Category Archives: Offshore FIeld Development

Worldwide Field Development News Oct 18 – Oct 24, 2014

Worldwide Field Development News
Oct 18 – Oct 24, 2014
This week the SubseaIQ team added 9 new projects and updated 38 projects. You can see all the updates made over any time period via the Project Update History search. The latest offshore field develoment news and activities are listed below for your convenience.

MidEast – Persian Gulf
JODCO Announces First Phase Oil Production at Umm Lulu Field
Oct 21, 2014 – Inpex subsidiary Japan Oil Development Company (JODCO) announced that production had started earlier this month at the Umm Lulu field off Abu Dhabi. Production activities are currently associated with the first phase of development at the field and involves using existing facilities at the adjacent Umm Al-Dalkh field with produced oil flowing to shore-based processing facilities on Zirku Island. Phase II will consist of the installation of several fixed platforms and is expected to allow oil production at a rate of 105,000 bopd. The Umm Lulu joint venture consist of Abu Dhabi Oil Company (60%), BP (14.67%), Total (13.33%) and JODCO (12%).
Project Details: Umm Lulu
Australia
IPB Petroleum Preps for Pryderi-1 Probe
Oct 22, 2014 – IPB Petroleum anticipates spudding a wildcat well in the WA-424-P permit in late October or early November. The Stena Clyde (mid-water semisub) has been contracted to drill the well but is currently on location at the Puffin field in permit AC/L6. Pryderi-1 is designed to target a possible 78 million barrels in prospective resources. IPB operates the permit with 75% interest on behalf of its partner CalEnergy (25%).
Project Details: Pryderi
Africa – West
Leopard Wildcat off Gabon Provides Gas Discovery for Shell and CNOOC
Oct 23, 2014 – Shell announced the discovery of oil and gas while drilling the Leopard-1 exploration well in Block BCD10 offshore Gabon. The well was drilled to a total vertical depth of 16,610 feet by the Noble Globetrotter II (UDW semisub) in 6,922 feet of water. A net gas column of 656 was cut through pre-salt reservoir. Shell serves as block operator with 75% and its partner, CNOOC, carries the remaining 25%. The partners are planning to initiate an appraisal drilling program to aid in determining resource volumes.
Project Details: Leopard (Gabon)
Ophir Reports Successful DST at Fortuna Field Appraisal
Oct 22, 2014 – A successful drill stem test (DST) was recently performed at the Fortuna-2 well in Ophir Energy’s Block R offshore Equatorial Guinea. Fortuna-2 was drilled by the Titanium Explorer (UDW drillship) to appraise the 2008 Fortuna discovery. During the DST, a sustained flowrate of 60 MMscf/d was achieved through constrained testing equipment with less than 20 psi of drawdown at the reservoir. Ophir had originally assumed 7 development wells would be needed to exploit the reservoir but the excellent flowrate and minimum drawdown make it likely that less wells will be needed. Fortuna is estimated to contain 1.3 Tcf in recoverable gas resources. Ophir and GEPetrol participate in the block at 80% and 20% interests respectively.
Project Details: Fortuna Complex
N. America – US GOM
Delta House FPU Successfully Installed in MC254
Oct 24, 2014 – Installation of LLOG’s Delta House floating production unit (FPU) has been successfully completed in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The semisubmersible is located in 4,500 feet of water in Mississippi Canyon 254. Based on the Exmar OPTI-11000 hull design, the facility has a peak oil and gas production capacity of 100,000 bopd and 240 MMscf/d. Most of the subsea infrastructure associated with Delta House has been installed and production start up is anticipated in 1H 2015.
Project Details: Delta House
Chevron Hits Oil Pay at Guadalupe Prospect in U.S. GOM
Oct 23, 2014 – Chevron, operator of Keathley Canyon Block 10 in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, discovered oil while drilling a deepwater exploration well at its Guadalupe prospect. Specific details were not provided but the discovery in Lower Tertiary Wilcox sands is described as significant. The well was drilled by the Discoverer India (UDW drillship) to a depth of 30,173 feet. Chevron’s partners in the block include BP (42.5%) and Venari Resources (15%). Additional testing and appraisal will be needed to determine the commerciality of the discovery.
Project Details: Guadalupe (KC10)
Europe – North Sea
GDF and BP Team Up for Vorlich and Marconi Discovery in UK North Sea
Oct 23, 2014 – GDF Suez and BP recently made a new discovery in the UK North Sea while drilling well 30/1f-13A and a sidetrack. The well was drilled to test a structure that spans parts of GDF-operated license P1588 and BP-operated license P363. GDF refers to the discovery as Marconi and BP refers to it as Vorlich. The well was drilled by the Transocean Galaxy II (400′ ILC) under a joint well agreement between the participants of both licenses. Hydrocarbon-bearing Paleocene sands were encountered in license P363 and a sidetrack into license P1588 confirmed the westerly extension of the discovery. Well 30/1f-13A tested at a maximum flowrate of 5,350 boepd.
Project Details: Marconi – Vorlich
Xcite Signs MOU with Baker Hughes for Bentley Field Services
Oct 22, 2014 – Xcite Energy, operator of the Bentley field in UK license P1078, announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Baker Hughes that lays down principles for the provision of services related to the development of the field. Xcite Energy has tasked Baker Hughes with maximizing recovery from the field. Baker Hughes will likely supply drilling and completion services, well engineering, reservoir engineering and electric submersible pumps. Bentley was discovered in 1977 and development started in early in 2012. Xcite is the sole interest holder in the project. Production at the field could be initiated next year with an expected rate of 57,000 bopd.
Project Details: Bentley
Statoil Finds Additional Resources near Grane Field in North Sea
Oct 22, 2014 – Additional oil resources have been proven in the vicinity of the Statoil-operated Grane field in the Norwegian North Sea. Statoil tested the D-structure with well 25/8-18S and exposed an oil column of 82 feet in the Heimdal formation. Data indicates a recoverable volume of 30 to 80 million barrels. The discovery is located just over 4 miles north of the Grane field and is part of Statoil’s strategy of near-field exploration in an effort to extend the life of existing infrastructure. The well was drilled by the Transocean Leader (mid-water semisub) and reached a measured depth of 6,125 feet.
Project Details: Grane
Africa – Other
Chariot Elects Not to Renew Namibian Blocks
Oct 23, 2014 – Chariot Oil & Gas has elected not to apply for a new exploration license concerning its 100%-owned Namibian Blocks 1811A and 1811B that are due to laps Oct. 26. The company has thoroughly analyzed proprietary seismic and well data and has integrated information from third party drilling activity in order to determine the possibility of long range hydrocarbon migration to the Zamba prospect. The efforts have not been able to de-risk the prospect to a level that warrants further investment although Chariot still considers the acreage to be prospective. In May 2012 Chariot drilled an unsuccessful well at the Tapir South prospect. Well 1811/5-1 cut 568 net feet of carbonate and sandstone reservoirs but no hydrocarbon indications were observed.
Project Details: Zamba
Oil Shows Suggest Possible Discovery Offshore Morocco
Oct 21, 2014 – Near the end of July, Genel Energy spud the SM-1 exploration well in the Sidi Moussa block offshore Morocco to test the Nour prospect. San Leon Energy, a junior partner in the block, confirmed in a recent report the well has been drilled to 9,268 feet and that oil was encountered during the drilling process. The partners plan to proceed with well testing to determine possible commercial value of the discovery. SM-1 was drilled by the Noble Paul Romano (DW semisub) in 3,215 feet of water. Block interest holders include operator Genel Energy (60%), state-run ONHYM (25%), San Leon Energy (10%) and Serica Energy (5%).
Project Details: Nour
Asia – SouthEast
McDermott Snags Second Bukit Tua Development Contract
Oct 23, 2014 – McDermott International, Inc. was recently awarded its second contract relating to the Petronas-operated Bukit Tua development in the Ketapang Production Sharing Contract (PSC) offshore East Java, Indonesia. In August, the engineering firm was secured to build the jacket for the BTJT-A wellhead platform that will be installed at the field in November 2014. This week, McDermott was awarded a transportation, installation and pre-commissioning contract regarding the jacket and its topsides along with subsea pipeline tie-in spools. Additionally, McDermott will be responsible for pre-commissioning of the related export and infield pipelines. Offshore work should be completed by the end of 1Q 2015.
Project Details: Bukit Tua

