TOPICS OF INTEREST
OFFSHORE
ExxonMobil Eyes Sale of Malaysian Offshore Assets
A month after it got out of Norway, Bloomberg reports that the company is working with advisers on a potential Malaysian sale, which could raise as much as $3 billion. ExxonMobil plans to divest around $15 billion in nonstrategic assets by 2021.
Qatar Petroleum Takes Over Pair of Offshore Fields from Oxy
As Oxy looks to divest billions in assets and focus more on its prime US shale fields, it sheds itself of the ISND and ISSD fields off the eastern coast of Doha. In announcing the lease loss last year, Oxy said the fields need significant infrastructural investment.
Production Starts From Johan Sverdrup
Phase 1 of the North Sea megaproject—Norway’s largest offshore development since the 1980s—has come on stream. Johan Sverdrup is expected to produce 660,000 BOPD at its peak.
Equinor Awards Milestone Wireless Subsea Drone Contract
The $43-million deal with Saipem will utilize a wireless underwater intervention drone and an ROV for intervention work on the Njord field in the Norwegian North Sea. Equinor said the contract is the first ever from an operator for advanced wireless drone services.
Norway Approves Valhall West Flank Startup for Aker
Aker BP expects the unmanned facility, a further development of the Valhall field in the Norwegian North Sea, to recover 60 million BOE. Startup is expected sometime this fall.
Var Energi Seeks NCS Portfolio Boost From ExxonMobil Sale
With its $4.5-billion acquisition of ExxonMobil’s remaining portfolio on the Norwegian Continental Shelf now official, Var Energi says it hopes to realize its ambitious growth plans.
Work Continues on Liza Unity FPSO
SBM Offshore began construction on the vessel following ExxonMobil’s sanction of the Liza Phase 2 development offshore Guyana in May. It is designed to produce 220,000 BOPD after it starts up in 2022.
Chevron Sanctions St. Malo Waterflood Project
The project aims to contribute an estimated ultimate recovery of more than 175 MMboe from one of the company’s signature deepwater projects in the US Gulf of Mexico.
BP Completes North Sea Drone Methane Monitoring Pilot
The pilot used sensor technology originally deployed by NASA for the Mars Curiosity Rover to collect methane emissions data live-streamed from a drone. BP said it plans to deploy the technology to all of its North Sea assets, including ETAP and Glen Lyon, in 2020.
Natural Language Processing Enables Better Operational Risk Management
Equinor is working on a natural language processing tool that could combine data sources and help planners anticipate the issues that affect onsite operational safety.
Equinor Installs Templates for Troll, Other North Sea Fields
After seeing a significant increase in the price level for subsea equipment, Equinor says it is realizing the ways in which standardized subsea templates help build financial competitiveness. The new standard allowed for the installation of 14 templates in one month.
FPSO for Liza Phase 1 Arrives Offshore Guyana
Following a 42-day journey from Singapore, the Liza Destiny has arrived at the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where it is expected to produce up to 120,000 gross boe/D from the ExxonMobil-operated deepwater project upon startup.
Subsea Pipelines, Umbilicals Installed for Nova Field
The completion of the subsea installation marks another major step for one of several projects scheduled to tie back to the Gjøa platform in the Norwegian North Sea. Production for the Wintershall Dea-operated project is expected to start up in 2021.
Subsea Markets Face High Stakes if Oil Prices Slide
In a $60 to $70 oil environment, the subsea market is poised to grow around 7% annually up to 2025. But a significant portion of this activity is at risk if the price of Brent crude falls to $50 per barrel.
Swire Seabed Completes Autonomous Pipeline Inspection for Equinor
The subsea operations company said its most recent campaign is the first fully unmanned offshore pipeline inspection completed “over the horizon,” surveying up to 100 km from the shore.
Equinor Starts Up Mariner Field in North Sea
One of the largest industrial projects in the UK in recent years, Mariner marks Equinor’s first operated field on the UK Continental Shelf. It is expected to produce 70,000 BOPD at peak rates.
Equinor Gets Green Light To Start Up Utgard
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has given clearance to start up facilities at the North Sea field, which straddles the line between the UK and Norwegian sectors. Production is set to begin in September.
ALE Completes Record Lift for Total’s Egina FPSO
At nearly 3,000 tonnes, the company said its lift of an FPSO module was one of the heaviest land-based crane lifts ever performed. ALE was contracted to lift six modules for Total’s FPSO module integration project in Nigeria.
