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Breaking News: Floatel Superior Tilts. Statoil Evacuates Workers (Norway)
Norwegian energy giant Statoil has evacuated workers from Floatel Superior accommodation rig due to a serious stability incident, the PSA Norway informs.
The operator informed the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway of the incident this morning explaining that an anchor had punctured one of the ballast tanks causing the flotel to tilt approximately 4 degrees.
There were 374 people on board when the incident occurred. The watchdog has set up an emergency response center in order to overview Statoil’s management of the situation.
Floatel Superior is located in the Njord A installation on the Njord field in the Norwegian Sea. It is a dynamically-positioned (DP-3) semi-submersible facility with a living quarters module aft and an open work deck forward. The flotel can accommodate 440 people in single cabins when operating on the Norwegian shelf.
Breaking News: Floatel Superior Tilts. Statoil Evacuates Workers (Norway)| Offshore Energy Today.
Worldwide Field Development News Sep 1 – Sep 7, 2012
This week the SubseaIQ team added 0 new projects and updated 8 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.
Europe – North Sea
Valiant Considering Alternative Development Options for Crawford
Sep 6, 2012 – Valiant Petroleum, along with its joint venture partners, is actively pursuing other development solutions for the Crawford discovery in the UK North Sea; the partners concluded the original development plan created by Fairfield is not the best way to proceed. A broad range of development options are under consideration for both surface and subsurface. The timeframe for a fully supported field development plan may extend into 2013.
Project Details: Crawford
Norway’s PSA Approves Geite Permit
Sep 6, 2012 – The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has given its consent to Det norske to drill their Geite prospect in PL 497. Well 7/11-13 will be drilled using the Maersk Guardian (350′ ILC). Drilling is estimated to take approximately 80 days, but could take as long as 135 days if a sidetrack is drilled.
Project Details: Geite
Lundin Receives NPD Nod for Johan Sverdrup Sidetrack
Sep 6, 2012 – Lundin Petroleum has received approval from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate to drill an appraisal well at the Johan Sverdrup discovery located in production license 501. Well 16/2-13A will be drilled using the Transocean Arctic (mid-water semisub).
Project Details: Johan Sverdrup
Ithaca Successfully Completes Hurricane DST
Sep 6, 2012 – Ithaca Energy has completed a successful drill stem test (DST) on the Andrew sandstone interval in the Hurricane appraisal well, achieving a maximum flow rate of approximately 24 MMscf/d with associated condensate of 1,200 bopd. The well is being suspended as a future producer from the Andrew reservoir along with the capability to produce from the Rogaland reservoir. During the 24-hour test period, the Andrew interval achieved an average gross flow rate of approximately 17 MMscf/d with associated condensate of 870 bopd from a half-inch choke. Plans are already underway to assess development options.
Project Details: Stella/Harrier
EMAS AMC Wins Cable Installation Work at Troll
Sep 6, 2012 – EMAS AMC has been awarded a contract by ABB for the installation of subsea power cables at the Troll A Platform located offshore Norway. The work scope includes the installation of one HVAC cable and two circuits of HVDC subsea cable from Troll A to the land station Kollsnes. These new cables will provide power to run two compressor drive systems, which will improve production capacity and extend the platform’s lifespan. The Lewek Connector is scheduled to begin operations during 2Q 2014. EMAS AMC is the subsea construction division of Ezra Holdings and the contract was awarded as part of a large strategic cooperation agreement between the two companies.
Project Details: Troll Area
Asia – SouthEast
South Kecapi Expected to Spud by Year End
Sep 6, 2012 – Salamander Energy is expected to spud its South Kecapi prospect by the end of 2012. The Ocean General (mid-water semisub) has been selected to drill the well. Gross mean unrisked resource potential for South Kecapi is 274 Bcf. Salamander Energy estimates its odds of success are 44 percent.
Partners Select Prospect to Drill on Thailand Block G2/48
Sep 5, 2012 – Pearl Oil along with its JV partner, Rayong Offshore Exploration, has selected the Sainampeung-1 prospect as the optimal location to test the G2/48 concession located in the Gulf of Thailand. Sainampueng-1 will be drilled in 4Q 2012 using the Ensco 85 (300′ ILC). Estimates suggest the mean unrisked prospective resources to be 10 million stock tank barrels (MMstb) with a high side of up to 27 MMstb (P10). Sainampueng-1 has the potential to open a new basin with significant follow-up potential.