Worldwide Field Development News May 3 – May 9, 2014

This week the SubseaIQ team added 6 new projects and updated 29 projects. You can see all the updates made over any time period via the Project Update History search. The latest offshore field develoment news and activities are listed below for your convenience.

Africa – West
Cajun Express Drilling FAN-1 and SNE-1 Top Holes Offshore Senegal
May 8, 2014 – Top hole drilling at the Cairn-operated FAN-1 well offshore Senegal has been completed and the Cajun Express (UDW semisub) has moved to spud the SNE-1 top hole. Once the top hole is complete, the rig will move back to FAN-1 and drill the well total depth. Both wells are located in the Sangomar Offshore license and are being drilled to test the North Fan and Lupalupa prospects respectively. Cairn operates the license with 40% interest. Its partners include ConocoPhillips (35%), FAR (15%) and Petrosen (10%).
Project Details: North Fan
CAMAC Ready to Kick-Off Oyo Development Activities
May 8, 2014 – CAMAC Energy reports the arrival of the Energy Searcher (mid-water drillship) in Nigerian waters. After taking on personnel, equipment and supplies, the rig will sail to the Oyo field in OML 120 to begin a development drilling program starting with the spud of Oyo-8. Upon the completion and tie-in of Oyo-8, the rig will relocate within the field to re-enter and tie-in Oyo-7. Both wells are expected to be producing at a rate of 14,000 bopd by November. Additionally, the company says the rig could drill one or more high-impact exploration wells in OML 120 and OML 121.
Project Details: Oyo
N. America – US GOM
Apache Divests Lucius, Heidelberg and Other GOM Interests
May 8, 2014 – Apache’s U.S. Gulf of Mexico subsidiary elected to sell off its minority interest in the Lucius and Heidelberg developments to a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. for $1.4 billion. The deal also includes 11 primary term deepwater exploration blocks. Apache combined its deepwater and shelf technical teams in an effort to focus on subsalt and exploration opportunities in water less than 1,000 feet deep. Apache is divesting an 11.7% interest in Lucius and a 12.5% interest in Heidelberg. Its interest in the 11 primary term blocks range from 16.67% to 60%. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by June 30. None of Apache’s producing operations are involved in the sale.
Project Details: Lucius
Maersk Developer Spuds Martin in Mississippi Canyon 718
May 8, 2014 – Exploratory drilling is underway at Statoil’s Martin prospect in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Martin is located in 2,916 feet of water in Mississippi Canyon Block 718. Statoil acquired the block for $157.1 million in October 2012 which was the highest bid received during the Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 216/222. The company considers Martin to be one of the top components of its global portfolio; it took only 20 months from acquisition of the acreage to advance the prospect to drillable status. Well #1 is expected to take around 150 days to complete and is the first of 4 possible wells that will be drilled in the area. Statoil, the sole participant in the well, contracted the Maersk Developer (UDW semisub) to carry out drilling operations.
Project Details: Martin (GOM)
Mediterranean
Kosmos Comes Up Dry with First Well Offshore Morocco
May 8, 2014 – Kosmos Energy failed to find commercial quantities of hydrocarbons at its FA-1 well in the Foum Assaka license offshore Morocco. FA-1 was drilled by the Maersk Discoverer (UDW semisub) to a total depth of 12,656 feet and is being plugged and abandoned. The well was designed to test the salt diapir play concept, which is one of several in the Agadir Basin. Oil and gas shows were seen in drill cuttings and in sidewall cores which suggests a working petroleum system in the area. Additionally, the well provided key information to calibrate seismic data that will further the geologic understanding of the license.
Project Details: FA-1 (Eagle)
Tamar Partners Sign LOI with Union Fenosa Gas
May 8, 2014 – A non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) was recently executed between the Tamar field partners and Union Fenosa Gas SA (UFG) regarding the supply of Tamar gas to UFG’s gas liquefaction facilities in Egypt. Terms of the LOI propose a 15-year contract term and total gross sales totaling roughly 440 MMcfd over the period. The LOI follows recent agreements with Palestine Power Generation Company, Arab Potash and Jordan Bromine Companies. A binding agreement with UFG is expected to be reached within the next 6 months pending Israeli and Egyptian regulatory approvals. Tamar has been estimated to hold 10 Tcf of discovered gas resources.
Project Details: Tamar
Australia
AWE Finally Reaches TD at Pateke-4H
