Blog Archives
Huisman to Deliver Well Intervention System for Helix’s Q7000
Huisman, a Dutch specialist in lifting, drilling and subsea solutions, has secured a new contract from Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. for the delivery of a Well Intervention System onboard Helix’s new build Semi submersible “Q7000”.
The system, which is based on Huisman’s proven Multi Purpose Tower (MPT) design, will be built by the Huisman production facility in China.
The fully integrated 800mt Well Intervention System will be capable of handling the Intervention stack, the high pressure riser and other components. The Huisman Multi Purpose Tower has the same functionality as a normal derrick but offers improved accessibility to the well center, which allows for new improved handling procedures that increase efficiency and safety. The superior accessibility to the well center and the small footprint of the MPT are ideally suited for well intervention and subsea installation services. Subsea equipment can be skidded into the well center from three sides, offering enhanced flexibility.
The active heave compensation hoist system of the MPT provides excellent means for safe landing of equipment at the seabed while the passive heave compensation system provides a safe and redundant means to supply top tension to the risers. A guide trolley, travelling the entire length of the tower, guides the subsea modules during lifting operations. The system also features multiple transfer hatches that can be used to move equipment into the well center, and a skiddable work floor covering the moonpool flush with main deck.
The skiddable work floor allows large subsea modules to be deployed, without the need for a raised work floor. When large objects need to pass the moonpool the work floor can be skidded aside. In closed position, the work floor is flush with the main deck, which significantly reduces HSE risks and improves equipment handling on deck.
In addition to the Well Intervention System Huisman will also supply a 150mt Knuckle Boom Crane and a 160mt Pedestal Mounted Crane. Previous orders from Helix, amongst others, the Multi Purpose Tower onboard the “Q4000”, “Well Enhancer” as well as the cranes for the “Q4000” and “Q5000”.
Press Release, October 09, 2013
InterMoor Completes IRIS Installation and Recovery for Apache in Gulf of Mexico, USA
InterMoor, an Acteon company, has completed an installation and recovery project for Apache Deepwater LLC (Apache) in Mississippi Canyon Block 148, Well 5 in the Gulf of Mexico.
The work scope included the overboard, wet transfer, deployment and recovery of a 30-ton interchangeable riserless intervention system (IRIS) owned by Blue Ocean Technologies. InterMoor undertook the work in water approximately 168 meters deep from Cal Dive’s Uncle John semisubmersible vessel.
InterMoor delivered the project using its compensated anchor handler subsea installation system (CASIM) which reduces heave motions relative to vessel motions. CASIM units are pre-charged at the surface to deliver the needed heave compensation for the load at depth. InterMoor’s proprietary CASIM method requires less deck space and demands fewer deck operations than the traditional buoy-based heave-compensated landing system. The company also provided the associated rigging equipment and a technician to help facilitate the subsea compensation.
“Apache selected InterMoor for this project on the basis of our service record, the fact that we had the necessary equipment available and because of our experience in subsea operations of this kind,” said InterMoor project manager Jacob Heikes. “Although we have used CASIM to deploy and recover many types of subsea equipment, this is the first time that we have used CASIM for IRIS deployment and recovery, and the project’s success shows that this proven installation method is suitable for a wide range of subsea equipment.”
Worldwide Field Development News Nov 10 – Nov 16, 2012
This week the SubseaIQ team added 3 new projects and updated 19 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.
Australia
Maari Partners to Buy Raroa FPSO
Nov 15, 2012 – OMV New Zealand, on behalf of the Maari field partners, announced the intent to exercise the option to purchase the Raroa FPSO. Since 2009 the Maari partners have leased the Raroa from Tablelands Development Ltd. Included in the lease is an option to buy the vessel after the fourth contract year at a pre-agreed buy-out price. Ownership of the FPSO will give the group the flexibility to refurbish and make upgrades as needed throughout the life of the field. Ownership transfer will be effective as of March 8, 2013. Additionally, MODEC Management Services has been awarded an operations and maintenance services contract for the Maari field through 2017 with options to extend in two year increments. MODEC currently operates 15 FPSOs worldwide.
Project Details: Maari
Drilling Commences at Zephyros-1
Nov 13, 2012 – Joint Venture partner Karoon Gas Australia announced the spudding of Zephyros-1, an exploration well in permit WA-398-P. The well is being drilled on the border of a large tilted fault block and will test the presence, quality and extent of reservoirs in the Plover formation. ConocoPhillips, the operator, has contracted the Transocean Legend (mid-water semisub) to carry out the drilling program which includes a minimum of 5 wells and will continue through 2013. Zephyros is the second well to be drilled and follows the highly successful Boreas-1 well. The remaining wells will be announced as they reach joint venture approval.
Project Details: Zephyros
Asia – Far East
WZ6-12 Development Nearing Completion
Nov 13, 2012 – Roc Oil continues to drill successful wells in the WZ6-12 development area offshore China. Its latest well, WZ6-12-A7, reached a total depth of 8,720 feet while targeting the Sliver and Liushagang prospects. Just over 34 feet of net oil pay was encountered within the Sliver prospect. Liushagang yielded 259 net feet of water wet sands with up-dip potential remaining. A 7″ liner will be set to allow future completion and tie-in to production facilities. Based on the recent drilling results the company is re-examining the area for additional exploration potential. At least two development wells will be needed before the field can be brought online. First oil is still planned for early 2013.
Project Details: Beibu Gulf
S. America – Other & Carib.
BPZ Ready to Flip Switch at Corvina
Nov 13, 2012 – Development drilling in BPZ Energy’s Corvina field will soon begin from the newly installed CX-15 platform. The Peruvain Ministry of Energy and Mines granted the company an environmental permit which cleared the way for drilling and eventual operation of all production and injection facilities on the platform. The current plans call for the Petrex-28 rig to be mobilized to the platform with the first well being spud in December 2012. Production of first oil is expected to take place in 1Q 2013.
Project Details: Corvina
Europe – North Sea
Voyageur Spirit Completing Commissioning Process
Nov 16, 2012 – The Voyageur Spirit FPSO has been on location at the Huntington field in block 22/14b in the UK North Sea since early October undergoing hook-up of risers and completion of commissioning. An exact date of start-up activities has not been set as it is dependent upon favorable weather and the timing of first oil which has been pushed back from 4Q 2012 to 1Q 2013. Prior to being towed to location, the Voyageur Spirit underwent upgrades at the Nymo shipyard in Norway to prepare for Huntington.
Project Details: Huntington
Subsea 7 Wins Martin Linge SURF Contract
Nov 16, 2012 – Total E&P Norge awarded a subsea, umbilical, riser and flowline (SURF) contract worth almost $800 million to Subsea 7 for development activities at the Martin Linge gas field in the Norwegian North Sea. Under the contract, Subsea 7 will provide engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the subsea facilities associated with the field. Engineering and project management are expected to commence immediately with offshore operations forecasted to begin in the spring of 2014. Contract duration is estimated at 4 years.
Project Details: Martin Linge (Hild)
Gudrun Platform Deck Arrives in Norway
Nov 16, 2012 – Production from the Statoil-operated Gudrun field in the Norwegian North Sea is expected to begin during 1Q 2014. The company is a step closer to its start-up goal with the arrival of the production platform’s deck from Aibel’s construction yard in Thailand. The topsides components, which include the operations deck, living quarters, platform modules and helideck, will now be assembled on land. Once complete the unit will be taken via heavy lift vessel to the Gudrun field and attached to the jacket structure which has already been installed. Installation of the deck topsides is expected to take place in the summer of 2013.
Project Details: Sleipner Area
Providence Announces Drombeg Potential
Nov 14, 2012 – Providence and its partner Sosina recently completed a potential resource assessment and major seismic inversion program over its Drombeg prospect in the southern Porcupine Basin offshore Ireland. Analysis results indicate recoverable P50 prospective resource potential of 872 MMbo within Drombeg and a new target identified below the main prospect. Additional Lower Cretaceous seismic anomalies have been identified both laterally offset to and vertically stacked with Drombeg which provide further resource potential. Supplemental data and 3D seismic of the area will be needed to accurately evaluate the true potential of Drombeg.
Project Details: Dromberg
Antrim Inks FPSO Agreement for Fyne
Nov 14, 2012 – A Heads of Terms agreement was signed between Antrim Energy and Hummingbird Production Limited, a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation, for an option to lease the Hummingbird Spirit FPSO for the development of the Fyne field in UK North Sea block 21/28a. The agreement will be subject to approval of a Field Development Plan which Antrim (operator) must submit to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change no later than January 2013. First oil is tentatively expected in 4Q 2014 contingent upon timing of the redeployment of the FPSO from its current work location. Results from well 21/28a-11, drilled earlier this year, have increased Fyne 2P reserve estimates to 11.7 million barrels of oil.
Project Details: Fyne
Shell Acquires Additional Stake in Schiehallion
Nov 14, 2012 – Shell and Murphy Oil signed an agreement whereby Shell will acquire Murphy’s 5.9% stake in the Schiehallion field offshore Scotland. The field is located in blocks 204 and 205 of the West of Shetlands area in 1,300 feet of water. Execution of the agreement will bring Shell’s stake in the field to 55%. Partners in the field include BP (operator) with 33.5% and Statoil and OMV, both with 5.9% stakes.
Project Details: Schiehallion (Quad 204)
Major Causeway Milestone for Antrim
Nov 13, 2012 – Antrim Energy announced the start of oil production from the Causeway field in UKCS block 211/23d. Commissioning of the field has commenced with gross production rates of roughly 4,500 barrels per day on a 53% choke. The long horizontal geometry of the well has lead to slow clean-up and is impacting initial flow rates. Electric submersible pumps are expected to contribute to production rates through the first half of 2013. Antrim maintains a 35.5% working interest in the block.
Project Details: Causeway
Ithaca Updates Greater Stella Area
Nov 13, 2012 – Ithaca Energy plans to start its Greater Stella Area (GSA) development drilling program by drilling four production wells at the Stella field starting 1Q 2013 using the Ensco 100 (350′ ILC). Each of the Stella wells is expected to take 90 days to complete. These wells will be tied into the FPF-1 floating production unit which is currently being upgraded at the Remontowa yard in Gdansk. Commissioning of the vessel and hook-up to the GSA production hub is scheduled for 1H 2014. Engineering and construction of the GSA subsea facilities is on schedule with installation to take place throughout 2013. More wells are planned for the Stella, Harrier and Hurricane fields once the four initial Stella wells are brought on line.
Project Details: Stella/Harrier
MidEast – Persian Gulf
Total Extends Al Khalij Involvement
Nov 14, 2012 – Total will continue to operate the Al Khalij field offshore Qatar for the next 25 years thanks to the signing of a Heads of Agreement between Qatar’s Ministry of Energy and Industry, Qatar Petroleum and Total. Qatar Petroleum will maintain a 60% stake in the field while Total will remain the operator with a 40% stake. Al Khalij was discovered by Total in 1991 and production was initiated in 1997.
S. America – Brazil
Petrobras Signs LoI for Iracema Norte FPSO
Nov 15, 2012 – Petrobras and its partners in block BM-S-11 announced the signing of a Letter of Intent with Schahin and MODEC for the charter of an FPSO that will be used for the development of the Iracema Norte area in the Santos Basin. The vessel will be operated by Schahin and MODEC and chartered to the Consortium for a period of 20 years. MODEC is tasked with taking VLCC Alga and converting it into FPSO Cidade de Itaguai MV26 which is to be installed on location in December 2015. Once operational, the vessel will be capable of handling 150,000 bopd, 280 MMscf of gas per day and storing a total of 1,600,000 barrels of liquids. SOFEC, a subsidiary of MODEC, will design the mooring spread that will hold the FPSO on location in 7,349 feet of water.
Project Details: Iracema
Statoil Boosts Peregrino Recovery
Nov 15, 2012 – Statoil is well known for its use of multilateral well technology and has used it extensively on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The company has now taken its expertise to the Peregrino field in block BM-C-7 offshore Brazil. Peregrino was regarded as an oil field with large potential for increased recovery based on already low recovery rates and in-place volumes of nearly 2.3 billion barrels. By using horizontal wells drilled with geosteering technology to optimize placement, water injection and flow assurance measures, the estimated recoverable resources have been increased to the range of 300 to 600 million barrels of oil. To date, the company has drilled 15 production wells of this type at Peregrino and has doubled the expected recovery rate.
Project Details: Peregrino
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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 Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2012
This week the SubseaIQ team added 0 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 develoment news and activities are listed below for your convenience.
N. America – US Alaska
Shells Alaskan Arcitc Drilling Season Comes to an End
Nov 1, 2012 – Shell’s Alaskan arctic drilling program in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas has reached the end of operations date mandated by the government. The company wasn’t able to make as much progress as hoped due to a late start caused by legal, regulatory and equipment issues. The Kulluk (SW semisub) and Noble Discoverer (mid-water drillship) were only able to drill tophole sections at the Sivulliq and Burger-A prospects. Shell plans to resume activities when the sea ice retreats next summer. For the off-season, the Kulluk will be towed to Dutch Harbor and Noble is weighing options for the Noble Discoverer.
Project Details: Burger, SW Shoebill, Cracker Jack
Australia
OMV Announces Milestone at Maari
Nov 1, 2012 – The Maari field, operated by OMV New Zealand, has produced 20 million barrels of oil since startup in 2009. Maari is the largest producing field in the country and is expected to produce for another decade. Production peaked at 40,000 bopd and has slowed to its current rate of 12,000 bopd. OMV plans to drill additional development wells into what it hopes are untapped accumulations in the field. If the additional wells are successful they will help stabilize the natural decline in production.
Project Details: Maari
N. America – US GOM
Dalmatian South Discovery Confirmed
Nov 2, 2012 – Dalmatian South, operated by Murphy Oil and located in De Soto Canyon block 134, has been confirmed as an oil discovery by partner Ecopetrol. The discovery is Ecopetrol’s third in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico since 2011 and the second of 2012. The Noble Jim Day (DW semisub) drilled the initial exploration well and subsequent sidetrack in 6,394 feet of water. Hydrocarbons were confirmed through electric logs and fluid samples. Dalmatian South lies 6-miles to the southeast of the main Dalmatian field. Production startup from Dalmatian is planned for 1Q 2014 through a tieback to the Petronius platform.
Project Details: Dalmatian
Africa – West
Nov 1, 2012 – GE Oil & Gas was awarded a $165 million contract to supply subsea production equipment to Chevron‘s offshore Lianzi project located between Angola and the Republic of Congo. The contract covers the supply of seven trees, nine subsea control modules, topside and subsea controls distribution equipment and vertical connection systems. The first tree is scheduled to be completed in 4Q 2013. Lianzi lies at a depth of 2,950 feet and will be developed with a subsea production system tied to the BBLT platform via a 27-mile heated flowline.
Project Details: BBLT
Rialto Updates Operations in CI-202
Nov 1, 2012 – In a report issued by Rialto Energy, the company announced the completion of the 200+ day Gazelle Field drilling campaign in block CI-202 offshore Cote d’Ivoire. Rialto feels that the field has been adequately appraised and is in the process of reviewing possible development solutions. The company continues to review 3D seismic data covering the entire block. Several new targets have been identified and are being evaluated for inclusion in the 2013 exploration and appraisal drilling program. Vantage Drilling’s Sapphire Driller (375′ ILC) has been contracted for the 2013 program which includes three firm wells with two options. In addition, Rialto intends to commence a farmout process in 4Q 2012 to identify partners to participate in and fund the exploration and appraisal program.
Project Details: Gazelle
Chevron Awards FEED Contract for Lucapa
Nov 1, 2012 – Chevron subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited awarded WorleyParsons and INTECSEA a FEED (front-end engineering and design) contract regarding the Lucapa oil field in Angola’s Block 14. The field is envisioned to be developed via subsea production and injection wells tied back to an FPSO, all in roughly 4,000 feet of water. The Lucapa development is a joint venture between Chevron, Sonangol, ENI, Total and Galp with Chevron serving as operator. The contract value has not been released.
Project Details: Lucapa
Afren Brings Okoro East On-Line
Oct 31, 2012 – Afren PLC announced the start of production from the Okoro East field in the shallow waters of OML 112 offshore Nigeria. Drilled form the existing Okoro wellhead platform, the Okoro-14 development well was drilled with the intention of establishing early production from the East field – discovered in January 2012. The well has been completed and tied into the Okoro FPSO at a stabilized rate of 5,000 bopd. Okoro-14 is the most productive well drilled in the Okoro area to date.
Project Details: Okoro
S. America – Brazil
PanAtlantic Spinds Bit at Jandaia
Nov 2, 2012 – Exploration drilling is underway at the PanAtlantic-operated Jandaia prospect in block BM-S-71 in the southern Santos Basin. Transocean’s Arctic I (mid-water semisub) is drilling the well in 520 feet of water. The rig is expected to be on location for up to 3 months as it drills to an estimated total depth of 20,100 feet. The well is targeting shallow and deep prospects in the Upper Jureia formation and post-salt Guaruja limestone respectively.
Europe – North Sea
Faroe Relinquishes West of Shetlands License
Nov 2, 2012 – Faroe Petroleum announced its intention to relinquish operatorhsip and interest held in West of Shetland license P1161. Since exploration well 206/5a-3 was drilled in the Fulla prospect the company has been working to establish resource potential and an economical joint development solution for Fulla and the nearby Freya prospect. The area is hindered by lack of access to existing infrastructure and research has confirmed relatively poor oil quality and smaller than expected resource size. Based on these factors, the company will terminate operations in the license and concentrate efforts on its existing West of Shetlands portfolio that includes four provisional exploration licenses that were recently awarded.
Project Details: Freya
Garantiana Partners Move Forward With Sidetrack
Oct 31, 2012 – Bridge Energy, 20% partner in PL 554 offshore Norway, confirmed the plan to move forward with a sidetrack of Grantiana well 34/6-2S. Well 34/6-2A will be drilled by the Borgland Dolphin (mid-water semisub) in an effort to prove additional oil volumes in the formation and determine the oil/water contact. Sidetracking operations will take place once the drilling permit has been approved by Norwegian authorities.
Project Details: Garantiana
Oct 31, 2012 – After outliving its estimated service life by 9 years the partners in the Glitne field have decided that nothing more can be economically produced from the reservoir. To date, the field has produced 55 million barrels of oil which more than doubles the original estimate. Several new wells have been drilled in the field since production first began in 2001. The final well, drilled earlier this year, demonstrated that Glitne is no longer viable. Oil from the field is produced through the Petrojarl FPSO. Teekay, the vessel’s owner, has been given a six month notice of contract termination. A total of seven wells will be plugged and abandoned in order to close the field.
Project Details: Glitne
Asia – Far East
Liwan Gas Project Remains On Track
Nov 2, 2012 – Husky Oil’s Liwan Gas Project in the South China Sea is approximately 75% complete. The central platform jacket has been constructed and anchored to the seabed. Topsides will be completed and ready for installation in the second quarter of 2013. The Mono-ethylene Glycol Recovery Unit, an important module on the central platform, is nearing completion. Roughly half of the two 49 mile subsea pipelines have been laid from the gas field to the central platform. Liwan remains on schedule for startup by early 2014.
Project Details: Liwan
MidEast – Persian Gulf
DNO Might Double Output at West Bukha
Nov 1, 2012 – Norwegian oil and gas company DNO International announced test results of the recently completed West Bukha-4 well offshore the Sultanate of Oman. On a 54/64-inch choke, the well flowed 7,000 barrels of 39 degree API oil and 15 million cubic feet of gas per day through a test separator. Once the new well is on-line, production from the West Bukha field is expected to achieve 15,000 barrels per day which almost doubles the current rate. Boasting a total depth of nearly 19,700 feet, the well has the longest reach of any drilled well in Oman’s waters. West Bukha-4 targeted a previously un-drilled zone and is the second of a three well Block 8 drilling campaign initiated last year.
Project Details: Block 8
Asia – SouthEast
Additional Discovery Announced at Bertam
Nov 1, 2012 – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak released a statement via his personal website indicating a significant discovery of additional oil reserves at the Bertam field in block PM 307. The new discovery raises the field’s recoverable resources to 64 million barrels. A preliminary development plan estimates first oil in 3Q 2014 with a max output of 20,000 barrels per day. Lundin Petroleum operates the block with a 75% stake while Petronas Carigali holds the remaining 25%.
Project Details: Bertam
Natuna Gets New Plumbing
Oct 31, 2012 – Hallin Marine completed a subsea infrastructure, umbilicals, risers and flowlines project at the Natuna gas field offshore Malaysia. Under the $3 million contract Halling was responsible for engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of installed systems as well as the abandonment of some existing infrastructure. Natuna is the largest gas field in southeast Asia with estimated recoverable reserves of approximately 46 trillion cubic feet.
PetroVietnam Secures Funding for Cuu Long Basin Block
Oct 31, 2012 – PetroVietnam secured a 7 year syndicated loan of $140 million from five domestic banks for the development of offshore block 15-2/01 in Vietnam’s oil laden Cuu Long Basin. Talisman Energy operates the block, through the Thang Long JOC, holding 60% interest while PetroVietnam maintains the remaining 40%. The funds will be put towards the development of the Hai Su Trang and Hai Su Den fields located within the block. Talisman indicates the fields will be tied into the existing Te Giac Trang facilities on adjacent block 16-1 with first oil expected near the end of 2013.
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Worldwide Field Development News Oct 20 – Oct 26, 2012
ENSCO 8501
This week the SubseaIQ team added 2 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 develoment news and activities are listed below for your convenience.
N. America – US GOM
Noble Anticipates Second Gunflint Appraisal
Oct 26, 2012 – Noble Energy expects the Ensco 8501 (UDW semisub) to be available to drill the second Gunflint appraisal well in early 2013 after it finishes exploratory drilling at the Big Bend prospect in the US Gulf of Mexico. Gunflint, situated in Mississippi Canyon Block 948, was appraised and confirmed commercial earlier in the year and represents the company’s largest Gulf of Mexico discovery to-date. The discovery well intersected several reservoirs netting more than 550 feet of high-quality pay. Gunflint is believed to hold up to 500 Mmboe.
Project Details: Gunflint (Freedom)
Australia
Oct 24, 2012 – Karoon Gas Australia believes the Boreas discovery in permit WA-315-P could be commercial based on well test results. The company feels that future production wells drilled adjacent to Boreas-1 could flow in excess of 100 MMscf/d. Results from the well will be combined with data gathered from Kronos-1, the Poseidon wells and Poseidon 3D seismic to further characterize the size and structure of the Greater Poseidon Trend. The company’s assessment of contingent resources will be independently assessed upon completion of the drilling program.
Project Details: Poseidon
Europe – North Sea
Lundin Receives Boyla PDO Approval
Oct 26, 2012 – The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy granted approval to Lundin Petroleum for the Plan of Development and Operation of the Boyla field in PL 340 offshore Norway. Estimated gross reserves are roughly 21Mmboe with gross peak production of 19,000 Boepd. Boyla will be developed via a subsea tie-back to the Alvheim FPSO. Technip was awarded the field development contract and will handle construction and installation of the subsea equipment.
Project Details: Alvheim
Partners Strike Oil at Garantiana
Oct 26, 2012 – Well 34/6-2S on the Garantiana prospect offshore Norway has been drilled to a total depth of 13,287 feet by the Borgland Dolphin (mid-water semisub). The well, located in Production License 554, penetrated good quality oil-bearing reservoir rock in the Cook formation. Further analysis is needed for an accurate resource estimate but initial flow rates of 4,000 barrels per day were achieved through a 28/24-inch choke. Pending available contracted rig days, the partners in the Total-operated license may elect to drill a sidetrack well to define the oil-water contact.
Project Details: Garantiana
Shell Takes Hess’ Spot at Beryl
Oct 25, 2012 – Royal Dutch Shell and Hess Corporation have reached an agreement whereby Shell will buy Hess’ stake in the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation Pipeline and the fields that comprise the Beryl Area. Beryl is operated by Apache and is made up of 12 producing fields on the UK continental shelf northeast of Aberdeen. Hess’ net daily production from the area through the first three quarters of 2012 was about 14,000 boepd. Shell plans to extend the production life of its new assets potentially by 20 years. The $525 million deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2013, pending regulatory approval.
Wintershall Spuds Asha/Noor Exploration
Oct 25, 2012 – Exploration of the Wintershall-operated Asha/Noor prospect in the Norwegian North Sea has commenced on board the Bredford Dolphin (mid-water semisub). Well 16/1-16 is being drilled in 370 feet of water on the western edge of the Utsira High area and is targeting four reservoirs assumed to be Upper Jurassic sandstones. In addition, the well has the potential to appraise the neighboring Ivar Aasen and Apollo discoveries. If the reservoirs are deemed commercially viable the prospect could be developed via the Grane Field processing facilities.
Project Details: Noor
Nexen Spuds Polecat Appraisal
Oct 24, 2012 – Atlantic Petroleum announced the commencement of appraisal drilling at the Polecat prospect in UK license P1100. Well 20/4a-11 is being drilled in 370 feet of water by the Transocean GSF Arctic III (mid-water semisub) in the vicinity of the Ettrick and Blackbird fields. The well is targeting Upper Jurassic reservoirs and is expected to take 50 days to reach total depth. Nexen and Atlantic Petroleum hold 80% and 20% stakes respectively while Nexen maintains operatorship of the license.
Initial Contender Results Look Promising
Oct 23, 2012 – JV partner Antrim Energy announced positive initial results from the Contender well 211/21-N94 in the UK North Sea. Drilling took place on the TAQA Bratani-operated North Cormorant platform and reached a total depth of 16,903 feet. Preliminary results suggest a net oil pay in excess of 60 feet was encountered in the Tarbert member of the Jurassic Brent sandstones. Ongoing testing has revealed greater than expected porosity and hydrocarbon saturation. If Contender is determined to be commercial, it will be developed from North Cormorant under the name Cormorant East.
Project Details: Falcon
Shell Gets Go-Ahead for UK Fram
Oct 23, 2012 – Shell received consent from the UK government to proceed with the development of the Fram field in the UK sector of the North Sea. The development, one of the largest to be approved in five years, is expected to contribute 35,000 Boepd to the country’s production with a field life of 20 to 30 years. Although Shell is the operator, JV partner Esso Exploration & Production UK is the major equity holder with a 68% interest. Fram was discovered in 1969 and is unrelated to the Norwegian field of the same name. The gas condensate field is located in blocks 29/3a and 29/8c in roughly 300 feet of water.
Project Details: Fram
Oct 22, 2012 – Sterling Resources announced a delay in production start-up at the Breagh field in the UK North Sea. Late design completion, rework of certain systems and late material deliveries combined to cause construction delays which have pushed the anticipated start-up date to the end of 1Q 2013. Breagh Phase 1 development costs have risen to $825 million which is 1.4 percent above initial estimates. Development drilling at the field has not been hampered by the construction delays. The first three wells will be flow-tested before the end of the year. A fourth well is expected to come on stream once field production is established.
Project Details: Breagh
Mediterranean
Sara Disappoints
Oct 23, 2012 – GeoGlobal Resources received disappointing results from the Sara-1 well offshore Israel. Approximately 321 feet of high quality reservoir sands were encountered but proved to be wet without commercial quantities of hydrocarbons. Logging runs provided evidence that gas had once migrated through the system. The Noble Homer Ferrington (DW semisub) drilled the well to a total vertical depth of 12,887 feet and is in the process of plugging and abandoning the well before being released. Data collected during the operation will be used to refine the geologic model of the area and to further evaluate other possible targets within the license.
Leviathan Licensees Seeking Additional Partner
Oct 23, 2012 – The partners in the Leviathan gas field offshore Israel are taking bids to add an international partner to the group to help distribute field development costs. Being offered is up to a 30% stake in the field. Sources indicate Australia’s Woodside Petroleum and Russia’s Gazprom are likely finalists in the bidding round. Leviathan holds an estimated 17 trillion cubic feet of gas and is expected to be brought into production in 2017. The bidding round is due to end in the coming month.
Project Details: Leviathan
Samuel Resource Report Released
Oct 22, 2012 – NSAI released an independent resource report covering the Adira Energy-owned Samuel License offshore Israel. The report indicates P50 estimates of 65.8 MMbbl of oil and 65.8 Bcf of gas in four structures within the license. “The initial well will target the Cretaceous section which is estimated to contain almost 38 million barrels of prospective oil equivalent,” CEO Jeffrey Walter said. Samuel comprises an area of 223 square miles in waters up to 330 feet deep.
Project Details: Samuel
Asia – SouthEast
New Bualuang Facility Ready for Installation
Oct 25, 2012 – Salamander Energy’s Bualuang Bravo Platform construction project is on track to finish on time and within budget. The platform’s jacket has been fabricated and is en route to the Bualuang field where it will be positioned. Topside installation will begin shortly thereafter. Thai Nippon Steel was awarded the construction contract for the 16-slot platform in 1Q 2011. Through the Bravo platform, Salamander plans to double the amount of horizontal production wells currently in use and feels that production will increase from the current level of 11,500 bopd to 15,000 bopd in 2013. The Atwood Mako (400′ ILC) is scheduled to begin development drilling from the platform at the end of November.
Project Details: Bualuang
ROC Announces Successful Balai Cluster Appraisal
Oct 24, 2012 – Appraisal drilling activities at the Bentara-2 well in the Balai Cluster SFRSC have come to a stop upon reaching a total vertical depth of 9,038 feet. BC Petroleum was incorporated to manage the Balai Cluster Small Field Risk Service Contract and is comprised of ROC (48%), Dialog Group (32%) and Petronas (20%). Early results indicated and estimated net hydrocarbon pay in excess of 328 feet across a total interval of 2,132 feet. The well will now be cased and completed in preparation for well testing. Appraisal drilling is the first phase in pre-development of the license and is scheduled to take 18 months to execute. If pre-development is completed successfully the partners in BC Petroleum will submit a field development plan and work towards bringing the Balai Cluster into production.
S. America – Brazil
Statoil Wins at Peregrino South
Oct 24, 2012 – Statoil, together with partner Sinochem, has completed drilling an appraisal well at the Peregrino South prospect offshore Brazil. Well 3-STAT-8-RJS intersected approximately 278 feet of high-quality oil-saturated sandstone reservoir in the Carapebus formation. Goals of the operation were to validate previous volume estimates and establish an optimal development plan. The joint venture will use the positive results from the appraisal to guide the Peregrino Phase II development.
Project Details: Peregrino
Related articles
- Worldwide Field Development News Oct 13 – Oct 19, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Oct 9 – Oct 15, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 22 – Sep 28, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
Worldwide Field Development News Oct 13 – Oct 19, 2012
This week the SubseaIQ team added 0 new projects and updated 13 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.
S. America – Brazil
Petrobras Confirms Oil at Carioca Norte
Oct 18, 2012 – Petrobras confirmed the presence of light oil in appraisal well 3-BRSA-1101-SPS, informally known as Carioca Norte, in block BM-S-9 offshore Brazil. Schahin’s Vitoria 10000 drillship drilled the well to a total depth of 18,293 feet. Results from the well are similar to three others drilled in the Carioca area. The partners in the block will now proceed with their appraisal plan which has been approved by Brazil’s ANP.
Project Details: Carioca
Australia
Shell Cuts Steel on Prelude FLNG
Oct 18, 2012 – Shell and its partners announced steel cutting for what will be the world’s first floating liquid natural gas facility. When complete, the Prelude FLNG vessel will be 1,600 feet long and 242 feet wide and will be the largest offshore floating facility ever built. Prelude will be deployed approximately 120 miles off the Australian coast in block WA-44-L serving the Prelude and Concerto fields. FLNG technology will eventually make it economical to develop gas fields that are currently considered too far from shore or to remote to produce. The facility is expected to receive first gas some time in 2017. At peak production the facility will deliver 3.6 million tons of LNG and 400,000 tons of LPG per year.
Project Details: Prelude
Oct 17, 2012 – Karoon Gas announced the Transocean Legend (mid-water semisub) has commenced testing of the Boreas-1 exploration well. Upon bringing in the well, a stabilized flow rate of 30.2 Mmscf/d was achieved through a 40/64 choke. The company notes that flow rates were limited by the surface equipment being used. Flow is being assessed from a 229-foot perforated reservoir section in the primary Plover formation at a depth of 16,089 feet. Testing should last five days with the goal of determining the overall deliverability of the primary reservoir which if a part of the Geater Poseidon structure. The next two wells in the drilling program, Zephyros-1 and Proteus-1, are designed to test the east and west flanks of Greater Poseidon Trend.
Project Details: Boreas
Africa – West
FMC Wins Pazflor Subsea Contract
Oct 19, 2012 – FMC Technologies has been awarded a $33 million equipment contract to supply three additional subsea well systems to Total for its Pazflor project offshore Angola. FMC supplied the initial deepwater production systems that have now been in operation for just over a year. Three of the four Pazflor reservoirs contain very heavy, viscous oil and relatively low reservoir pressures. Subsea separation and pumping is the key enabling technology making production of the heavy oil possible.
Project Details: Pazflor
Aker Books Deep Water Angola Work
Oct 17, 2012 – Eni, operator of block 15/06 offshore Angola, awarded a $50 million-contract to Aker Solutions to participate in the West Hub development project. Aker’s work scope will include engineering, procurement, fabrication and supply of 21 miles of static and dynamic steel tube umbilicals, as well as the associated equipment and peripherals. Delivery is booked for 1Q 2014. Once active, West Hub will draw from the Sangos, Ngoma and Cinguvu fields.
Project Details: West Hub
S. America – Other & Carib.
Rockhopper Premier Finalize Farm-Out
Oct 19, 2012 – Rockhopper announced the completion of the Premier Oil farm-out agreement. Rockhopper will receive a $231 million cash payment and Premier will obtain a 60% interest and operatorship of Rockhoppers licenses off the Falkland Islands. The cash payment will see Rockhopper’s share of Sea Lion fully funded through first oil which is expected 3Q 2017. Both companies are fully aligned on the project and expect to have a development concept by mid 2013. The partners are also discussing other Falklands area exploration prospects and a 2014 drilling campaign.
Project Details: Sea Lion
Europe – North Sea
Oct 19, 2012 – Statoil and its partners have approved the installation of a 4-slot standard template at Fram H North in the Norwegian North Sea. The template is to be tied-back via flexible pipeline to Fram West which supplies production to the Troll C platform. Installation of subsea equipment, pipelines and control cables is planned for summer 2013. The project will help maintain high flowline temperatures to avoid the use of scale wax inhibitors between Fram and Troll C. Estimates indicate Fram H contains recoverable resources of 10 Mmbeo.