Project Details: Sainampueng
Australia
ConocoPhillips Intersects Primary Objective at Boreas-1
Sep 6, 2012 – Boreas-1 has intersected the primary reservoir objective and the drilling assembly is being pulled so that coring operations can commence. The well intersected a sand interval characterized by a Rate of Penetration increase, sandy drill cuttings and an increase in the mudlog gas readings indicating a potential gas bearing reservoir. Coring operations will be undertaken to allow more extensive analysis of rock properties in potential reservoir intervals. Production testing will be undertaken if hydrocarbon bearing sands are encountered and confirmed by the wireline logging and the pressure and sampling programs.
Project Details: Boreas
Farm-Out Negotiations Open for La Bella
Sep 4, 2012 – WHL Energy announced they have formally commenced the farm-out process on its VIC/P67 oil and gas permit in the offshore Otway Basin off the Victorian coast of Australia. Strong industry interest to participate in the development of the permit has prompted this Australian-based operator to open a data room in Perth, providing potential partners with access to past exploration and study data from previous operators as well as WHL Energy. The farm-out process is expected wrap up by the end of 2012. The VIC/P67 permit is located approximately 124 miles (200 km) West-Southwest of Melbourne and is wholly owned by WHL Energy.
Project Details: La Bella
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Norway: Lundin to Drill 12 Wells with Island Innovator Rig
Marine Accurate Well ASA – MARACC has signed a 12 well drilling Contract with Lundin Norway AS for the semi-submersible drilling rig Island Innovator
The contract is expected to provide Island Innovator with minimum of two years of drilling operations offshore Norway with commencement in the 2nd quarter of 2013 plus options for 3×4 additional wells.
The value of the initial contract period is expected to be around USD 370 million including mobilization and moving the rig to Norway. Maracc is scheduled to take delivery of its new build semisubmersible drilling and heavy well intervention rig in the 3rd quarter 2012 from the Cosco Shipyard Group in Nantong, China.
The rig will be operated by Odfjell Drilling AS.
Simen Lieungh, CEO of Odfjell Drilling said “The operation of Island Innovator will be an important contribution to Odfjell Drilling’s activity on the Norwegian continental shelf. The contract between the owner Maracc and Lundin Norway AS will mean greater predictability for Odfjell Drilling and our operations in Norway. We will need around 170 employees to operate the rig.
The construction of Island Innovator is being completed at Cosco Shipyard, Qidong in China. Odfjell Drilling has mobilised a follow-up team at the yard that will ensure progress and the quality of the remaining work. The rig will fly the Norwegian flag and will have an Acknowledgement of Compliance (AOC) for mobile installations from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway.
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- USA: Statoil Extends Maersk Developer Contract for GoM Work (mb50.wordpress.com)
Recap: Worldwide Field Development News (Apr 27 – May 3, 2012)
| This week the SubseaIQ team added 0 new projects and updated 16 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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May 3, 2012 – 
May 2, 2012 – The 
May 1, 2012 – ATP has contracted GE Oil & Gas to supply subsea production equipment, ancillary systems and related services for the Cheviot field in the North Sea. The supplied equipment, including wellheads, subsea Xmas trees and a subsea control system will be used in conjunction with ATP’s Octabuoy FPS that is currently being constructed. As part of the contract, GE will also provide system engineering and design, procurement and on-site testing services. Product shipments will begin in February 2013 with installation scheduled for later that year. Commercial operations are set to begin in 2014.
May 1, 2012 – Apache has commenced production from the first development well on the Bacchus field, located in Block 22/06a in the UK sector of the North Sea. Initial production rates over the first five days were approximately 6,000 gross bopd. When the full field development is completed and online, the company will be able to provide reliable long-term sustainable production estimates. Furthermore, the company has commenced development drilling on the second production well on the field and expects for it to come online in 3Q 2012.
