TOPICS OF INTEREST
OFFSHORE
Equinor Signs Altus, Archer for Integrated Wireline Services
The $120 million per year, 5-year contracts will provide well-intervention services to Equinor’s fixed platforms.
Remote Survey: A New Normal for Oil and Gas
On the normally unmanned Valhall Flank West platform, the survey of a 1-year-old box boom pedestal crane featured auto-testing of the automatic overload protection system. A similar inspection program was performed on two knuckle boom cranes on a FPSO vessel in Skarv.
Keppel Begins Construction on First Jones Act-Compliant Offshore Wind Turbine Installation Vessel
The first offshore wind turbine installation vessel in the US is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Norway OK's Funds for Northern Lights CCS Project
The first phase of the project is set for completion in 2024. As a part of the project, Equinor, Shell, and Total will establish a new joint-venture enterprise. Equinor has awarded two EPC contracts.
Harnessing Offshore Renewable Energy
This paper’s intent is to provide a basic understanding of offshore renewable energy, including descriptions of wind and marine-hydrokinetic devices, with a focus on the physical and technical issues.
Offshore Hydrogen Production Enables Far Offshore Wind Development
Wind energy sources located offshore present challenges in transporting large amounts of energy. Energy transport through hydrogen molecules may be a solution. The PosHYdon project is intended to build experience with offshore H2 production and test power-to-gas technologies and integrated systems.
Expansion of Offshore Wind Depends on Development of Floating Wind Turbines
Despite having strong wind resources and promising record-breaking capacity factors, most sites globally are unsuitable for bottom-fixed units. Floating wind will provide part of the solution for countries seeking to decarbonize their electricity.
The Transfer of Oil and Gas Facilities Skills to Offshore Wind Energy
Offshore wind energy projects provide appealing options for the application of the skills and knowledge of practitioners involved in the design and fabrication of oil and gas facilities, especially those with offshore experience.
Petrobras Offers 50% Stake in Marlim Cluster
The cluster is the third largest in Brazil and the fourth largest in the Americas, with potential for further development. It is the third offer the company has made over the past five weeks.
Lifetime Revenue vs. Construction Cost—a Metric for Assessing Drillship Retirements
Through the end of October, 38 rigs have been retired this year. Predicting future rig attrition is not an exact science, but certain metrics help identify those rigs.
Norway’s Ulstein Debuts Hybrid H2 Design for Vessels
A Norwegian shipping company is eyeing smaller battery energy storage systems to design and develop greener heavy-lift jackups.
Second Shipment of Modules Ship Out for Mexico FPSO
Modules for the FPSO will travel to Singapore for integration. The FPSO will be located offshore Mexico, with first oil production planned for 2021.
Revisiting Oilfield Electrification With Ideas Picked Up at 2020 ATCE
An ATCE session focused on subsea and offshore subsurface applications with much wider implications. The discussion included the electrification of both facilities and subsurface systems, as well as more-extensive deployment of sensing and flow control from the surface to the reservoir.
Tie-In Manifold Installation Completed at Karish Field Offshore Israel
Jumbo Maritime's heavy-lift crane vessel Fairplayer completed the work.
Total Charts LNG-Powered Vessels To Reduce Emissions
The charter agreement for the LNG-propulsion vessels is in line with Total’s Climate Ambition and will cut down on several emissions.
UPDATE: Hurricane Zeta Landfall Imminent, Shuts In 67% Oil, 36% Gas Production
Hurricane Zeta is intensifying as it approaches the US Gulf of Mexico coast of southeastern Louisiana, where it is expected to make landfall around 4 p.m. CST today. View a video of Zeta posted by the US Air Reserve Hurricane Hunters.
One Quarter of the Global Floater Fleet Could Be Scrapped as COVID-19 Accelerates Restructuring
The number of units that have been cold stacked since 2016 are in the double digits. Reactivation costs for these rigs range from $40 million to $100 million. Given current rates and contract durations, most of these are unlikely to return to work.
Tropical Storm Zeta Prompts GOM Evacuations and Production Shut-Ins
Evacuations in the GOM began on Monday, but so far nearly 50% of current oil production and 55% of natural gas production in the region is shut-in due to Tropical Storm Zeta.