Project Details: Troll Area
OMV Buys Stake in Edvard Grieg
Oct 17, 2012 – RWE Dea has elected to sell its 20% stake in the Edvard Grieg development offshore Norway to OMV for $325.2 million. A contingent payment of almost $46 million is available based on the achievement of certain operational milestones. This acquisition gives OMV access to 2P reserves in excess of 38 Mmboe and net production up to 19,000 boepd in 2016 once the field is brought on stream. The Plan of Development and Operations has already been approved by the Norwegian Parliament and all major contracts for drilling and platform construction have been awarded. OMV will share partnership with Lundin (operator 50%) and Wintershall (30%). The agreement is subject to approval by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance.
Project Details: Edvard Grieg (Luno, Ivar Aasen) Project
Oct 16, 2012 – A scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Nexen-operated Buzzard platform in the UK North Sea has lasted longer than predicted. Nexen’s original plan was to bring the platform back online mid-October but startup will have to wait another week. The delay has resulted in one cargo being dropped from the November Forties loading program. Forties is the main component of the global benchmark Brent which is used to price most of the world’s oil. Buzzard is the largest Forties producing field and issues there tend to provide strong support to Brent oil futures.
Project Details: Buzzard
Eni To Begin Drilling At Goliat
Oct 16, 2012 – Drilling at the Eni-operated Goliat field will begin near the end of October by the Scarabeo 8 (UDW semisub). Appraisal well 7122/7-6 is expected to take 50 days to drill. A 3 ?? year development drilling phase, consisting of 22 wells drilled from 8 subsea templates, will begin upon completion of the appraisal well. The templates will eventually be tied to a circular floating production facility with an integrated loading and storage system. Total development cost of Goliat is estimated at $5.2 billion. After start-up, production is expected to plateau at 100,000 barrels per day.
Project Details: Goliat
Drilling Underway at Spaniards East
Oct 15, 2012 – Drilling operations at the Premier Oil-operated Spaniards East prospect are underway in the UK North Sea. Awilco Drilling’s WilPhoenix (mid-water semisub) is expected to be on location for roughly 40 days. The Spaniards discovery was made in 1989 and flowed 2,660 barrels per day. Spaniards East will test the down-dip potential ?? mile to the east of the discovery well. Successful results from this well could cause the partners in the license to accelerate appraisal plans for the area.
Oct 15, 2012 – Det norske and its partners announced disappointing results at the Geite prospect offshore Norway. Well 7/11-13 encountered Triassic sandstones as planned but were proved to be void of hydrocarbons. The well will now be plugged and abandoned as a dry hole.
Project Details: Geite
Asia – SouthEast
Oct 18, 2012 – Premier Oil awarded a $15 million contract to EOC Limited in relation to the upgrade of FPSO Lewek EMAS. Under the contract, EOC will provide project management, engineering and procurement services for modifications that are necessary to accommodate a subsea tie-back that will link the vessel to the nearby Dua oil field in Block 12E offshore Vietnam. The Lewek EMAS is currently in operation in the Premier-operated Chim Sao field. Once the project is completed in late 2013, the FPSO will produce both fields. All modifications will be made in the field without taking the vessel offline.
Project Details: Chim Sao
Other
Tullow Farms Into Greenland Block
Oct 15, 2012 – Greenland’s Government approved an agreement between Maersk Oil and Tullow in which Tullow will take a non-operated 40% interest in Block 9 located off the nation’s western coast. Maersk Oil will maintain operatorship of the block with 47.5% interest and state oil company Nunaoil will hold the remaining 12.5%. Block 9 is also referred to as the Tooq license and covers an area of 7,333 square miles. Decision to drill an exploration well will be made once 3D seismic is acquired and processed, which will last through 2014.
Related articles
- Steel-Cutting Commences for Shell’s Offshore Monstrosity…the Prelude FLNG Facility (gcaptain.com)
- Falklands to start producing oil by 2017 (guardian.co.uk)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Aker Solutions Opens Malaysian Subsea Service Base (worldmaritimenews.com)
McDermott Lands Two Rig Repair Contracts (Mexico)
McDermott International, Inc. has been awarded contracts to refurbish and undertake rig repair work at the McDermott Altamira fabrication facility in Tamaulipas, Mexico.
The two jack-up rigs are the Friede & Goldman L-780 Mod II design and will undergo significant improvement work to re-instate them to ABS classification. This will include steel hull, piping, machinery, and electrical renewal, as well as blasting, painting and commissioning support. Work is scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2012.
McDermott’s Altamira fabrication facility offers an ideal location to accommodate rigs and semi-submersible hulls with its expansive 1,640-foot quayside, water depth of 41 feet and less than three nautical miles tow distance to the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
McDermott Lands Two Rig Repair Contracts (Mexico)| Offshore Energy Today.
Continents of the World
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