TOPICS OF INTEREST
OFFSHORE
Giant Discovery Raises Norwegian Oil Project Hopes
Dugong could become a new North Sea production hub says offshore explorer Neptune Energy upon its latest discovery.
Flow-Assurance Strategy Manages Subsea Asset Without Continuous MEG Injection
The paper describes options for hydrate and integrity management and the required modifications to both subsea and topside facilities to enable an operational philosophy change.
Developing Technologies Can Lower Subsea Tieback Cost
The traditional subsea tieback model is evolving, supported by advances in flow assurance that allow tiebacks over much longer distances and by the introduction of new technologies that increase overall cost effectiveness.
Preparedness Holds Key to Management of Infectious Diseases Offshore
International SOS has led medical services operations on offshore installations globally and has managed clinical cases in which patients presented with signs and symptoms of known infectious illnesses.
Aker Solutions Shares New Details of Unmanned FPSO Concept
While it remains today only an idea, there are but a few barriers keeping an unmanned floater from being realized, according to one of the world’s leading offshore engineering firms.
Subsea Multiphase Gas Compression System Offers Competitive Advantage
In 2015, the world’s first subsea multiphase gas compression system was installed offshore Norway. The system comprises two-off 5-MW machines configurable for serial or parallel compression. This system has now gained considerable and valuable operational experience.
Application of Multizone Water Injection Downhole Flow Control Completions With Fiber-Optic Surveillance
A multizone water-injection project has ultimately proved a method of using intelligent completion interval-control valves in place of traditional sand-control completions in soft sand reservoirs.
Operation Planning Tool Improves Quality, Efficiency of Offshore Risk Management
The complete paper discusses Equinor’s operation planning tool, developed to present planners with the technical conditions of a platform, identify potentially dangerous combinations of concurrent activities, and propose learnings from 8 years of incident recordings.
Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Neutral Zone Resumes Production
The joint oil field had been offline since 2015, due to an operational dispute.
Total Tapped as Industry’s Top Explorer
Apache, Qatar, and Shell clinch best discovery, best new venturer, and energy transition leader.
A Net-Zero Future Full of Opportunities for a New North Sea
Despite the global downturn, the long-term transition to net zero presents a major opportunity to create new multibillion industries based around the North Sea. Cross-sector collaboration and major state/private sector intervention, together with strong leadership, will be key.
AI Meets HMI: Next-Gen Robots Take on the Tough Tasks To Reduce Risks on Rigs
With their gee-whiz—albeit artificial—intelligence, robots may be the industry’s answer to jobs deemed dangerous, dirty, distant, or dull.
Price-Plunge Fallout: Let’s Make a Deal
Nearly everything’s on the table as companies aim to shore up portfolios by curtailing investments and dumping low-priority assets.
Norway Opens New Realms of Arctic Oil Exploration
A new licensing round will open up 136 blocks in the Arctic Barents Sea.
Shuttle Concept Brings CO2 to Subsea Reservoirs
A new idea from Equinor calls for autonomous submarines to transport CO2 from the surface to the seabed. The Norwegian operator says the shuttles could also carry oil and water for injection.
OTC 2020 Tech Papers Offer a Look Into the Future of Offshore
The Offshore Technology Conference was cancelled for the first time ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the flow of ideas continues. As proof, this curated summary of technical papers highlights unique concepts that might someday reduce the offshore sector’s heavy cost burdens.
New Acidizing Method Improves Stimulation in Deep, High-Temperature Offshore Well
The complete paper discusses a method of stimulating deep, high-temperature offshore wells by combining an efficient single-phase retarded acid (SPRA) system and an engineered, degradable, large-sized particulate and fiber-laden diverter (LPFD).
Schlumberger To Restructure Business Units
Schlumberger plans to restructure by focusing on basins and divisions in line with customers’ E&P workflows.
Neptune Exits Deal With Energean for North Sea Assets
Neptune must pay Energean a break-up fee of $5 million for cancelling what was to be a $250 million deal.
Saudi Arabia Faces Challenge in Balancing Deep Oil Cuts With Need for Gas
Middle East could lose 15% of ethane-based ethylene supply in 2020 because of oil supply dynamics.