May 8, 2014 – After several setbacks that necessitated two sidetracks, drilling operations at the AWE-operated Pateke-4H development well have come to an end. Target depth of the well was 17,654 feet but that was eventually revised to 15,656 feet. The decision to adjust the TD was made due to the 2,457-foot horizontal leg being drilled through a very high quality reservoir and to ensure a stable well bore necessary for completion and production. A 6 5/8″ slotted production liner has been installed and preparations are being made to run the completion. Pateke-4H is expected to begin production in 1Q 2015 following the installation of subsea infrastructure and tie-back to the Tui FPSO. Completion operations are expected to take about 10 days after which the Kan Tan IV (mid-water semisub) will relocate within the license to drill the Oi prospect.
Project Details: Tui Area Development Project
Asia – SouthEast
Norshore Wins Top Hole Drilling Contract for Shell’s Malikai Development
May 9, 2014 – Norshore, owner of the new Norshore Atlantic multipurpose drilling vessel, was awarded a contract by Shell’s Malaysian subsidiary to provide top hole drilling services at the Malikai field in Block G offshore Malaysia. The vessel was primarily designed for riser-less operations, making it well suited to drill top hole sections for developments such as Malikai. The contract will commence in April 2014 and should keep the vessel working through the end of the year. Shell and its partners discovered the field in 2004 and made the decision to proceed with development in early 2013. The development concept envisions 17 subsea wells tied back to the Malikai Tension Leg Platform (TLP). The Malikai joint venture includes Shell (35%), ConocoPhillips (35%) and Petronas (30%). Startup of the $775 million project is scheduled for late 2015.
Project Details: Malikai
KrisEnergy Improves Position in the Gulf of Thailand with G6/48 Acquisition
May 9, 2014 – Thai regulatory approval was recently granted for a March 2013 farm-out agreement between KrisEnergy and Mubadala Petroleum concerning the G6/48 block in the Gulf of Thailand. KrisEnergy now serves as the block operator with a 30% stake and its partners include Mubadala (30%) and Northern Gulf Petroleum (40%). Although it has been very active in the Gulf of Thailand, G6/48 will be the company’s first operated asset in the region. Contained within the block in the 2009 Rossukon oil discovery, an extensive 3D seismic survey was carried out over Rossukon in August 2013 and an appraisal drilling program is planned for later this year in an effort to delineate the discovery.
Project Details: Rossukon
Nido Reports Naga 5 Mobilizing to Baragatan
May 8, 2014 – The newly constructed UMW Naga 5 (400′ ILC) left the Keppel FELS yard at Singapore and is mobilizing to the Philippines to drill an exploratory well in Service Contract 63 (SC63). The well, expected to spud mid-May, will test the Baragatan prospect for the possibility of 676 million barrels in estimated gross unrisked resources.
Project Details: Baragatan
Otto Secures 14 Month Extension to SC55 Work Program
May 8, 2014 – Otto Energy received approval from the Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) for a 14-month extension to the work program regarding Service Contract 55 (SC55). The extension was granted after a lengthy delay in the approval process by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development for the SC55 Strategic Environmental Plan and the sudden departure of BHP Billiton from the license. Otto is well into a farm-out process to seek a participant in the Hawkeye-1 exploration well and is hopeful that the process will be completed shortly after the June 2014 deadline.
Project Details: Hawkeye
Europe – North Sea
Drivis Discovery Caps Off Mediocre Johan Castberg Drilling Campaign
May 8, 2014 – Statoil recently announced an oil and gas discovery at its Drivis prospect in Norwegian License PL532. Well 7220/7-3S was drilled by the West Hercules (UDW semisub) to a depth of 6,879 feet. A 223-foot gas column was encountered followed by a 282-foot oil column in the Sto and Nordmela formations. Recoverable volumes are estimated to range between 44 and 63 MMboe. Drivis was the last of a 5-well campaign aimed at proving additional resources around the Johan Castberg discovery. Of the 5 wells drilled, only 2 resulted in discoveries. License participants include Statoil (50%), Eni (30%) and Petoro (20%).
Project Details: Drivis
Lundin Proves Additional Oil Pay at Geitungen
May 8, 2014 – Lundin Petroleum recently finished drilling two appraisal wells at its 2012 Geitungen discovery in Norwegian license PL265. Wells 16/2-19 and 16/2-19A were drilled by the Ocean Vanguard (mid-water semisub) in 380 feet of water. Data indicates 20 feet of oil pay was encountered in good quality lower Jurassic and upper Triassic sands in well bore 16/2-19. Well 16/2-19A, drilled as a sidetrack to the southwest, yielded 33 feet of low to medium quality oil-filled upper Jurassic reservoir above 10 feet of excellent quality upper Jurassic sands that are likely part of the Draupne formation. The license is operated by Statoil (40%) on behalf of its partners Petoro (30%), Det norske (20%) and Lundin Petroleum (10%).
Project Details: Geitungen

Worldwide Field Development News Mar 15 – Mar 21, 2014

This week the SubseaIQ team added 5 new projects and updated 15 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.