Shell Sanctions Deepwater PowerNap Project
The subsea tieback is expected to start up in 2021. This is Shell’s second major development on a tieback in the US Gulf of Mexico, following Kaikias’ startup in May.
Neptune Begins Subsea Installation Work on Duva Field
The Neptune-operated project is on track to start drilling later this year, with first oil scheduled for the end of 2020. The Norwegian North Sea field is expected to produce 30,000 BOE/D at its peak.
Johan Sverdrup Phase 1 Nearly Complete, Startup on Target
Lundin reports that the hookup and commissioning of installed facilities at the large North Sea field is progressing as planned. Phase 1 startup is still scheduled for November.
Aker Energy Moves Closer to IPO
With a $100-million investment and submittal of its offshore Pecan field development plan to Ghana authorities, Aker Energy continues its positioning for an IPO later this year.
TechnipFMC Begins Pipeline Work in Campos Basin
One of the company’s pipelay and construction vessels will install rigid and flexible pipelines for Equinor’s Peregrino Phase 2 project, adding an estimated 273 million bbl of recoverable oil to the field.
Restoration of Oil and Gas Production Continues in Gulf of Mexico
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reported about 14% of oil production and about 14% of natural gas production remains shut in following Tropical Storm Barry.
ABS To Classify New Monocolumn Platform Designed for Offshore Malaysia
ABS will classify a new self-elevating platform with a unique triangular monocolumn design from Calm Oceans Pte Ltd.
Personnel Begin Reboarding Platforms After TS Barry
Offshore personnel are reboarding Gulf of Mexico platforms, oil and gas production begins recovery.
Slight Uptick in GOM Shut-Ins as TS Barry Continues Onshore
All 20 dynamically positioned rigs have returned to pre-storm locations. Operators' reports of evacuated personnel remain unchanged from yesterday.
70% Oil, 56% Gas Production Shut In as Barry Makes Landfall as Tropical Storm
The Gulf of Mexico disturbance, Barry, made landfall today near Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and weakened to a tropical storm.
Twelve Companies Vie To Build Bangladesh’s First Onshore LNG Import Terminal
The country has scrapped plans to build additional FSRUs, and decided instead on land-based LNG as the mainstay of its energy mix
InfraStrata Considers Deal For UK FSRU Project
The UK-based energy infrastructure development firm has entered an exclusivity agreement with Meridian Holdings for an FSRU project offshore northwest England. The project would include a floating FLNG receiving port.
GOM Operators Begin Evacuations as Tropical Storm Advances
As a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico continues to develop, about 32% of the oil production and 18% of the natural gas production in the GOM has been shut in.
Kuwait Oil Pursues Offshore E&P, Signs With Halliburton for Services
Kuwait Oil Co. signed a $597-million offshore drilling services contract with Halliburton for six high-pressure/high-temperature exploration wells on two jackup rigs in the Arabian Gulf.
McDermott Completes First Installation Campaign for R-Cluster Project Offshore India
Completion comes despite two cyclones disrupting the project area during installation, McDermott said.
Seawater Cooling System To Be Integrated on Newbuild Cable-Layer
Hydroniq will deliver a hull-integrated seawater cooling system for a cable-laying vessel the Norwegian shipbuilder Vard is designing and building for Prysmian Group.
LLOG Starts Production at Buckskin Project
Phase 1 production from the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico field is expected to reach 30,000 BOPD. The field contains an estimated 5 billion bbl of oil in place.
BHGE Launches Multimodal Facility Expansion in Angola
The facility will serve as a hub to support customers and projects in the Angola and Southern Africa region.
Shell Ships First LNG Cargo From Prelude
First cargo from the world’s largest floating LNG project comes in the midst of low LNG prices sparked by a global supply boost. Prelude is expected to produce 3.6 mtpa for Shell.
Addressing the Gaps in Subsea Produced Water Treatment
Operators are looking for ways to better handle water coming from subsea wells, which is typically treated at topside facilities. Subsea separation systems are not equipped to discharge water back into the reservoir, so how do companies close the gaps?
BP Approves Thunder Horse South Expansion Phase 2
The deepwater Gulf of Mexico project is expected to add 50,000 B/D of oil production through the construction of two new subsea production units and production wells.
