Monthly Archives: November 2012
USA: Pangea LNG Seeking Approvals for Corpus Christi Project
Pangea LNG Holdings announced that it has begun the process of seeking approvals necessary to build a liquefied natural gas export facility on Corpus Christi Bay in South Texas.
Pangea has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Energy seeking authority to export up to eight million metric tons per year of liquefied natural gas to all current and future countries with which the U.S. has a Free Trade Agreement and intends to quickly file a similar application for LNG exports to any country with which the U.S. does not have a Free Trade Agreement in effect.
The project is located in the city of Ingleside on the La Quinta Ship Channel which is part of the Port of Corpus Christi. The project will be known as South Texas LNG Export.
South Texas LNG Export will be located on a portion of a 550-acre site which includes half a mile of frontage on the federally-maintained deepwater ship channel. Pangea has had the site under option since June. A separate pipeline project would connect the LNG plant to the extensive interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipeline network in South Texas.
Pangea LNG is an energy project and investment company involved in the development of LNG liquefaction and storage projects around the globe including an offshore floating LNG liquefaction project in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
John Godbold, project director for Pangea LNG, said an intensive project feasibility and preliminary design process is now underway on the South Texas project. The assessment is being conducted by CB&I, a leading international engineering, procurement and construction company.
The South Texas LNG Export project will require federal, state and local regulatory approval. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the lead agency in the permitting process. If this process moves forward on schedule the South Texas LNG terminal could be in operation by 2018.
Kathleen Eisbrenner, Pangea LNG’s chief executive officer, said, “We expect there to be several successful LNG export projects on the Texas Coast in the coming years because of the large new natural gas reserves in North America. Exporting LNG will help stabilize U.S. natural gas prices, sustain drilling and production jobs in South Texas, and stimulate investment in developing additional gas reserves.”
The South Texas project is the second LNG liquefaction project being developed by Pangea LNG companies. Levant LNG Marketing, a Pangea subsidiary, completed an extensive pre-FEED (preliminary front end engineering design), is finalizing commercial agreements and will start FEED engineering shortly on the Tamar Project which will export LNG from the Tamar and Dalit fields in the Eastern Mediterranean, 60 miles offshore from Israel.
That facility will be a permanently moored offshore floating natural gas liquefaction vessel with onboard LNG storage. The self-contained operation will be the first floating LNG export project in the Mediterranean basin. A final investment decision on the Tamar Project is expected by the second half of 2013.
USA: Pangea LNG Seeking Approvals for Corpus Christi Project LNG World News.
Ingleside,TX: Shell’s Olympus Hull Begins Journey to US Gulf Coast
Shell Offshore Inc.’s (Shell) Olympus hull, the approximately 32,500 metric ton main body of the Olympus TLP, departed from South Korea to begin its two month journey to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
After nearly 4 million man hours and a peak of approximately 1,300 workers on-site, construction of the Olympus hull was completed in November 2012. The hull will be transported from South Korea to Ingleside, TX on Dockwise’s world-class Blue Marlin marine vessel, a semi-submersible heavy lift ship specifically designed to transport larger equipment above the ship’s deck. The hull is expected to reach Ingleside, Texas in early 2013 where installation of the topsides will take place before the TLP departs for its final location on the Mars Field in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Mars Field, owned by Shell (71.5%) and BP (28.5%), and operated by Shell, continues to contribute to the Gulf of Mexico’s position as a critical component of the US energy supply. Discovered in 1989 and brought onto production in 1996, the Mars Field is considered one of the largest resource basins in the Gulf of Mexico. The site for the Olympus TLP, known as the Mars B development, is located about 130-miles south of New Orleans in the Mississippi Canyon and lies in approximately 3000 feet of water.
The Olympus TLP, Shell’s sixth and largest tension leg platform, will also provide process infrastructure for two of Shell’s deep water discoveries, West Boreas and South Deimos. The Mars B development is the first project of its kind to expand an existing deep water Gulf of Mexico oil field. A combination of factors produced this growth, including improved understanding of the reservoir and recovery potential due to advanced seismic and modeling technologies, and new discoveries in the Mars Field.
Subsea World News – Shell’s Olympus Hull Begins Journey to US Gulf Coast.