Europe – North Sea
OMV Increases Presence in West of Shetlands
Mar 21, 2014 – OMV is increasing its interest in the UK North Sea through an agreement to acquire 4 Hess-operated licenses in the West of Shetlands area. For a consideration of $50 million, OMV will gain operatorship of license P1028 and P1189 (the Cambo discovery), P1830 (the Blackrock prospect) and P1831. Future discoveries in the acreage could necessitate an additional payment to Hess of $35 million. With the acquisition of the Cambo field, OMV gains almost 60 MMboe of recoverable resources. Blackrock, scheduled for drilling in 2015, is located between Cambo and the Chevron-operated Rosebank development. The agreement is subject to UK regulatory approval.
Project Details: Cambo
Australia
ConocoPhillips Continues Browse Basin Drilling Program with Poseidon North-1
Mar 21, 2014 – The Transocean Legend (mid-water semisub), under contract to ConocoPhillips, spud the Poseidon North-1 well in permit WA-315-P March 19. Poseidon North is located on the crest of a large tilted fault block with primary targets in the Plover and Montara formations. Poseidon North-1 is a continuation of the current 6-well Browse Basin Phase 2 drilling program with 4 of the 6 wells having already been completed. If successful, the well could greatly add to the resource base of the Greater Poseidon. ConocoPhillips and its partner, Karoon Gas Australia, hold 60% and 40% interest in the permit respectively.
Project Details: Poseidon
Downhole Issues Force AWE to Sidetrack Pateke-4H
Mar 19, 2014 – AWE Limited, operator of New Zealand permit area PMP 38158, reported the mechanical drill string difficulties it experienced last week while drilling Pateke-4H were unable to be resolved. AWE has since abandoned the lower part of the hole and is preparing to sidetrack the well at 11,072 feet. From there, the well will be drilled horizontally through the F10 reservoir to a measured depth of 17,588 feet. The F10 sand was encountered on prognosis in the main well bore and oil shows along with logging data suggest the presence of an oil bearing reservoir. Any commercial significance of the oil shows cannot be determined until the horizontal leg has been completed. If the formation is found to be capable of supporting commercial production rates, the well will be completed and tied-back to the Tui FPSO with first oil in 1Q 2015.
Project Details: Tui Area Development Project
Asia – SouthEast
Shell Strikes Oil While Appraising Limbayong Gas Discovery
Mar 19, 2014 – A consortium consisting of Shell (35%), ConocoPhillips (35%) and Petronas (30%) made an oil discovery in Block J offshore Sabah, Malaysia. The discovery was made while drilling an appraisal of the 2002 Limbayong gas discovery. Limbayong-2 encountered 446 feet of oil-bearing sands. Results from the well have encouraged the partners to plan additional appraisal wells to determine the commerciality of the field. The well was drilled by the Ensco 8504 (UDW semisub). Limbayong is located in over 3,000 feet of water near the Shell-operated Gumusut development.
Project Details: Limbayong
Mediterranean
FA-1 Spuds off Morocco Targeting Eagle Prospect
Mar 20, 2014 – Fastnet Oil & Gas, a junior partner in the Foum Assaka license, announced the FA-1 well designed to target the Eagle prospect offshore Morocco was spud March 16. License operator Kosmos Energy has allowed up to three months to reach the target depth of 13,123 feet. FA-1 is targeting an estimated 360 MMboe of Pmean resources in its Lower Cretaceous objective. Kosmos contracted the Maersk Discoverer (UDW semisub) to drill the well in almost 2,000 feet of water.
Project Details: FA-1 (Eagle)
Cairn Announces Heavy Oil at JM-1 Offshore Morocco
Mar 19, 2014 – Well JM-1 in the Juby Maritime III license offshore Morocco has been drilled to total depth by the Cajun Express (UDW semisub) and is being plugged and abandoned without testing. Cairn Energy drilled the well to explore the possibility of oil in the Upper and Middle Jurassic intervals of the Cap Juby prospect. A gross heavy oil column of 360 feet was confirmed in the Upper Jurassic section but determination of oil gravity and reservoir quality will need require further evaluation. Cores taken from the well will be compared to cores obtained from other wells drilled on the Cap Juby structure to assess the extent of moveable hydrocarbons. Sidewall cores and logging data covering the Middle Jurassic objective are being evaluated but preliminary results indicate limited primary porosity. Participants in the Juby Maritime III license consist of Cairn (37.5%), Genel Energy (37.5%) and ONHYM (25%).
Project Details: Cap Juby
Africa – West
Nigerian DPR Approves Aje Field Development Plan
Mar 21, 2014 – Panoro Energy announced the approval of the Aje Field Development Plan (FDP) by the Nigerian Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Aje contains productive sands in three levels consisting of a Turonian gas condensate reservoir, a Cenomanian oil reservoir and an Albian gas condensate reservoir. As submitted, the FDP focuses mainly on the development of the oil-bearing Cenomanian interval and will involve the tieback of two subsea wells to a leased FPSO. Aje-4 will be recompleted for use and a new well will be drilled to the Aje-2 subsurface location. In a 1997 flow test, Aje-2 delivered 3,700 bopd in spite of severely impaired productivity due to drilling operations. The joint venture is expected to make a final investment decision shortly. Aje is located in 3,000 feet of water in OML 113 offshore Nigeria. Interest holders include YFP (25%), Chevron (33.75%), Vitol (24.05%), Panoro (12.19%) and Jacka Resources (5%).
Project Details: Aje
Ophir: Padouck Deep-1 Proves Working Hycrocarbon System in North Gabon Basin
Mar 21, 2014 – Ophir Energy’s exploratory well at its Padouck Deep prospect offshore Gabon has been drilled to a depth of 10,816 feet by the Titanium Explorer (UDW drillship). No evidence of hydrocarbons was observed in the primary objectives but minor shows in shallower intervals have provided proof of a working hydrocarbon system in the North Gabon Basin. Once the well is plugged and abandoned, the rig will mobilize to the Gnondo Block to test the Affanga Deep prospect which has the potential to hold mean recoverable resources of 170 million barrels. If successful, the well will substantially de-risk several surrounding prospects that could lead to a future hub development.
Project Details: Padouck Deep
Aibel Starts Module Fab for TEN Cluster FPSO
Mar 20, 2014 – In February 2014, Aibel Thailand received a procurement and construction contract from MODEC for the fabrication of 7 topsides modules for a new-build FPSO slated for use at Tullow’s TEN Cluster development offshore Ghana. Aibel recently held a steel cutting ceremony at the Deeline fabrication shop in Thailand. The ceremony began with a traditional worship followed by blessings administered to steel, machinery, visitors and staff by Buddhist monks. Once complete, the 9,400-ton package of modules will be shipped to Singapore to be integrated with the FPSO’s hull. Completion of the last module is scheduled for April 2015.
Project Details: TEN Cluster
Africa – Other
Way Too Early Results Indicate Hydrocarbon Discovery at Sunbird-1
Mar 20, 2014 – Total depth was reached at the BG Group-operated Sunbird-1 wildcat offshore Kenya. The well was drilled by the Deepsea Metro 1 (UDW drillship) to a depth of 9,350 feet and a hydrocarbon column was identified in the main objective, a Miocene-aged Pinnacle Reef. Extensive losses in the highly permeable upper section of the structure have hampered efforts to determine the vertical extent of the column using wireline logs. Although samples were recovered from the well, additional analysis will be needed to determine the exact nature of the hydrocarbons as well as any commercial significance of the discovery. BG serves as operator of the L10A license with 50% interest. Its partners consist of PTTEP (31.25%) and Pancontinental Oil and Gas (18.75%).
Project Details: Sunbird
S. America – Brazil
Petrobras Begins Parque das Baleias Production with P-58 FPSO
Mar 21, 2014 – Petrobras started production at its Parque das Baleias development in the Campos Basin this week. Currently, only one well is on stream but in the coming months, 14 production wells and 9 injection wells will be connected to the P-58 FPSO that was recently installed in 4,593 feet of water. The P-58 has a designed daily production capacity of 180,000 barrels and 21.2 MMscf of oil and gas. Produced oil is offloaded to shuttle tankers for transport and produced gas flows through a subsea pipeline to the onshore Cacimbas Gas Treatment Unit in Linhares, Espirito Santo.
Project Details: Espadarte
Asia – Far East
CNOOC Makes Deepwater Gas Discovery in South China Sea
Mar 21, 2014 – CNOOC recently announced a gas discovery at its deepwater Qiongdongnan Basin acreage in the South China Sea. Lingshui 17-2 was drilled in roughly 4,700 feet of water to test part of a structure known as the Lingshui Sag. The well reached a total depth of 11,515 feet and encountered 180 total feet of gas-bearing reservoir.
Project Details: Lingshui 17-2