How To Design an Unmanned Minimal Floating Platform
Unmanned minimum facility platforms are a reliable alternative to traditional wellhead platforms or subsea installations, and the technologies enabling simpler designs have evolved.
Equinor Awards Billions in Service Contracts
The new deals, valued at approximately $2.9 billion over 3 years, cover services for liner hangers, downhole monitoring, and additional completions on the NCS.
Statfjord A Platform To Be Decommissioned in 2022
After producing for 43 years, the Statfjord A platform will cease production in 2022.
Ashtead Technology Acquires Aqua-Tech Solutions
Ashtead Technology has acquired Louisiana-based subsea equipment rental and cutting services specialist, Aqua-Tech Solutions, as part of the company’s international growth plans in the US.
Managing Fatigue To Reduce Risk and Improve Work Culture
Companies in the petroleum industry, from exploration and production, to transportation, refining, and distribution, operate around the clock. This paper intends to raise awareness on the impact of fatigue in the petroleum industry and recommend a framework for fatigue risk management.
BP and Partners Sanction $6-Billion Platform for Giant Deepwater ACG Field in Caspian
BP and partners have sanctioned the Azeri Central East project, the next stage of development of the giant Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli oilfield complex in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
Successful D&A Means Seeing the Unseen
Decommissioning and abandonment comes with its share of unexpected surprises, but many of those surprises could be avoided merely through better planning and care.
AkerBP’s Valhall Flank West Development Progresses
Watch Valhall Flank West topsides move outside at the Kvaerner Verdal yard.
D&A: The Asia-Pacific Offshore Industry’s Next Big Challenge
The next big wave of decommissioning and abandonment projects is set to occur in the Asia-Pacific region, and APAC’s operators are now tasked with finding cost- and time-effective ways of unwinding their huge agglomeration of wells and facilities.
LNG Market Stands at Infrastructure Crossroads
More flexible approaches to financing, production, and trading are crucial to meeting world’s needs, new study finds.
McDermott and Zamil Offshore Sign JV To Serve MMO Market in Saudi Arabia
McDermott will work exclusively with Zamil Offshore to provide Saudi Aramco with maintenance, modifications and operations services.
Aker Energy Submits Plan To Develop Oilfield Offshore Ghana
If sanctioned and developed, the deepwater Pecan field would be Ghana’s fourth producing offshore field. First oil is expected 35 months after sanction, which could come as early as this year.
Record-Breaking Lift Completes the Johan Sverdrup Field Center
Equinor marked the installation of the last pieces of the Johan Sverdrup field center with the heaviest lift ever performed offshore. Two final platform topsides, a bridge, and a flare stack were installed last week.
IPTC Awards Saudi Aramco’s Manifa Offshore Project
Megaprojects have come to define many of the world’s new resource projects but they are also a testament to the awesome engineering capabilities of the oil and gas industry. Find out who took home this year’s honors.
Johan Sverdrup Living-Quarters Topside Sails Away
Phase 1 of the development today marked the sail-away from Kværner’s yard of the 560-bed living-quarters topside, the largest of its kind in Norway.
Subsea is Back in Black
From its record high in 2014, purchases of subsea equipment and SURF fell around 50% until reaching a low in 2018. New data suggest that the subsea market will be a top-performing oilfield service segment.
Are Deepwater Projects Due for a Revival?
The oil price downturn spawned a lull in deepwater enthusiasm, but better project execution and reduced project lead times have helped operators achieve lower costs and better returns. What does the landscape for deep water look like in the near term? Will operators get more involved?
First Gas Production From BP's Angelin Development
BP Trinidad and Tobago began first gas production from its Angelin development on 26 February.
Subsea Production Systems—Will 2019 Be a Tipping Point?
The past year ended with a surge of subsea tree awards as E&P operators locked in lower supply-chain cost. Will demand continue to grow in 2019 and allow subsea OEMs to build backlogs and take back pricing power?
BP Begins Gas Production From Phase 2 of West Nile Delta Project
Current production from the phase is 400 MMcf/D and expected to peak at 700 MMcf/D. A third phase also is slated to come on stream this year.
Keep Your Eye on the Oil Price Ticker To Gauge 2019 Oilfield Services
The oilfield services sector showed steady revenue growth in 2018 thanks, in part, to increased project sanctioning. With the oil price falling $20 in the past 2 months, however, the future may be murkier than expected.