Major Operators Submit Plans for Northern Lights JV
An investment decision this year would sanction Norway’s first CO2 storage project. Phase 1 is expected to be operational in 2024.
Wintershall Dea Makes Third Oil Discovery in Less Than a Month
Two discoveries offshore Mexico add to April’s finding in the Norwegian Sea.
OTC Announces Spotlight on New Technology Awards Recipients
The Offshore Technology Conference announces the 2020 recipients of the Spotlight on New Technology Award. Eighteen technologies from 14 companies from around the world will be awarded this year, including six companies that will be recognized for the Spotlight on Small Business Award.
Machine-Learning Approach Improves Deepwater Facility Uptime
This paper describes an automated work flow that uses sensor data and machine-learning (ML) algorithms to predict and identify root causes of impending and unplanned shutdown events and provide actionable insights.
Offshore Enters Uncharted Waters
For the offshore sector, the collapse in oil demand and prices came just as the market was beginning to look up. Now many companies are focused on survival. This article discusses how various market segments, regions, and companies are faring in “the new reality.”
Deep-Learning Techniques Classify Cuttings Volume of Shale Shakers
A real-time deep-learning model is proposed to classify the volume of cuttings from a shale shaker on an offshore drilling rig by analyzing the real-time monitoring video stream.
Fatigue Prediction for Extended Riser Life and Improved Vessel-Response Analysis
This paper presents a fatigue-prediction methodology designed to extend the life of unbonded flexible risers and improve the accuracy of floating production, storage, and offloading vessel response analysis.
A Look at the Aasta Hansteen Norwegian Deepwater Spar FPSO
The complete paper describes the overall project execution of the Aasta Hansteen field development on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) north of the Arctic Circle. It is the deepest field yet developed on the NCS in 1300 m of water.
Asphaltenes: A Complex and Challenging Flow Assurance Issue To Measure and Quantify Risk
Researchers use novel methodology to measure the thermo-electric properties of native crude.
Diamond Offshore Files for Bankruptcy
The chapter 11 filing comes as record-low crude prices and excess supply have impacted operations across the industry. About 2,500 jobs could be at stake.
Equinor Makes First Discovery in Gulf of Mexico Since 2015
The Monument well represents the Norwegian operator’s first deepwater drilling project in US waters in 5 years.
2020 Offshore Technology Conference Has Been Canceled
Amid continued health and travel concerns, the OTC Board of Directors felt this decision was the most feasible and responsible.
Upstream Digitalization Is Proving Itself in the Real World
For the upstream industry, where improvement in efficiency or production can drive significant financial results, there is no question that the size of the digital prize is huge. So are the challenges.
Global Upstream Industry Moves Into Survival Mode
As the fallout deepens from the coronavirus pandemic and the global collapse in oil and gas prices, oil- and gas-producing regions around the world are feeling the pain.
Interest in US Gulf Lease Sale Sapped by Price Crash
Oil and gas operators played it safe in the latest offshore auction by placing about half the high bids typically made. As a result, the total dollar commitment for the round was the lowest since 2017.
Drilling Automation Is the Future, But ExxonMobil Finds Gaps To Fill
ExxonMobil’s rig automation experiment is accelerating, with plans to push the number of rigs in the system from three to nine. Drilling efficiency was improved by use of an automated pipe-handling system, which reduced the median time required for connection at one location by 20%.
Record US Production Topped 12 Million B/D in 2019, Will Climb Slower This Year
Led by Texas and New Mexico, year-over-year crude output jumped by 11% according to the US Energy Information Administration. Going forward, new records will be set but at a slower pace.
Equinor Strikes Oil at New North Sea Discovery
Because the greenfield can use existing infrastructure, the Norwegian operator says it will count as a low-carbon development.
Cost-Effective Validation of HP/HT Subsea Equipment Using Seawater Hydrostatic Head
The complete paper presents a practical approach for validating design-verification analysis for subsea equipment, using a representative pressure valve block to correlate finite-element analysis (FEA) predictions for strain changes with actual measured changes.
