention to launch the farmout of exploration permit WA-454-P on Nov. 1. The farmout is scheduled to conclude by the end of 1Q 2013. WA-454-P, located in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, contains the Marina-1 discovery and the sizable Breakwater prospect. MEO describes Marina-1 as a “gas and probably oil” discovery with 3C contingent gas resources of up to 3.2 Bcf and 3C contingent oil/condensate resources of up to 29.5 MMstb. Gas-only perspective resources for Breakwater are up to 2.7 Tcf with 87 MMstb condensate. In addition, Breakwater is situated in an area near proven gas discoveries that are planned to be developed with floating LNG technology. MEO was awarded WA-454-P in June 2011 and holds 100% interest in the permit.
Project Details: Marina
Related articles
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 14 – Sep 20, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Aug 10 – Aug 16, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 22 – Sep 28, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
Seadrill Partners Begins IPO Process
Seadrill Partners, today announced that it has started an initial public offering of 8,750,000 common units, and, according to Reuters, the company plans to raise as much as $193 million.
Seadrill Partners, a subsidiary of international drilling contractor Seadrill Limited, intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase up to 1,312,500 additional common units. The common units being offered to the public have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SDLP,” subject to official notice of issuance.
Based on the number of common units to be offered, Seadrill Limited will own a 78.8% limited liability company interest in Seadrill Partners following completion of the Offering (or a 75.7% limited liability company interest, if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional common units.)
Seadrill Partners was formed by Seadrill Limited to own, operate and acquire offshore drilling rigs under long-term contracts. Seadrill Partners’ initial fleet will consist of two semi-submersible rigs (West Capricorn and West Aquarius), one drillship (West Capella) and one tender rig (West Vencedor).
Seadrill Partners Begins IPO Process| Offshore Energy Today.
Ecolab to Acquire Champion for $2.2 Bln (USA)
Ecolab Inc. announced that it has agreed to acquire privately held Champion Technologies and its related company Corsicana Technologies (hereafter collectively referred to as Champion) in a transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion, to be paid through a mix of approximately 75% cash and 25% stock.
Champion is a Houston, Texas-based global energy specialty products and services company with approximately 3,300 employees in more than 30 countries delivering product and service-based offerings to the oil and gas industry. 2011 sales were $1.2 billion. Closing is expected to occur by year-end 2012, subject to regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions.
Read more: Ecolab to Acquire Champion for $2.2 Bln (USA)| Offshore Energy Today.
- Ecolab buying Champion Technologies for $2.2 bln (marketwatch.com)
- Ecolab buying Champion Tech for $2.2B, hints on good Q3 (bizjournals.com)
- Champion Technologies sold to Ecolab for $2.2B (bizjournals.com)
Continents of the World
Mb50's "Liquid Mud" Rant 