Oil-Production Costs Reach New Lows, Making Deepwater One of the Cheapest Sources of Novel Supply
In an updated projection, Rystad said that a breakeven of only $50/bbl is needed to produce 100 million BOPD in 2025, reflecting the reduction in oil-production costs.
TechnipFMC Joins Breidablikk Development With EPCI contract
The EPCI contract for the Breidablikk development includes provision of flexible jumpers and rigid pipelines as well as pipeline installation work. About 70% of the value creation in the Breidablikk development phase is expected to go to Norwegian companies.
Equinor Awards Wood $75-Million Contract To Support Mariner Field Development
The latest agreement between Wood and Equinor will begin January 2021. The contract follows recent agreements between the two companies for the Breidablikk development in the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
DNV GL and Aker BP Complete Pilot Project for Remote Inspections of Cranes
Akers BP said it will use lessons learned from the pilot and scale the remote-assist concept across its assets.
UPDATE: Operators Restore GOM Production After Hurricane Delta
Forty-four percent of oil production and 30% of natural gas production remain shut in as operators return workers to offshore platforms. Production from undamaged facilities are being brought back online once all standard checks are completed. Facilities with damage may take longer to bring back up.
UPDATE: Hurricane Delta Shuts In 92% Oil, 60% Gas Production in GOM
Hurricane Delta leads to shut-ins of 92% oil and 60% gas production in GOM as landfall is expected today.
First Topside Modules for Offshore Mexico FPSO Ships Out
The FPSO will be capable of processing 90,000 B/D of crude, 75 million ft3/D, 120,000 B/D of water injection, and a storage capacity of 900,000 bbl of crude oil. First oil is planned for 2021.
UPDATE: GOM Evacuations and Shut-Ins Increase Ahead of Hurricane Delta
GOM production shut-ins increased to 80% of the oil and 49% of natural gas. Hurricane Delta weakened from a category 4 storm to a category 2 storm on Wednesday and is expected reach the US Gulf later in the week.
GOM Operators Evacuate Offshore Facilities Ahead of Cat 4 Hurricane Delta
Hurricane Delta is expected to hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday and reach the US Gulf later in the week. Twenty-nine percent of the current oil production and 9% of natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico is shut in.
ExxonMobil Reaches FID for Guyana’s Payara Field
ExxonMobil is evaluating additional development opportunities in the Stabroek Block with plans for five drillships operating offshore Guyana by the end of 2020.
Schlumberger and Milaha Sign MOU To Provide Stimulation Vessel in Qatar
Schlumberger and a Middle East offshore logistics company signed an agreement to develop a modular stimulation vessel as part of Qatar’s program aimed at localizing the energy sector’s supply chain and creating new investment opportunities.
Eni To Take Over Chevron’s Role in Indonesia Deepwater Project
The sale of Chevron’s interest in the IDD project is part of its cost-cutting measures.
Petrobras Cuts E&P Capex, Buzios Oil Field To Account for 70% of E&P Investments
Brazil’s national oil company estimated a reduction of 22 to 38% in capital expenditures in E&P from its 2020–2024 strategic plan and expects to spend $6 billion through 2024 to decommission offshore platforms and wells and underwater gas pipelines.
Equinor Awards Contracts for Breidablikk Development
Equinor awarded multimillion-dollar contracts to Aker Solutions and Wood for work on the oil field in the Norwegian Continental Shelf. It said about 70% of the contracts for the development phase is expected to go to Norwegian companies.
US Agencies Advance Research To Increase Gulf of Mexico Production
The research will focus on potential policy changes that could help increase oil and gas production from deepwater infrastructure already in place in the Gulf of Mexico to reduce stranded assets.
Equinor Awards Engineering Study to Aibel for Unmanned North Sea Process Platform
The contract is for Equinor’s unmanned process platform at the Krafla field in the North Sea, with plans for tie-in to an Aker BP host platform in the North of Alvheim area.
Roomba for Ships? Shipping Company To Use Robotics for Hull Cleaning
To provide condition monitoring and combat fouling, the robot clings and moves along the hull walls. It is controlled via a 4G connection to clean and inspect the walls in line with individual vessel schedules developed through a proprietary algorithm and big data.