- Shell’s Olympus Hull on Its Way to U.S. Gulf Coast (worldmaritimenews.com)
- Canyon Offshore’s Olympic Triton Returns to the Gulf of Mexico (mb50.wordpress.com)
Gulf of Mexico: Shell Increases Stake in Habanero Offshore Field
Callon Petroleum Company (CPE) has entered into an agreement to sell its 11.25% working interest in the Habanero field (Garden Banks Block 341) to Shell Offshore Inc., the operator of the field, for a contemplated base purchase price of USD $42 million.
The effective date of this transaction will be October 1, 2012, and it is expected to close on or before December 28, 2012, subject to the exercise of preferential rights and customary closing conditions. The Company plans to use the cash proceeds from this asset divestiture, net of purchase price adjustments, to repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility.
Callon`s net interest in the Habanero field produced approximately 336 barrels of oil per day and 506 million cubic feet of natural gas per day during the month of October 2012, or approximately 8.7% of Callon`s total production for this time period. As of December 31, 2011, Callon`s net proved reserves related to the Habanero field were 1.373 million barrels of oil equivalent, with approximately 84% classified as proved undeveloped, as presented in Callon`s most recent Form 10-K.
Fred Callon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to announce another significant step in the transformation of our asset base. Pro forma for this transaction, over 50% of our total production for the month of October 2012 would have been sourced from onshore properties. In addition, the proceeds from this divestiture provide us with additional financial flexibility to execute on our growth initiatives in the Permian Basin.”
Callon Petroleum Company is engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration and operation of oil and gas properties in Texas, Louisiana and the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Shell Increases Stake in Habanero Offshore Field (USA)| Offshore Energy Today.
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Corpus Christi, TX: Apache to Add CNG Gas Fuelling Dispensers at Midland Stripes Stores
Stripes LLC, a subsidiary of Susser Holdings Corporation announced it is partnering with Apache Corporation to add natural gas fueling dispensers at selected Stripes® convenience store locations.
Initially, compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling capability will be available at two Stripes locations in the Midland, Texas area.
Steve DeSutter, Stripes President and CEO – Retail, said, “Adding natural gas to our conventional motor fuel products reinforces our mission to give Stripes customers what they want at a great price in our convenient store locations.
“We certainly see the role of natural gas in our energy future, and we are looking forward to participating as it evolves as a viable alternative transportation fuel. We plan to evaluate the results of our pilot project in West Texas, and if it is successful, we expect to gradually roll out CNG fueling capabilities in other Stripes markets,” DeSutter said.
Steve Farris, Apache’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Natural gas discovered and produced in the United States is a smart alternative to conventional fuels. It’s cheaper, cleaner, and abundant.
“We use it for our fleet cars and trucks with great results, lowering operating costs and reducing our environmental footprint. Partnering with Stripes provides our fleet and other CNG users with a more convenient fueling experience as well as access to their stores and other amenities.”
Today compressed natural gas is priced 30% to 40% lower than gasoline or diesel on a gallonequivalent basis, which means a big savings at the pump. According to industry experts, natural gas is kinder to the environment by reducing vehicle exhaust emissions, and because of our nation’s abundant natural gas reserves, it represents a more secure American energy supply. According to the Department of Energy Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Pricing Report and the Institute of Energy Research, known domestic resources could satisfy the nation’s needs for more than 100 years.
Apache to Add Gas Fuelling Dispensers at Stripes Stores, USA LNG World News.
Pangea, Tamar Partners Share Israeli FLNG Costs
A Cost Sharing Agreement (CSA) has been executed between Levant LNG Marketing, a subsidiary of Pangea LNG B.V., and Tamar Partners. This major milestone demonstrates the continuing progress toward the export of LNG from the Tamar and Dalit fields in the Eastern Mediterranean, 60 miles offshore from Israel.
The Tamar Partnership will participate in the cost of developing the project front end engineering and design (FEED) for a permanently moored offshore floating natural gas liquefaction vessel with onboard storage. Pangea LNG and Tamar Partners anticipate launching FEED by end of 2012 and making a final investment decision by the second half of 2013.
The floating liquefaction (FLNG) midstream solution is being developed by Pangea LNG, an LNG development and investment company owned by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), Next Decade International and D&H Solutions AS. Pangea LNG is a floating LNG liquefaction and storage project developer now working on projects around the globe that will connect gas suppliers to the world’s most important LNG demand markets.
The Tamar Partnership includes Noble Energy Mediterranean Ltd, Isramco Negev 2 Limited Partnership, Delek Drilling Limited Partnership, Avner Oil Exploration Limited Partnership, and DorGas Exploration Limited Partnership. These companies are the owners and producers involved in the discovery of significant natural gas resources in the Tamar and Dalit fields where development drilling is underway.
Gerhard Ludvigsen, a founding member of the Pangea LNG board of directors, said “the Tamar project embraces the entire value chain and balances the risk positions for the owners of hydrocarbons, the off takers and the midstream technology provider.
“The Pangea business model offers the opportunity for all stakeholders to take part in the value enhancement from gas production through the FLNG/midstream solution to the final off take of LNG. Pangea LNG opens the potential for national oil companies and owners of small to medium size gas reserves to monetize stranded gas and take part in the value creation in the entire value chain.”
Pangea LNG continues to work on off-take agreements for LNG production from the Tamar project. Pangea LNG has already executed several letters of intent with potential off takers and is in the final stage of negotiations for the long term sales and purchase agreement.
The Tamar framework agreement represents an important step in the development of what will be the first floating LNG liquefaction project in the Mediterranean basin. The Tamar and Dalit fields are located in the Levantine basin in Israeli waters.
“The Eastern Mediterranean gas fields provide a particularly good location for deploying an offshore floating LNG solution,” said Kathleen Eisbrenner, Pangea LNG’s chief executive officer. “The reserves are large, the climate is moderate and the location offers efficient access to significant LNG markets.”
O.K. Shin, Team leader of DSME Corporate Strategy Team, noted that the vessel-mounted liquefaction system being designed will take advantage of the efficiencies of the DSME shipyard construction environment and the best practices the company has developed during many years of LNG and process vessel construction.
Pangea LNG brings together a team that generated the innovations that are at the foundation of the floating LNG sector. DSME, the majority owner of Pangea, is one of the world’s leading shipbuilders and a contractor for major energy companies providing them with offshore platforms, drilling rigs and floating production units. The company builds special purpose vessels and specializes in LNG carriers. It constructed nine of the 11 floating LNG regasification vessels now in service.
Pangea, Tamar Partners Share Israeli FLNG Costs| Offshore Energy Today.
- Israel: Major Milestone in Tamar FLNG Project Development (worldmaritimenews.com)
- Pangea LNG Continues its Development of Mediterranean Floating LNG Export Project (prnewswire.com)
- Global Market for Floating Production Systems to Reach $91 Billion; More Than $28 Billion in Global FLNG Liquefaction Spending (sacbee.com)
BP: Current U.S. Gulf Operations Untouched by EPA’s Suspension
BP was quick to react after the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a press release in which it said that the British oil giant would be temporary banned from making new arrangements with the federal government.
In a statement issued on its website BP highlighted that the temporary suspension relates only to future potential contracts with the U.S. government and won’t affect any existing contracts the company has with the US government, including those relating to current and ongoing drilling and production operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
To remind, EPA explained the move as a necessary action“due to BP’s lack of business integrity as demonstrated by the company’s conduct with regard to the Deepwater Horizon blowout, explosion, oil spill, and response.”
The suspension will remain in force until BP can provide sufficient evidence to EPA demonstrating that it meets Federal business standards, EPA explained in its press release.
One year suspension?
In its response BP, headquartered in London, said it has already provided EPA with a statement of more than 100 pages and supplemental answers to the EPA’s questions based on that submission, to prove itself a responsible company able to do business with the government.
BP, which two weeks ago pleaded guilty for its conduct relating to the Deepwater Horizon blowout, explosion, oil spill and response, said it was notified by EPA that the suspension could be lifted soon. Some sources, such as Forbes and Federal Times claim that the ban could last for one year, while The Washington Post predicts the suspension could be in force until the end of legal proceedings related to the oil spill disaster.
BP added the company has made significant enhancements since the accident, saying that immediately after the Deepwater Horizon accident, the company launched an internal investigation, publicly released the results, made changes to the management, and has been implementing all 26 of the investigation’s recommendations.
“In the two and a half years since the Deepwater Horizon accident, the US government has granted BP more than 50 new leases in the Gulf of Mexico, where the company has been drilling safely since the government moratorium was lifted,” BP said.