Gulf of Mexico: Petrobras: Cascade, Chinook reach 40,000 bopd mark

Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petrobras has announced that on March 4, 2014, oil production from the Cascade and Chinook fields in the Gulf of Mexico, reached 40,000 of barrels of oil per day level.

This is a production record for the fields so far. Petrobras said that this output level was reached due to the fact that two new wells , Chinook-5 and Cascade-6, have entered into production, which added 28,000 barrels per day to the previous production level of 12,000 barrels per day.

The Cascade and Chinook fields are located in the Walker Ridge area of the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 300 km (180 miles) south of the Louisiana coast, at a distance of 24 km from each other. Water depth in the area is 2,590 m (8,500 ft).

Oil is produced through the BW Pioneer FPSO, the first floating production, storage and offloading unit approved to operate in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Source

Worldwide Field Development News Jan 25 – Jan 31, 2014

This week the SubseaIQ team added 4 new projects and updated 22 projects. You can see all the updates made over any time period via the Project Update History search. The latest offshore field develoment news and activities are listed below for your convenience.

Mediterranean

Remedial Operations Complete at Eni’s Guendalina Field

Jan 31, 2014 – Production from the Guendalina field remains down according the 4Q 2013 Operational Update provided by Mediterranean Oil & Gas (MOG). Low manifold pressure necessitated the shut-in of the GUE 3ss well in August 2013. Eni, the field operator, determined that the reservoir was in good condition and that a blockage in the production string was causing the poor performance. Remedial operations were undertaken in December but progress was hampered by poor weather conditions in the Adriatic. Intervention operations were completed Jan. 11, 2014 and the well returned to a low-production rate. The flow rate will improve as the well cleans up. Eni and MOG maintain 80% and 20% stakes respectively.

Project Details: Guendalina

Asia – SouthEast

Roc Oil Submits Bentara Field Development Plan

Jan 31, 2014 – In December 2013, Roc Oil submitted a Field Development Plan (FDP) to Petronas concerning the Bentara field in the Balai Cluster offshore Malaysia. The FDP outlines a two-phase development and approval is being sought for the first phase which involves early production utilizing the existing wells and facilities established during the pre-development phase. The company expects the FDP to be approved during 1Q 2014.

Project Details: Balai Cluster

Salamander Expects Bualuang Restart in February

Jan 31, 2014 – Salamander Energy sees production from the Bualuang field recommencing in early February after it was stopped in November 2013 when bad weather caused the Rubicon Vantage FPSO to drift off location and damage the production riser. Since then, divers have completed a full inspection and replacement riser and spool materials are being moved to location. While progress is being made, poor weather conditions have slowed repair efforts. A development drilling program being carried out by the Atwood Mako (400′ ILC) has not been interrupted by the event and two production wells have been drilled since the shutdown. Salamander’s production forecast for the field remains unchanged and is expected to average between 13,000 and 16,000 boepd.

Project Details: Bualuang

Ocean General Spuds Silver Sillago Prospect off Vietnam

Jan 31, 2014 – Pan Pacific Petroleum was advised by Premier Oil, operator of Block 07/03 offshore Vietnam, that the Ocean General (mid-water semisub) spudded the 07/03-CD-1X wildcat well on Jan. 28, 2014. The well is being drilled in 426 feet of water and is expected to reach the proposed depth of 12,522 feet. The well is designed to test the Miocene clastic reservoirs of the Silver Silago prospect.

Project Details: Ca Duc (Silver Sillago)

KrisEnergy Acquires 60% Interest in Thailand Block G3/48

Jan 31, 2014 – Through an agreement with Mubadala Petroleum, KrisEnergy acquired a 60% operating interest in Block G3/48 in the Gulf of Thailand. The block covers an area of 1,126 square miles with water depths ranging from 65 to 165 feet. Partners in the block include Tap Energy (30%) and Northern Gulf Oil Company (10%). The agreement is subject to the customary regulatory approvals.

Project Details: Pathum

MidEast – Persian Gulf

Technip Wins EPCI Contract for DPE’s Al Jalilah Development

Jan 31, 2014 – Technip was awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract by Dubai Petroleum Establishment (DPE) concerning the Jalilah B field development project. Work scope includes construction and installation of the Jalilah B platform, the addition of 13 new risers on existing platforms and the installation of 68 miles of 6 to 24-inch pipeline. The project will be executed from Technip’s fast-track center in Dubai and is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2014.