West White Rose Project Off Newfoundland at Risk of Cancellation
Facing a minimum 1-year delay to startup, Husky Energy discussed the West White Rose extension project’s challenges and risks with Canadian local and federal governments. Cancellation is a possibility, according to a Husky executive.
GOM Offshore Pipeline Lifts Force Majeure After Hurricane Laura
Garden Banks Pipeline was notified that the Sea Robin delivery point was also made available after Enbridge lifted its force majeure.
Vietnam LNG-to-Power Project To Use Jetty-Less Technology
The metocean and tidal conditions led to the development of the jetty-less solution for the project, which Delta Offshore continues to push toward FID.
GOM Offshore Pipeline Remains Down After Hurricane
A platform connecting to the Garden Banks pipeline was undamaged by Hurricane Laura, but Enbridge declared force majeure after inspecting the facilities.
Drone Used For World's First Logistics Operation to Equinor Platform
Equinor said drones could reinforce safety, boost production efficiency and contribute to lower CO2 emissions from Norwegian oil and gas
Equinor Completes Drone Logistics Operation for Troll A Platform in North Sea
The Norwegian company completed what it describes as the world’s first logistics operation with a drone to an offshore installation.
Petrobras Awards Contracts for ROV Services and Supply Vessels
The 3-year contracts were awarded to Solstad, OceanPact, and Fugro.
PTTEP Awards Contract to Halliburton for Offshore Digital Transformation Project
The software solution aims to improve operational efficiency and production from subsurface to processing facilities in four offshore fields.
BSEE Policy Change Would Allow Longer Tieback Extensions
BSEE said details of the policy change will come later this year.
Offshore Driller Valaris Files Chapter 11 To Reduce $7-Billion Debt
Valaris, formed in 2018 after the merger of Houston-based Rowan Cos. and London's Ensco, faces fallout from the oil-price drop, canceled or delayed drilling programs, and contract and day rate modifications.
TD Column: What’s Next? Looking Beyond the Decade of Change
To navigate the new business environment, the P&F community must advance promising concepts through the feasibility, design optimization, and/or pilot testing phase into the detailed design, execution, commercialization, and optimization phases.
Brazilian Major Announces Mothballed Platform and Binding Phases for Offshore/Onshore Assets
The announcements are part of the company’s divestment strategy to reduce debt and improve capital.
Fugro Conducts First Fully Remote Inspection of Platform
The fully remote inspection was conducted with an ROV to increase worker safety and security and reduce environmental exposure on an offshore platform.
New-Design Containment System To Be Deployed on LNG Carrier for China
The LNG A-Box containment system is designed for LNG carriers to serve smaller terminals, where larger ships are not feasible.
Remote Operations Development Unveiled for ROV Systems
Development in software, technology, and a global 4G network combine to make ROV operations possible between offshore vessels and remote locations.
UK Offshore Production Reaches 80% Efficiency Years Ahead of Expectations
For the seventh straight year, the regulatory body has found offshore operations continue to improve based on an efficiency model developed in partnership with the SPE.
Operator Seeks $1 Billion for FPSO To Advance North Sea Life-Extension Project
Vår Energi is looking to extract another 136 million BOE from the Balder Field. Production is anticipated in 2H 2022.
What Are the Market Drivers for a Recovery?
Crude oil and natural gas prices may recover moving into 2021, albeit at different rates brought on by a variety of market dynamics. Geopolitics and the potential for another wave of COVID-19 cases and resulting lockdowns still pose a threat to the industry.
TDI-Brooks Completes Environmental Post-Operations Surveys in Mexico
The EPSO surveys were completed offshore Mexico for Total and Cairn in compliance with requirements of Mexico’s National Agency for Safety, Energy, and Environment.
Petrobras To Build Brazil’s Largest Platform
In its push to boost deepwater production, Petrobras is aiming to launch a leasing tender to build an FPSO described as Brazil’s largest-ever oil platform. Decommissioning work begins in the Campos and the Sergipe-Alagoas Basins.
US Gulf Lease Sale Set for November
Lease Sale 256 was originally set for August but was moved due to COVID-19’s impact on the oil and gas markets. Bids will be accepted by mail only due to the ongoing pandemic.
US Crude Exports to China May Depend on Arbitrage
US crude exports to China have decreased from peak levels in May and June, but Vortexa said there may be unique opportunities looking forward.
Petrofac JV Nabs $135-Million Contract for Kazakhstan Water-Treating Facilities
The North Caspian Project in Kazakhstan covers the Kashagan, Kairan, Aktoty, and Kashagan South West fields.
A Single FPSO Award Forecast in 2020
Awards are expected to recover to seven vessels next year. Over the past 10 years, only 2016 saw a lower level of activity when not a single FPSO contract was awarded.
Sercel Invests in Startup AMBPR To Build Robots for Oil and Gas
The partnership will deliver autonomous robots for safe work in adverse land, sea, and downhole environments.
Asian Demand Boosts North Sea Crude Exports
Most crude exports coming out of the North Sea since March have been destined for Asia, where floating storage levels remain high.
Engineering for a Greener Oil and Gas Industry
If we must reduce emissions to make our industry “greener,” what are some of the options that we can apply?
Tracerco Wins Large-Scale Inspection Project in Caribbean Sea
The inspection projects to assess water ingress will be done via remotely operated vehicle.
Offshore Infrastructure Reuse Can Contribute to Decarbonization
The Hydrogen Offshore Production project identifies an alternative to decommissioning by providing reuse options for offshore infrastructure. It aims to prove the feasibility of decentralized hydrogen generation, storage, and distribution to provide a bulk hydrogen solution.
Supply/Demand Fundamentals Bring US LNG Exports Down More Than Half in Q2
The drop in US LNG exports comes amid a combination of weak demand, ample supply, additional capacity coming on line, and flexibility to cancel US cargoes.
Poland To Expand LNG Terminal Capacity
Poland state officials said the terminal expansion is crucial to strengthening the country’s energy security by increasing its capacity to receive LNG and gas from European countries and decreasing its dependence on Russia.
Excelerate Receives its Tenth FSRU in South Korea
The vessel is capable of operating as both an FSRU and a fully tradable LNG carrier.
Offshore Drilling Drying Up as Debts Continue To Swell
With contracts canceled and pressures mounting, offshore oil drillers struggle to stay afloat.
Offshore Drilling Drying Up as Debts Continue To Swell
With contracts canceled and pressures mounting, offshore oil drillers struggle to stay afloat.
Kongsberg Maritime, Ocean Infinity Sign Deal To Equip Unmanned Surface Vehicles
Armada to install ROV launch and recovery system on its fleet of robotic ships.
Chevron to Divest its Stake in North West Shelf LNG JV
Potential suitors to acquire Chevron’s stake in the LNG project include co-owner and operator Woodside.
Aker Wins Umbilicals Contract for King’s Quay Development in GOM
Delivery of the umbilicals is expected in Q4 2021. The King’s Quay FPS achieved FID in Q2 2019, and is expected to process up to 80,000 B/D of crude oil with first production in 2022.
The Buzz About Drones: More Safety, Less Cost To Inspect FPSOs
A recent test proved the feasibility of using LiDAR on remote-controlled drones to create 3D maps of the inside of tanks, increasing the safety and efficiency of inspections.
Arctic LNG 2 Project on Schedule for 2023 Startup
The meeting with project partners comes less than a month after Mammoet was awarded an unloading, transportation, and installation contract.
Equinor Proceeds With Powering Sleipner Field From the Norwegian Shore
Sleipner’s share in net-zero emissions savings will be more than 150,000 tonnes per year.
Equinor's Greener Fleet With Fewer Emissions
Although these look like ordinary tankers, they are unique and run on LNG and recovered oil vapors.
Energean’s Karish Project Back on Track
Work has resumed on Energan’s Singapore FPSO; subsea installation for the Karish project continues as planned.
Aker Energy Reaffirms Commitment to Pecan Field Development
The FPSO vessel will reduce capital expenditure and breakeven costs and increase commercially feasibility, leading to FID.
McDermott Completes Pan-Malaysia Transportation and Installation Projects
McDermott’s completion comes 19 months after it was first awarded. SapuraOMV achieved first production from the Larak gas field in January.
No Project Sanctions Expected in Gulf of Mexico This Year
Forecasts are lowered for levels of E&P, budgets, and project sanctioning.
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