Apr 27, 2012 – BPZ Energy has formed an unincorporated joint venture with Pacific Rubiales to explore and develop Block Z-1 offshore Peru. The agreement calls for Pacific Rubiales to pay $150 million in cash and is subject to a commitment of $185 million for BPZ’s share of capital and exploratory expenditures in Z-1, for their assumption of a 49 percent participating interest in Block Z-1. The block spans 555,000 acres and holds two producing fields, Corvina and Albacora, which averaged 3,880 bopd in the first quarter of 2012. BPZ Energy said it also contains several prospects and leads in water depths ranging from 200 to 1,000 feet. Under the terms of the agreement, BPZ will remain as operator, holding a 51% participating interest, while Pacific Rubiales assumes a 49% participating interest.
Apr 30, 2012 – Technip has received a FEED contract from BP for the Mad Dog phase two project. The contract covers the design of a spar hull and mooring systems for the development, located near Green Canyon Block 825 in the Gulf of Mexico. This first award comes under the framework of the 10-year spar platform master services agreement signed in 2011. The Mad Dog Phase 2 Spar will be located near the first Mad Dog Spar delivered by Technip for BP in 2004, and installed on Green Canyon 782. Detailed engineering for the new spar is scheduled to start during the second half of 2012.Related articles
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Norway: PSA Conducts Audit of Major Accident Risk in Connection with Light Well Intervention
In December 2011 and January 2012, the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) conducted an audit of Statoil Petroleum AS (Statoil) and Island Offshore Subsea AS (Island Offshore). The audit was aimed at management of major accident risk and the barrier management system in connection with light well intervention on Island Constructor.
Each year, more than 500 well interventions are carried out on the Norwegian shelf, and this number is expected to grow.
There is a high level of risk associated with work on live wells (major accident potential) and many interfaces (multiple alliance partners).
A survey of well intervention activities carried out during the period 2003 – 2008 concluded that there was a significant need for well interventions on subsea installations. Verification on one of the facilities that carries out light well intervention was implemented to investigate HSE challenges linked with this type of operation.
Island Offshore Management and Island Offshore Subsea have an alliance with FMC and Aker Well Service for operation of the Island Constructor which carries out light well intervention on subsea wells for Statoil.
Objective
* Evaluate the companies’ understanding, knowledge and expertise as relates to major accident risk and managing barriers, on the part of both company management and among the employees.
* Evaluate strategies and principles which are to form the basis for design, use and maintenance of barriers so that the barriers’ function will be safeguarded throughout the entire facility lifetime.
* Verify that performance requirements are established and implemented.
* Develop the PSA’s expertise in following up management’s work to reduce major accident risk, and clarify the need to develop a framework and supervision methods.
* Contribute to the PSA developing its own methods that will form the basis for more effective barrier supervision.
Result
The audit activity uncovered three nonconformities and four improvement items as regards Island Offshore.
The nonconformities related to deficient analysis of defined hazard and accident situations, layout of kill and stimulation lines, and deficient basis for and documentation of maintenance.
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Recap: Worldwide Field Development News (Feb 24 – Mar 1, 2012)
| This week the SubseaIQ team added 11 new projects and updated 50 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Feb 27, 2012 – ATP Oil & Gas has brought online a well at the Morgus field, situated on 
Feb 29, 2012 – The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has granted BG Norge consent to use subsea facilities and pipelines on the Gaupe field. Production is scheduled to start in March 2012. The Gaupe field is estimated to hold 28 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Feb 29, 2012 – Technip has received two subsea contracts under the Diving Frame Contract from Statoil for the Asgard, Gudrun & Valemon projects. The Asgard contract includes deepwater testing of the Pipeline Repair System, remote hot-tap equipment, preparation work and installation of protection structures. Work will be executed in 2012. The Gudrun and Valemon contract includes installation and tie-in of spools and power cable and also a Morgrip midline tie-in, all performed by divers. The work will be executed in 2013 and 2014.