Project Details: Al Jalilah

Europe – North Sea

Lundin Reports Poor Drilling Results at Torvastad

Jan 31, 2014 – Lundin Petroleum is in the process of completing a sidetrack well at its Torvastad prospect in license PL501 near the Johan Sverdrup discovery. Well 16/2-20A is being drilled by the Island Innovator (mid-water semisub) to investigate the potential of an up-flank continuous Jurassic reservoir. Oil shows were seen in the main target but reservoir quality was poor. Lundin operates the license and carries 40% stake. Its partners include Statoil (40%) and Maersk Oil Norway (20%).

Project Details: Torvastad

Parkmead Raises Cash for UK North Sea Ops

Jan 30, 2014 – Through an oversubscribed share placing, Parkmead Group was able to raise $66 million in an effort to bolster some of its activities in the UK North Sea. Parkmead, operator of the Athena field in License P1293, will use a portion of the funds to enhance production from the field. The group plans to carry out a workover of the P4 well. If successful, the operation could increase field production to 9,000 bopd. Locations are also being evaluated for an additional production well that has the potential to add 1,100 bopd to the production stream. Proceeds from the placing will also allow the group to test several prosepcts in its portfolio such as Skerryvore, Possum, Blackadder and Davaar. Well planning is already underway for Skerryvore.

Project Details: Athena

Faroe Finds Oil and Gas at Novus

Jan 30, 2014 – Operator Faroe Petroleum announced an oil and gas discovery at its Novus prospect in license PL645 in the Norwegian Sea. Well 6507/10-2S was drilled by the West Navigator (UDW drillship) to a depth of 9,701 feet. A 39-foot net gas column and 41-foot net oil column were encountered in high quality Garn reservoir. Secondary targets in the Ile and Tilje formations proved to be water wet. Results from pressure and fluid sampling indicate the discovery reservoirs hold between 6 and 15 MMboe. Additionally, the results will be integrated into the existing geologic model of the area to de-risk the remaining prospects and leads in the license.

Project Details: Novus

Asia – Caspian

Oil Production Begins at West Chirag in the Caspian Sea

Jan 31, 2014 – Production activities at the West Chirag platform are underway according to the BP-operated Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC). The platform is part of the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) development in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. On January 28, 2014 oil began flowing from the J05 development well. Production will increase throughout the year as additional wells are brought on line. As a whole, the ACG fields have produced over 2.3 billion barrels and, with future development, is expected to be a viable project for many decades. The West Chirag platform was installed in 557 feet of water and has a designed processing capacity of 183 thousand bopd. Startup of West Chirag is the final phase of the Chirag Oil Project and is expected to greatly enhance the deliverability of the ACG development.

Project Details: Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli

Australia

Gas Shows and LWD Indicators Lead to Grace-1 Logging Program

Jan 31, 2014 – Karoon Gas reports that total depth has been reached at the Grace-1 exploration well in license WA-314-P offshore Western Australia. The well was drilled by the Transocean Legend (mid-water semisub) to a measured depth of 16,630 feet. High gas levels seen while drilling and pressure samples taken from logging while drilling (LWD) equipment Karoon and ConocoPhillips (the operator) to run wireline logs over the zone of interest. Logging and sampling results are expected during the coming weeks.

Project Details: Grace

S. America – Brazil

Shell Trims Interest in Parque das Conchas Development

Jan 31, 2014 – Shell announced its intention to divest 23% of its interest in the Parque das Conchas development to Qatar Petroleum International for approximately $1 billion. Once the agreement is approved by Brazilian regulators, Shell’s operating interest will be reduced to 50%. Parque das Conchas currently produces at a rate of 50,000 boepd since the Ostra and Argonauta B-West fields were brought on-stream in 2009 as part of Phase 1. Phase 2 was completed in October 2013 when oil production commenced at Argonauta O-North. In July 2013, Shell and its partner ONGC (27%) made the final investment decision regarding Phase 3 and will consist of subsea facilities tying the Argonauta O-South and Massa fields to the Espirito Santo FPSO.

Project Details: Parque das Conchas (BC-10)

Oil Industry Starts to Squeeze Costs, Wages

Thursday, January 30, 2014
by  Reuters – John Kemp

LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Cutting the cost of everything from salaries and steel pipes to seismic surveys and drilling equipment is the central challenge for the oil and gas industry over the next five years.

The tremendous increase in exploration and production activity around the world over the last ten years has strained the global supply chain and been accompanied by a predictable increase in operating and capital costs.

When oil and gas prices were rising strongly, petroleum producers and their contractors could afford to absorb cost increases.

But as oil and gas production have moved back into line with demand, and prices have stabilized, the focus is switching once again to cost control.

“Operational excellence,” a euphemism for doing more with less, is back in fashion and set to dominate industry thinking for the rest of the decade.

Spending Discipline

Paal Kibsgaard, chief executive of Schlumberger, one of the largest service companies, has been emphasising “smart fracking” and other ways to raise output and cut costs for two years.

Speaking as long ago as March 2012, Kibsgaard warned: “In the past ten years, exploration and production spend has grown fourfold in nominal terms, while oil production is up only 11 percent.”

“In this environment, we believe our customers will favour working with companies that can help them increase production and recovery, reduce costs, and manage risks,” he added.

Schlumberger’s website and those of its main competitors Halliburton and Baker Hughes all prominently feature technologies and processes intended to cut costs, such as dual-fuel diesel-natural gas drilling and pumping engines.

It is just a small example of profound industry shift from an emphasis on increasing production to controlling spending.

Issuing a shocking profit warning on January 17, Royal Dutch Shell ‘s new chief executive pledged to focus on “achieving better capital efficiency and on continuing to strengthen our operational performance and project delivery.”

On Thursday, the company cut its capital budget for 2014, and announced it was suspending its controversial and expensive Arctic drilling programme.

Shell is catching up with peers like BP and Chevron , as well as perennially tight-fisted Exxon, in promising to stick to a tighter spending regime and return more value to shareholders .

The problem is not unique to oil and gas producers. Miners like BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Anglo American have all axed projects and pledged to tighten capital discipline after costs spiralled out of control.

