Blog Archives
Miranda Rights Update … NSA Spying
We can waste readers’ time with the latest revelations about the NSA’s espionage activities against Americans, highlighted fully in the following WaPo article “NSA broke privacy rules thousands of times per year, audit finds” whose title is sufficiently self-explanatory about how seriously the administration takes individual privacy, or we can just showcase the following cartoon which shows how the Miranda rights have been ‘adjusted’ for the New Normal…
But a cartoon does it best …
And if you think it’s only 1000s then suckers you deserve what you get!
Update: Floatel Superior Stable Again. Will be Towed to Land, Statoil Says
After the PSA Norway today informed of Floatel Superior stability incident which occurred this morning in the Norwegian Sea, Statoil has provided a more detailed insight into the matter.
The oil company announced on its website that, after a hole was discovered in the rig’s ballast tank, causing the rig to tilt 3-4 degrees, the crew of 374 have mustered at the lifeboat stations and evacuation by helicopter is taking place.
“The rig’s stability is now re-established” Statoil said and added that Floatel Superior would be towed to land in due course.
Statoil has set up a personnel reception centre in Kristiansund. Six helicopters and an emergency response vessel have been deployed in order to assist the rig. In addition, an anchor handling vessel will be dispatched to inspect the damage.
Owned by the Swedish company Floatel, the Floatel Superior 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.
The PSA Norway in July 2012 granted consent to Statoil to use the flotel at Njord Field in the Norwegian Sea.
Update: Floatel Superior Stable Again. Will be Towed to Land, Statoil Says| Offshore Energy Today.
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Worldwide Field Development News Oct 9 – Oct 15, 2012
This week the SubseaIQ team added 0 new projects and updated 7 projects. You can see all the updates made over any time period via the Project Update History search. The latest offshore field development news and activities are listed below for your convenience.
S. America – Brazil
Petrobras Announces Farfan Discovery
Oct 11, 2012 – Petrobras announced the discovery of light hydrocarbons at its Farfan prospect in block SEAL-M-426 offshore Brazil. Well 1-BRSA-851-SES is being drilled in 8,923 of water by the Deepsea Metro II (UDW drillship). A hydrocarbon bearing zone of 144 feet was discovered at a depth of 18,314 feet and was confirmed by wireline testing and fluid sample analysis. The rig will continue drilling to the target depth of 19,685. Petrobras and partner IBV Brazil hold 60% and 40% interest in the well respectively.
Oct 11, 2012 – Petrobras released preliminary drilling results concerning appraisal well 3-RJS-683A at the Jupiter prospect confirming a discovery of natural gas and condensate. The discovery has proven a continuous reservoir between 3-RJS-683A and the Jupiter discovery well. A 577-foot oil column has also been detected in rocks displaying excellent permeability and porosity. Further appraisal is needed to determine the size of the field but initial estimates suggest that Jupiter could hold as much as 1 billion cubic feet of gas. To this point, the well has reached a depth of 17,834 feet and drilling will continue in an effort to reach deeper targets.
Project Details: Jupiter
Europe – North Sea
Lundin Announces Albert Results
Oct 11, 2012 – The Bredford Dolphin (mid-water semisub) wrapped up drilling operations at Lundin’s Albert prospect offshore Norway. Well 6201/11-3 was drilled to 9,760 feet and penetrated a thin Cretaceous oil bearing reservoir. The reservoir was found at a depth where the primary target was expected to be encountered. Due to the makeup of the structure and uncertain distribution, an estimation of resources in place cannot be made at this time. A minor column of movable hydrocarbons was encountered in a Paleocene secondary target. Further geophysical and geological studies are required to clarify the potential of the discovery.
Project Details: Albert
Heerema Delivers Andrew Process Module
Oct 11, 2012 – Heerema Fabrication recently completed construction of the new 750 ton process module for BP’s Andrew platform in the UK North Sea. The module was designed to be a “bolt-on” addition to the platform facilitated by the use of two large hinge pins that engage hooks welded to the existing structure. Heerema’s Hartlepool yard benefited from the project by the creation of 180 jobs. In addition, the module was delivered without a single lost time incident.
Project Details: Andrew (UK)
Providence Encouraged by Barryroe Development Modeling
Oct 9, 2012 – Providence Resources recently completed a suite of static and dynamic modeling of the main Basal Wealden oil bearing reservoir interval within the Barryroe complex offshore Ireland. Data from the new models was incorporated with maps made from the recent 3D seismic survey of the area allowing Providence to establish oil recovery factors ranging from 17% to 43%. A modeled recovery factor of 31% over 25 years was achieved based on a development scenario which implemented 41 horizontal production and 22 horizontal water injection wells. Also, the company awarded the Barryroe Concept Development Engineering Study to Procyon Oil and Gas. Procyon will help determine the best development plan for the field based on the different scenarios recently modeled by Providence.
Project Details: Barryroe
Ithaca Adds to Resources in UK North Sea
Oct 9, 2012 – Ithaca Energy has acquired interest in the Cook and MacCulloch fields in the UK North Sea through the acquisition of two Noble Energy subsidiaries. The Shell-operated Cook field is located in block 21/20a and is processed through the Anasuria FPSO. The acquisition will bring Ithaca’s stake in the field to 41.345%. The ConocoPhillips-operated MacCulloch field is found in block 15/24b and was developed through 4 subsea wells tied back to the North Sea Producer FPSO. Finalization of the acquisition, expected in early 2013, will give Ithaca a 14% stake in the field. With the addition of these assets, Ithaca’s net production – largely oil – should increase by 1,100 boepd. The company’s total consideration in the arrangement is $38.5 million.
Project Details: MacCulloch
Asia – Far East
Lufeng FSOU Gets an Upgrade
Oct 9, 2012 – InterMoor completed its first permanent mooring project in the Lufeng field in the South China Sea. The company was contracted by CNOOC to handle project management, engineering, procurement and installation of a new buoy turret mooring system for the Nanhai Sheng Kai FSOU. Installation of the new mooring system should allow CNOOC to get an additional 15 years of service life out of the vessel which was first deployed in 1992. Included in the work scope was the addition of a new 8-inch flexible flowline and riser between the mooring system and LF13-2 wellhead platform. The FSOU was previously anchored in the LF13-1 field but has been moved to the 13-2 field since the upgrade to expand development there.
Australia
Scarborough Partners Still Mulling Development Options
Oct 11, 2012 – ExxonMobil said a decision on how to develop the Scarborough gas field is not likely until the second half of 2013. Scarborough is considered one of the most difficult fields off Western Australia to develop. Water depth in the area is around 4,700 feet and the closest land is 170 miles away. The company is evaluating several options with its joint partner BHP Billiton. Some of the options include building a floating LNG platform or supplying gas to companies that have existing LNG plants.
MEO Ready for Farmout in Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
Oct 9, 2012 – MEO Australia announced its intention to launch the farmout of exploration permit WA-454-P on Nov. 1. The farmout is scheduled to conclude by the end of 1Q 2013. WA-454-P, located in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, contains the Marina-1 discovery and the sizable Breakwater prospect. MEO describes Marina-1 as a “gas and probably oil” discovery with 3C contingent gas resources of up to 3.2 Bcf and 3C contingent oil/condensate resources of up to 29.5 MMstb. Gas-only perspective resources for Breakwater are up to 2.7 Tcf with 87 MMstb condensate. In addition, Breakwater is situated in an area near proven gas discoveries that are planned to be developed with floating LNG technology. MEO was awarded WA-454-P in June 2011 and holds 100% interest in the permit.
Project Details: Marina
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- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 14 – Sep 20, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Aug 10 – Aug 16, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 22 – Sep 28, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
Ecopetrol Updates on US GoM Parmer Propect
Ecopetrol S.A., through its affiliate Ecopetrol America Inc., provided the results of the Parmer Prospect, deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
The Parmer prospect #1 is located on Green Canyon 867, at a depth of 18,900 ft (5,760 meters), which allowed for several pressure readings and the collection of several fluid samples from Miocene sands. The data indicate a column of approximately 240 ft (73 meters) of net condensate-rich gas pay, as prospect as one of 40 ft (12 meters) of net oil pay. In the coming months, Ecopetrol and its partners will reprocess 3-D seismic data and determine a comprehensive delimitation and development plan according to these results.
The two Parmer leases (GC 823 and GC 867) are located within the Green Canyon protraction area, at a depth of approximately 4,200 ft (1,280 meters) underwater. Each covers an area of 5,760 acres (23.3 square kilometers) and is located approximately 143 miles (230 km) from Louisiana.
Ecopetrol America has a 30% interest in the Parmer Prospect. Its partners are Stone Energy, and Apache that is the prospect’s operator.
The Parmer discovery is Ecopetrol’s second deepwater discovery in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the regions with the highest oil hydrocarbon potential in the world.
The results are expected to assist in Ecopetrol S.A.’s strategy to attain a production level of 1.0 million clean barrels of oil equivalent a day by 2015, and 1.3 million clean barrels by 2020.
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USA: ATP Provides Reserves and Production Update
ATP Oil & Gas Corporation today announced an increase in its estimated year-end 2011 proved and probable pre-tax PV-10 value to $7.3 billion based on SEC pricing, up 52% from $4.8 billion at year-end 2010.
ATP also provided an update on production for full-year 2011 which averaged an estimated 24.6 thousand barrels per day (MBoe/d), an increase of 17% over 2010.
Reserves – ATP estimates year-end 2011 proved reserves of 118.9 MMBoe compared to 126.1 MMBoe at year-end 2010. ATP estimates proved and probable reserves of 194.4 MMBoe at year-end 2011, compared to 211.3 MMBoe at year-end 2010. The changes were primarily a result of production of 9.0 MMBoe in 2011 and revisions to oil and gas reserves. On a Boe basis, ATP estimates that oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs) represent 66% of its year-end 2011 proved reserves and 65% of proved and probable reserves, compared to 60% and 59%, respectively, at year-end 2010.
ATP estimates a year-end 2011 SEC pre-tax PV-10 value of $4.2 billion for its proved reserves and $7.3 billion for its proved and probable reserves, compared to $2.6 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively, at year-end 2010. This increase is primarily a result of pricing, but other factors include timing and an increase in oil and NGL reserves.
Since independent reservoir engineers are finalizing estimates of ATP’s oil and natural gas reserves for year-end 2011, ATP will issue its final reserve amounts utilizing SEC pricing and reconciliation in conjunction with filing its Form 10-K, anticipated in March 2012.
Production – ATP’s production in the fourth quarter 2011 averaged 24.8 MBoe/d compared to 24.2 MBoe/d in the third quarter 2011. The fourth quarter average benefited from a 1.4 MBoe/d recognition of royalty relief related to 2010 production. Not including this benefit, average production in the fourth quarter was 23.4 MBoe/d, of which 70% was oil, compared to 69% in the third quarter 2011. ATP intends to conduct the previously announced sleeve shift at the Mississippi Canyon (MC) 941 A-1 well in the first quarter 2012 after production is established at the MC 942 #2 well. This sleeve shift had previously been scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2011. ATP estimates that opening the sleeve in the MC 941 A-1 well will increase production by 1.5 MBoe/d.
ATP anticipates an increase in production from the completion of the MC 942 #2 well during the first quarter 2012 and an increase later in the year with the installation of the pipeline for the two Clipper wells that were completed and tested in 2011. The installation of the Clipper pipeline is scheduled to begin in the third quarter 2012 with production expected in the late third quarter/early fourth quarter 2012.
ATP Oil & Gas is an international offshore oil and gas development and production company with operations in the Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea. The company trades publicly as ATPG on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
Source: ATP Oil & Gas, February 24, 2012
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Cyprus: Deep Sea Supply Provides October Fleet Status Update
In October 2011 Deep Sea Supply`s AHTS fleet (all 12 AHTS Vessels) had an average gross income of approx. USD 19,600 per ship per day compared to USD 15,800 in September.
The PSV fleet (all 8 PSVs) had an average gross income of approx. USD 20,000 per ship per day compared to USD 20,200 in September.
The AHTS Sea Tiger has been approx 50% off hire in October due to scheduled maintenance program.
Sea Vixen, which was delivered from the yard in October, is not included in the figures.
Deep Sea Supply ship owner and operator of a substantial number of Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels (AHTS vessels) and Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) with extensive newbuild program.
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Continents of the World
Mb50's "Liquid Mud" Rant 