Feb 29, 2012 – The BW Athena FPSO has departed Dubai Dry Docks World to be moored on the Ithaca-operated Athena field in the UK sector of the North Sea. All FPSO production critical equipment was run and fully tested prior to vessel departure thus minimizing the period between arrival in the field and first production of oil, stated the operator. Upon arrival, the BW Athena will be hooked up to the pre-installed production system. Hook-up will mark completion of the development phase and Ithaca anticipates that the production phase will commence in early 2Q 2012. Production is anticipated to reach approximately 22,000 bopd.
Feb 29, 2012 – Noreco, a partner in the Huntington field, reported that drilling of the development wells continued on the field through 4Q 2011 with the jackup ENSCO 100 (350’ILC) according to plan. The second production well was successfully completed and tested in December, and one of the two planned water injection wells was also drilled during the quarter. The Huntington field will be produced via the floating production and storage unit Sevan Voyageur, which is currently being upgraded for the Huntington assignment at the Nymo shipyard in Norway. The consortium anticipates oil production during the second half of 2012.
Feb 29, 2012 – Dong E&P Norge received consent to use a subsea facility and pipeline on the Oselvar field. Production is scheduled to start in March 2012. The Gaupe field is estimated to hold 28 million barrels of oil equivalent. Production is slated to commence on April 1, 2012. Located on the Norwegian continental shelf, the Oselvar field is close to the UK border and is situated on Production License 274 in 72 meters (236 feet) of water.
Feb 29, 2012 – In 2011, Dong Energy drilled a new injector well on the Nini East field, securing good pressure support and sweep. However, an updated geological model of the field has resulted in a minor reduction of 2P reserves resulting in the amount of 10.7 MMboe gross. The Nini East field has produced to the Siri Center since February 2010.
Feb 28, 2012 – Statoil has awarded Aker Solutions a contract for the upgrade of drilling facilities on the Snorre A platform. “Well drilling and maintenance represent the most important activities we can undertake in order to recover more oil and gas from our fields. By upgrading the drilling facilities on Snorre A we reckon we can recover 67 million additional barrels of oil from the Snorre field,” said Bente Aleksandersen, head of Operations South in Development and Production Norway in Statoil. Work will start in March 2012 and be completed in 2015. The Snorre A upgrade will help extend the field???s lifetime until 2040.
Feb 28, 2012 – DONG Energy and Bayerngas have announced development plans for the Hejre field in the Danish sector of the North Sea. The total investment in the development of the field is 2.1 billion (DKK 12.1 billion). Dong Energy estimates the total reserves of the field at about 170 million barrels of oil equivalents and expects first oil and gas inlate 2015. The development will compromise a production platform, drilling of production wells and new pipelines that will be tied into existing North Sea pipelines. Production will transport to mainland Denmark. Hejre, discovered in 2001, is located in license 1/06.
Feb 24, 2012 – GE Oil & Gas received a contract to supply subsea equipment for the Julimar development in Western Australia. The project will supply raw gas from the Julimar and Brunello gas fields to the Chevron-operated Wheatstone project in Western Australia. The company is responsible for project management, engineering and procurement of the subsea equipment for the development. The GE equipment for the Julimar project includes subsea manifolds, well systems and fully integrated subsea and topside control systems. Shipments will begin in June 2013 with installation starting in the fourth quarter of that year.
Feb 28, 2012 – Kosmos Energy has exercised a right under the existing Joint Operating Agreement to acquire a participating interest of Sabre Oil & Gas Holdings Limited in the Deepwater Tano Block offshore Ghana. The purchase price is estimated to be approximately $365 million, with up to an additional $45 million contingent upon achieving certain performance milestones. Following closing of the acquisition, Kosmos’ interest in the Deepwater Tano Block will increase from 18 percent to 22.05 percent. Kosmos’ interest in the Jubilee field will increase from 24.1 percent to 25.8 percent.
Feb 24, 2012 – Total has commenced production at the Usan field offshore Nigeria. The Usan development comprises a spread moored FPSO designed to process 180,000 barrels per day and with a crude storage capacity of 2 million barrels. Its size of 1,050 feet (320 meters) long and 200 feet (61 meters) wide makes it one of the largest vessels of this type in the world. Development involves 42 wells that are connected to the FPSO by a 43 miles (70 kilometers) long subsea network.
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Continents of the World
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