Markey: Righteous Punishment
Representative Edward J. Markey today, on his blog, praised the Obama administration move: “…suspending BP’s access to contracts with our government is the right thing to do…When someone recklessly crashes a car, their license and keys are taken away. The wreckage of BP’s recklessness is still sitting at the bottom of the ocean and this kind of time out is an appropriate element of the suite of criminal, civil and economic punishments that BP should pay for their disaster.”
No BP bids
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today held Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 229, which offered over 20 millions acres and attracted more that $133 million in high bids for the acreage in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Texas. Thirteen companies submitted the bids, and BP was not one of them, The Washington Post reports, citing sources close to the UK-based oil giant.
BP: Current U.S. Gulf Operations Untouched by EPA’s Suspension| Offshore Energy Today.
Sonardyne, Oceaneering Demonstrate ROV Capabilities in U.S. Gulf
A recent trials partnership between Sonardyne International Ltd. and Oceaneering International, Inc. has resulted in the development of a Fly-By-Wire (FBW) system for ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) control in any water depth, allowing the vehicle to hold station indefinitely and navigate to real-world coordinates automatically.
A Sonardyne SPRINT system was installed on one of Oceaneering’s Maxximum ROVs and integrated with a Sonardyne Ranger 2 Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) system for acoustic aiding of the Inertial Navigation System (INS). The trials took place in the Gulf of Mexico in water depths of 3,057 metres (10,030 ft) and results showed that continuous hovering of the ROV in mid-water beyond Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) range was possible, as well as automatic navigation to waypoints.
The majority of ROV navigation systems utilize an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) and DVL to provide a relative or dead reckoned position. These systems are subject to time and distance based position errors and only operate close to the seabed, meaning mid-water operations are conducted via manual control so real world or relative coordinates cannot be easily used by the ROV pilot. To address these limitations, Sonardyne and Oceaneering have developed a novel navigation and control system solution utilising the dual output of INS and AHRS data from SPRINT to provide ROV Dynamic Positioning (DP) in all water depths with capabilities beyond current state-of-the-art, without affecting reliability or ease of use.
The system has two methods of ROV control: ‘Navigation’ and ‘Passthru’. In ‘Navigation’ mode, the ROV control system uses INS positioning optimised for DP with real-world position, velocity and attitude data at high output rates. This speeds up ROV operations by improving vehicle control precision, automating station keeping and delivering FBW capability. ‘Navigation’ mode is available continuously in all water depths when USBL data is available. If the INS solution should become degraded or is unavailable, the system automatically reverts to ‘Passthru’ mode. ‘Passthru’ mode is a dead reckoned solution using self contained AHRS data that is inherently robust and reliable when combined with DVL data.
The results of the trial showed that continuous hovering of the ROV in mid-water beyond DVL range was possible, as well as automatic navigation to waypoints. When the ROV was in DVL range of the seabed the ‘Navigation’ mode performed equally as well as the ‘Passthru’ mode but with the added benefit of real-world referenced positioning data from the USBL system. The faster update rate (20 Hz, compared to the 5 Hz rate of the DVL) has the potential to refine vehicle control precision.
Commenting on the development, Mark Carter, Business Development Manager for Inertial Systems at Sonardyne said, “Fly-By-Wire ROV control using real-world coordinates significantly improves operational efficiency compared to relative-only positioning methods. Faster navigation updates, automatic registering of waypoints and indefinite mid-water station keeping speed up ROV operations and ultimately save ROV and vessel time.”
Mark Philip, ROV Technology Manager at Oceaneering stated that, “Autonomous flight control is an increasingly important feature for ROVs. Oceaneering’s Fly-By-Wire system has greatly enhanced the efficiency of the service we provide to our customers since its introduction several years ago. The integration of the SPRINT inertial navigation system further enhances this capability by providing hands-free hovering and navigation throughout the entire water column. We place high importance on ease of operation and redundancy and are confident that our collaboration with Sonardyne satisfies these requirements.”
Sonardyne, Oceaneering Demonstrate ROV Capabilities in U.S. Gulf| Offshore Energy Today.
- Canyon Offshore’s Olympic Triton Returns to the Gulf of Mexico (mb50.wordpress.com)
Continents of the World
Mb50's "Liquid Mud" Rant 