Transocean's Backlog Signals A Deepwater Revival
Transocean reported a long list of reasons why the deepwater drilling business is coming back strong. Making money is still not one of them.
Eni Makes Another Discovery Offshore Mexico, Expects Several More
The Italian oil and gas company has found its second big well offshore Mexico and is setting its sights on several more in the near future.
Diagnostic Tool Identifies Factors in Well-Productivity Decline
Wells in deepwater reservoirs show significant rate decline with time as the result of various causes. A diagnostic tool for quantification of factors influencing well-productivity decline is presented in this paper.
Test Methodology Optimizes Selection of Fluids for Gasfield Development
For the development of the Dvalin high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) gas field in the Norwegian Sea, a completion scheme using standalone screens is planned.
ExxonMobil: Another Guyana Discovery, Ups Recoverable Reserves, Adding a Drillship
Guyana continues to strengthen its reputation as the world’s fastest growing offshore exploration hotspot.
Oilfield Construction Giant McDermott Files for Bankruptcy Protection
The firm has outlined a restructuring plan that will see it sell off subsidiaries and erase more than $4.6 billion in debt.
Eni, ADNOC Sign Carbon Capture Agreement
The companies will focus on research and development to reduce CO2 emissions and promote the circular economy.
Nine Months After Discovery, Eni Starts Offshore Angolan Oilfield
The Italian oil and gas company used a “fast track” model to get the first production well flowing from the Agogo field.
Israel Starts Exporting Natural Gas to Egypt
Landmark deal called most significant since 1979 peace treaty.
Oil and Gas Discoveries Reach Four-Year High in 2019: Rystad
A total of 12.2 billion BOE was discovered worldwide in 2019—the highest volume in 4 years, with offshore regions dominating the list of new deposits.
Talos Shares Zama Reserves Audit Amid Unitization Negotiations With Pemex
Talos is hoping to retain its operatorship of the major discovery it made in 2017 offshore Mexico after a reserves audit confirmed the reservoir is shared between two offshore blocks.
BP Makes $625 Million Exit From North Sea Assets
The deal is part of BP’s plan to divest $10 billion in the North Sea so that it can focus on developing core growth areas and construct more cost-effective subsea tiebacks in the region.
Discovery Suggests Guyana Bounty Extends Offshore Suriname
A significant discovery of oil off Suriname increases the odds that major oilfields off Guyana will extend across that international boundary.
Egypt Awards Oil Majors First Red Sea Blocks
The Arab world’s most populous country has awarded a string of concessions in a bid to become the region’s next major supplier of natural gas.
Massive Gas Field Begins Production Offshore Israel
The largest natural gas field in the rising Eastern Mediterranean region is now flowing after being discovered a decade ago.
Global Deepwater Production Hits 10 Million BOE/D
The depth of the world’s offshore projects has steadily increased over the past 30 years—and so has its production base. The growth trend will continue thanks to new fields offshore Brazil, Guyana, and the US.
Guyana Hits New Milestones
First oil from the 120,000-B/D Liza Destiny FPSO is flowing ahead of schedule.
Rystad Warns of Gloomy Start to 2020 for Oilfield Service Firms
Reduced investment in US shale will continue to weigh down the global oilfield services market through 2020.
Total to Gain Blocks, Extend Production Licenses Offshore Angola
Total has agreed to acquire interests in two blocks in the offshore Kwanza Basin from Angola’s state-owned Sonangol and has received an extension on its offshore Block 17 production licenses.
BP Confirms Further Gas Potential Offshore Mauritania, Senegal
Three appraisal wells drilled this year—GTA-1, Yakaar-2, and Orca-1—targeted nine hydrocarbon-bearing zones, encountering gas in high-quality reservoirs in all zones and yielding a combined 160 m of net pay.
Shale, Tight Oil Investments to Fall 12% in 2020; Global Deepwater Rising
Lower oil prices and capital discipline are expected to result in a double-digit drop in shale and tight oil spending, while deepwater momentum is seen continuing. This comes as “massive investments” will be needed in the next decade to meet growing oil demand.