Megaproject Madness

The worst over-runs have been on so-called megaprojects – investments costing over $1 billion, sometimes much more. In fact, the bigger project, the worse the cost overruns and delays have tended to be.

Pearl, Shell’s enormous gas to liquids project in Qatar, is now regarded as a success, but was seriously delayed and went wildly over-budget.

Other megaprojects like Chevron’s Gorgon LNG in Australia and the Caspian oil field Kashagan – which is being developed by an industry consortium including ENI, Shell, Total, Exxon and Conoco – have been similarly late and bust their original cost estimates.

It is convenient, but wrong, to blame poor project management for all the days and cost overruns. Some decisions have been flawed, but on projects of this size and complexity, at least some errors are to be expected.

Megaproject managers in 2013 were not, on the whole, worse than in 2003. Unfortunately, the economic and financial environment has become much less forgiving. When projects start to go wrong it has proved much harder to limit the delays and damage to the budget.

By their nature, megaprojects are so big they strain the global construction and engineering supply chain and pool of skilled labour. Megaprojects create their own adverse “weather,” pushing up the cost of specialist labour and materials worldwide.

Attempting to complete even one or two megaprojects with similar characteristics at the same time can strain the global supply chain to the limit. Attempting to complete several simultaneously is a recipe for severe cost escalation and delays. The multi-commodity boom over the last decade created a “perfect storm” for the megaproject industry.

While there is not an exact overlap, massive offshore oil fields like Kashagan, LNG facilities like Gorgon, floating LNG platforms like Prelude (destined for Australia), gas to liquids plants and even simple onshore shale plays like North Dakota’s Bakken, are all competing for the same limited pool of skilled engineers, construction workers and speciality steels.

The result has been a staggering increase in costs and wages. And once a project falls behind, there is no slack in the system to hire extra workers or procure additional or replacement components to get it back on track.

Supply Chain Responds

Rampant inflation and delays have been worst on megaprojects because they require a much higher proportion of very specialist components and the supply chain is least-elastic.

But even simpler projects like shale oil and gas have been plagued by a rapid rise in costs as they stretch the availability of drillers, rigs and pressure pumping equipment, as well as fracking sand, fresh water and guar gum.

Between the end of 2003 and the end of 2013, the number of employees engaged in oil and gas extraction in the United States increased by 70 percent, from 117,000 to 201,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Soaring demand for specialised workers has produced an entirely predictable surge in wages.

Employees in North Dakota’s oil, gas and pipeline sectors were taking home an average monthly salary of $9,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012, and staff at support firms were making an average of more than $8,000, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Their colleagues in Texas were doing even better: average salaries in the oil and gas extraction industry were over $15,000 per month, and $11,000 in pipeline transportation.

That made them some of the best-paid employees in the United States. Only financial services employees in New York ($28,000), Connecticut ($25,000), California ($17,000) and a few other states were routinely making more.

Rising wages and other prices were the only means to ration scarce workers and raw materials. But they were also the only way to attract more workers and supplies into the industry.

Extreme Cycles

It takes a long time to train new drillers, petroleum engineers and construction specialists, and give them the experience needed before they can assume positions as experts and team leaders.

Similarly, the expansion of specialist construction facilities and manufacturing firms for items like oil country tubular goods takes years; and companies will only expand or enter the industry if they are convinced the upturn in demand will be durable rather than fleeting.

While the boom in oil and gas prices dates from around 2003 or 2004, the big expansion of exploration and production spending started much later, around 2006 or even 2007, and it has only filtered down to the labour pool and the rest of the supply chain much more slowly.

It is the long delay between an increase in demand for oil and gas, an increase in production and exploration activity, and an expansion of the whole supply chain, which explain the deep cyclicality of the petroleum industry and mining.

Extreme cyclicality is hard-wired into oil, gas and mining markets. Companies like Shell which have tried to ride through the cycle by ignoring short-term price and cost changes to focus on the long term have eventually been compelled by their investors to fall into line.

In the next stage of the cycle, oil and gas prices are set to remain relatively high but are unlikely to rise much further. For exploration and production companies, increasing shareholder value therefore means increasing efficiency and bearing down on costs, including compensation and payments to suppliers and contractors.

For the supply chain and oil-industry workers, capacity and the availability of skilled labour will continue to expand, while demand is set to stabilise or taper off. Major oil companies and miners have already cancelled some projects. Costs, wages and employment will fall, or at least start rising much more slowly.

Source

BP Brings Two Rigs to Deepwater Gulf of Mexico

BP  has added two drilling rigs to the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, bringing its fleet to a company record nine rigs as it continues to develop its strong portfolio of assets in the key U.S. offshore basin.

One of the rigs is a new ultra-deepwater drillship known as the West Auriga that is under long-term contract to BP from Seadrill Ltd, a leading international offshore drilling contractor. The vessel, capable of operating in up to 12,000 feet of water, has begun development drilling work at BP’s Thunder Horse field.

The other is a reconstructed drilling rig on BP’s Mad Dog oil and gas production platform. It replaces the original rig on the platform that was badly damaged and left inoperable by Hurricane Ike in 2008. With the new, state-of-the art rig, the platform recently resumed development drilling at the massive Mad Dog field complex.

“The addition of these two rigs reflects the vital importance of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico to the future of BP,” said Richard Morrison, Regional President of BP’s Gulf of Mexico business. “It also clearly demonstrates BP’s commitment to the American economy and to U.S. energy security.”

BP currently anticipates investing on average at least $4 billion in the Gulf of Mexico each year for the next decade. The company plans to concentrate future activity and investment in the Gulf on growth opportunities around its four major operated production hubs – Thunder Horse, Na Kika, Atlantis and Mad Dog – and three non-operated production hubs – Mars, Ursa and Great White – in the deepwater, as well as on significant exploration and appraisal opportunities in the Paleogene and elsewhere.

BP is also advancing a strong pipeline of future development projects in the deepwater Gulf. In April, the company started up the Atlantis North expansion, the first of seven additional wells to be tied back to the existing Atlantis platform. At Na Kika, another field expansion is planned, following the successful startup last year of the Galapagos development, a subsea tieback to the Na Kika production facility. BP is also pursuing plans for a second phase of the Mad Dog field.