Operations Suspended Following Oil Spill in White Rose Field
A shut-in subsea flowline is believed to be the source of the spill on Husky Energy’s SeaRose FPSO offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. The spill is believed to be the largest in the history of the Canadian province.
API Releases New Edition of Valve Standard
API released an updated valve standard for wellhead and tree equipment, which includes new automatic closure requirements.
InterMoor Acquires BEL Grapnel and Chaser Designs
The deal covers drawings, designs, and cast patterns for BEL’s anchor- and chain-handling equipment.
Changing the Mix: A New Approach to Polymers for Offshore EOR
Researchers from Chevron are looking into a new approach to understand the drivers of polymer hydration. How might this affect the design of mixing systems in the field, and could it affect offshore EOR applications?
Offshore Survey Shows Shift From Cost Cutting to Expanding Operations
An offshore survey identified a decrease in focusing on cost cutting and an increase in preparing to expand operations. With the oil prices above $60/bbl the impetus for negotiation for lower prices by companies and service providers appears to be waning.
LNG Moves Closer To Becoming a Fuel for Marine Vessels
Three companies are collaborating to develop the equipment needed to make LNG a feasible alternative fuel for ship owners and operators.
North American Shale Activity Gives Boost to OFSE Business
The oilfield services and equipment sector, while optimistic, has not yet seen the effects of the improved oil price in the recovery of its overall business.
Gas Flowing From Ichthys LNG Project
The long-awaited Ichthys LNG Project off Western Australia has finally started gas production. LNG liquefaction is expected in a few weeks.
Total Begins Production at Kaombo Deepwater Project
Sanctioned in 2014, the project is the largest deepwater offshore development in Angola. It will produce an estimated 230,000 BOPD from six different fields at peak.
SPE Offshore Europe 2019 Chair Appointed, Theme of Conference to be License To Operate
Michael Borrell, senior vice president, North Sea and Russia at Total, was appointed conference chair. "Our License To Operate: Breaking Through to Excellence" will form the theme of the biennial conference and exhibition which will take place in Aberdeen from 3–6 September.
Huisman and RAMLAB Initiate Consortium To Produce World’s Heaviest 3D Printed Steel Crane Hook
The hollow hook will weigh close to 1000 kg and have a safe working load of 325 metric tons.
Supply Chain Consortium Launched for Decommissioning Services
Global spending on oil and gas decommissioning is expected to be $13 billion per year by 2040. The launch of a collaborative supply chain approach to global decommissioning offers an end-to-end solution to reduce the decommissioning burden, risk, and cost for operators in Europe, Asia, and Americas.
Catalysts for Offshore Progress: Service Company Partnerships, M&As
Executives from several service companies involved in the offshore space—including two sides of a recent hostile takeover bid—came together at OTC to discuss the virtues of collaboration and rationale behind M&A.
Swarming, Swimming Robots Make Their Debut
Aquabotix’s SwarmDiver technology marks a major milestone in the growing trend toward swarm-deployed underwater vehicles.
Norway Leading the Oilfield Service Comeback
The cost cuts made during the downturn and the recent increase in oil prices have led to some global offshore projects becoming economically viable. Norway is leading the comeback.
P&A Sowing Harmony Among Operators?
With no money to be made, P&A is one area where operators can put aside their hyper-competitiveness to work together. Members of the recently formed PACE network discussed the virtues of collaboration at the Decommissioning and Abandonment Summit 2018.
Aggressive Cost-Cutting: Is it Sustainable?
Onshore development is increasing production, while investors demand greater operational efficiencies. Operators and service companies are striving to strike the balance between fiscal discipline and growing their production. How low can costs go, and for how long?
Produced-Water Debottlenecking Improves Offshore Production
An operator in the western Gulf of Thailand retrofit two partial-processing water-management systems on mobile-offshore-production-unit platforms for bulk removal and treatment of produced water. Water debottlenecking increased oil production by 80% and reduced the infield transfer volume by 62%. Th
RPSEA Releases Oil & Gas Technology Roadmap
The Technology Roadmap identifies R&D opportunities that will allow the US to be the leading producer of oil and gas into the future. The importance of technology transfer and time to commercialization is discussed.
BSEE Safety Alert: Improper Compressor Purging Leads To Explosions
Two Gulf of Mexico incidents occurred that were related to compressors not being purged properly prior to startup. BSEE issued a Safety Alert outlining the circumstances and made recommendations for prevention.
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