Chevron Sanctions First Deepwater Ultra-High-Pressure Development
The Anchor development in the US Gulf of Mexico is the first ultra-high-pressure project requiring 20-ksi operating pressure to reach a final investment decision.
Tullow Oil CEO, Exploration Director Resign Amid Lower Production Outlook
The resignations come as the company makes downward revisions to its production guidance after a disappointing performance from its TEN and Jubilee fields offshore Ghana.
Apache To Deepen Suriname Exploration Well, Conduct Further Tests
Industry awaits the results of Apache’s Maka Central-1 exploratory well offshore Suriname, where high expectations follow the rapid exploration success of neighboring Guyana.
Value of ROV Data Extends to Decommissioning Strategy
The complete paper describes the potential global scientific value of video and other data collected by ROVs.
Digital Twins Mature in the North Sea
A proving ground for the use of digital twins has emerged in the North Sea. There, operators Total, Aker BP, and Shell have each developed and deployed twins that they expect to pay big dividends.
ConocoPhillips Leaning on Conventionals Near-Term, Unconventionals Long-Term
Most of ConocoPhillips’ oil and gas production by the end of the next decade will come from its unconventional operations. But, for the near-term, the Houston independent will rely on conventional assets as it seeks to keep spending in check, decline rates low, and cash flow on the rise.
CNOOC Names CEO, Increases Bohai Oil Production
Xu Keqiang took the reins as CEO of the Chinese national oil company on 19 November. Meanwhile, more oil is flowing from the offshore Caofeidian 11-1/11-6 oilfield project.
Equinor, Total, Aker Launch Subsea CO2 Injection R&D Project
Before the dream of a “subsea factory” can come true, a group of North Sea companies will need to see if the required technology is economically feasible to build.
Petrobras Starts Production From Pre-salt Berbigao Field
P-68 is Petrobras’ fourth FPSO to begin operations this year following the startups of P-67 at the Lula field and P-76 and P-77 at the Buzios field.
West Mira Semisubmersible Deploys Hybrid Power Plant
By using the four converter-battery systems, the operator estimates it will be able to reduce the runtime of the rig’s on-platform diesel engines by 42%, cutting CO2 emissions by 15% and NOx emissions by 12%.
Another Brazilian Auction Fails To Draw Bids from Majors
Chinese firms stepped in for the majors in Brazil’s two underwhelming offshore auctions.
Petrobras Awarded Búzios, Itapu Blocks in Brazilian Auction
Just three firms submitted bids in an auction many are deeming as a disappointment for Brazil.
Chevron to Sell Stake in Azerbaijan’s Giant ACG Field
The US major has had a stake in the field since it started production in 1997. It produced 584,000 B/D of oil last year.
US Could Make Hundreds of Millions More from Offshore Leasing, GAO Says
GAO believes BOEM often undervalues its tracts offered to operators in offshore lease sales.
Hess To Tie Back Deepwater US Gulf Oil Discovery
The Esox-1 well encountered 58 m of high-quality oil-bearing Miocene reservoirs and will be tied back to Tubular Bells production facilities.
Power-From-Shore Expanding to Support Norwegian Offshore Production
Offshore facilities are typically powered from onsite gas turbines but efforts to become “carbon efficient” are pushing oil and gas companies toward an onshore alternative.
BP Discovers Gas with Orca-1 Well Offshore Mauritania
The Orca-1 and Marsouin-1 wells have derisked up to 50 Tcf of gas initially in place from the Cenomanian and Albian plays in the BirAllah area, more than sufficient to support a world-scale LNG project, partner Kosmos Energy said.
Eni, EGPC Fast-Track Gulf of Suez Appraisal Well
The Sidri 36 appraisal well confirmed the downdip westward extension of the Sidri 23 discovery announced last July by the Italian major.
ONGC Makes Discoveries in Colombia, Brazil
India’s ONGC reported an oil find in Colombia’s Llanos Basin as well as a gas and oil discovery in Brazil’s deepwater Sergipe Alagoas Basin.
Premier Oil Makes Gas Strike in UK North Sea
Development of the Tolmount East discovery will be fast-tracked, the operator said.
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