Source

Corpus Christi, TX – Analysis: From Big Foot to Bluto, Gulf of Mexico set for record oil supply surge

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas
Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:10pm EDT
By Kristen Hays and Terry Wade

(Reuters) – The Gulf of Mexico, stung by the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history in 2010 and then overshadowed by the onshore fracking boom, is on the verge of its biggest supply surge ever, adding to the American oil renaissance.

Over the next three years, the Gulf is poised to deliver a slug of more than 700,000 barrels per day of new crude, reversing a decline in production and potentially rivaling shale hot spots like Texas’s Eagle Ford formation in terms of growth.

The revival began this summer, when Royal Dutch Shell‘s (RDSa.L) 100,000 barrels per day Olympus platform was towed out to sea 130 miles south of New Orleans – the first of seven new ultra-modern systems starting up through 2016. It weighs 120,000 tons, more than 200 Boeing 777 jumbo jets.

The Gulf Of Mexico’s growth will bolster the United States’ emerging role as the world’s top oil and gas producer, a trend led by advances in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling that unlock hydrocarbons from tight rock reservoirs in places like North Dakota’s Bakken and the Permian of West Texas.

Rising domestic production and the start of natural gas exports may transform the economy and realign geopolitics as U.S. reliance on foreign oil declines.

The resurgence in the Gulf is occurring even though the U.S. government imposed stringent safety and environmental rules after BP Plc‘s (BP.L) Macondo spill. Foreign countries from Brazil to Angola have also aggressively courted Big Oil to invest in developing their offshore fields. And the shale boom has diverted billions of dollars in capital onshore.

The deepwater Gulf, considered the most technically challenging offshore oil patch, remains alluring even as other areas struggle. Brazil attracted only a single bid this month for its once-touted Libra field, yet global companies still compete fiercely for the right to drill in the Gulf.

“A barrel of discovered oil in the Gulf of Mexico is difficult to beat for value anywhere else, even with the increased costs of doing business,” said Jez Averty, senior vice president of North American exploration at Norway’s Statoil (STL.OL).

Huge finds over the last decade – in what engineers call “elephant fields” that can produce for 25 years or more – are lifting growth in a basin some companies once abandoned, fearing it was drying up or its resources were beyond reach.

“This is still one of the premier oil and gas regions in the world and that’s why we’ve never left,” said Steve Thurston, vice president of Chevron Corp‘s (CVX.N) North American exploration and production division.

Even after decades of production in the Gulf, government estimates have shown that 48 billion barrels could still be recovered.

LOWER TERTIARY

The area of the Gulf of Mexico where most of the new infrastructure will start up is in an ancient geological trend in its deepest waters 200 miles or more from shore known as the Lower Tertiary, estimated to hold 15 billion barrels of crude.

Appraisals in the Gulf’s Lower Tertiary have shown fields that could have half a billion barrels or more of oil, like Exxon Mobil Corp’s (XOM.N) Hadrian, estimated to hold up to 700 million barrels, or Anadarko Petroleum Corp‘s (APC.N) Shenandoah, which tests this year showed could hold up to three times more than initial estimates of 300 million barrels.

The potential bounty of massive deposits that can produce for a quarter century or more is what keeps players coming even though a single well that bores tens of thousands of feet through thick salt and rock to strike oil – or a dry hole – can cost $130 million or more.

By contrast, an onshore well costs about $8 million to drill – but may only produce a trickle of oil for a few years.

Chevron’s Jack/St. Malo project, which will tie a platform to the ocean floor 7,000 feet below the surface and tap a reservoir 26,000 feet deep, costs $7.5 billion.

It may become the biggest such platform in the world after shipping out later this year, with the ability to double its initial 170,000 bpd capacity. It will be followed next year by Chevron’s second new platform, Big Foot, to be secured to the sea floor by 16 miles of interlocking metal strands, or tendons.

In addition to projects by Anadarko Petroleum Corp (APC.N) and Williams Cos (WMB.N), private equity firm Blackstone Energy Partners will join the game. In 2015, Blackstone’s partner LLOG Exploration aims to start up Delta House – named for the boisterous fraternity in the film “Animal House” – less than 10 miles from BP’s plugged Macondo well.

Delta House will pump oil from the Marmalard and Bluto fields, namesakes of characters in the movie.

CLEAR AND STABLE RULES

Three years ago, some analysts thought the post-Macondo Gulf would have fewer players as stricter regulations and higher operating chilled activity, particularly for smaller companies.

Producers must now provide more detailed plans for offshore operations, submit to more frequent inspections and prove they have access to a rapid-response system to cap a gushing well. More than 4 million barrels of oil poured into the sea for 87 days after the Macondo well blowout killed 11 men.

High costs have given some companies pause. Even as BP began appraisal drilling at its self-described “giant” Tiber field this August, a month later it canceled contracts to build a second platform at its Mad Dog field. BP says it wants to move forward on Mad Dog 2 “with the right plan.”

Many others are pressing ahead full steam.

“It hasn’t scared us away,” John Hollowell, Shell’s top deepwater executive for Shell Upstream Americas said, noting deepwater is one-third of Shell’s growth platform, alongside natural gas and unconventional areas like onshore shales.

Hess Corp (HES.N) Chief Executive John Hess has told analysts the company, which operates one oil and gas platform in the Gulf with another on the way next year, also aims to increase its exploration in the deep waters.

“It’s a core area for us and now that Macondo is behind the industry, it is an area where we intend to start investing more, assuming we get the returns that we expect,” he said.

Companies say the Gulf is still the best deepwater basin to set up shop – with high profit margins, reasonable per-barrel costs and a predictable legal and regulatory system.

Operators can bring in their own workers rather than employ a certain number from the host country, as they do in Brazil – where just finding enough qualified workers is a hurdle.

Gulf operators also do not have to brace themselves for sudden changes in royalty requirements or possibly be blocked from bidding on drilling rights, as has happened in Angola.

To get in the Gulf of Mexico’s door, they put in the highest bid when the government leases drilling rights.

“All you have to do is show up at the lease sale,” Statoil’s Averty said.

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

Source

%d bloggers like this: