Black Elk, ES&G Join Forces to Protect Platforms during Hurricane Season

- Black Elk, ES&G Join Forces to Protect Platforms during Hurricane Season

Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Black Elk Energy, LLC

Black Elk announced a proactive project with ES&H Consulting & Training Group to strategically place waterproof sensors on each platform. The sensors emit a continuous location signal that is used as a tracking device. If the sensor becomes submerged or is damaged, as it might in hurricane conditions, the signal is then lost, suggesting damage to the structure and thus a possible environmental impact. This would alert ES&H Consulting & Training Group and Black Elk Energy to quickly investigate the incident, enabling a more effective management response. Black Elk Energy is currently 50% deployed with the remainder to be installed within the next 45 days.

The units are manufactured by ESSI Corporation and utilize low earth orbit satellites (LEO) and transmit on L-band frequencies, providing excellent rain fade performance. The systems send a small data packet with location information, battery status, etc., every four hours as long as there is a clear line of sight to the sky. If no signal is received, resources can be concentrated within 4 hours’ passage of a storm. The lithium ion batteries last an entire hurricane season and are field serviceable.

"We understand the importance of being prepared for what may come with hurricane season," said John Hoffman, CEO of Black Elk Energy. "This new technical measure will aid in the overall tracking and management of our platforms in the Gulf. Black Elk Energy maintains an intranet site that provides a gulf-wide view of each of our platforms, which indicates a green symbol for every structure that’s operating normally."

"We commend Black Elk Energy for initiating a proactive measure for their platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, just in time for hurricane season," said Kevin Voisin, Vice President/Partner of ES&H Consulting & Training Group. "We believe this project proves Black Elk’s commitment to the environment and certainly demonstrates their efforts in going above and beyond industry standards to diligently monitor the integrity of their platforms."

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Hornbeck Offshore, MSRC Join Forces in GOM Spill Response

- Hornbeck Offshore, MSRC Join Forces in GOM Spill Response

Friday, July 22, 2011
Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc.

Hornbeck Offshore and Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) announced that they have entered into a long-term agreement for spill response services in the Gulf of Mexico. Two U.S.-flagged 370 class multi-purpose support vessels (MPSVs) owned by Hornbeck Offshore are being retained by MSRC and equipped with dedicated spill response capability.

The HOS Centerline and HOS Strongline are 370-ft. vessels with 24,000 bbls of recovered oil capacity (30,000 bbls of total liquid storage capacity) based out of Port Fourchon, LA. Each vessel is being outfitted with dedicated skimming systems, ocean boom and a support boat. The navigational systems on each vessel are also being enhanced with x-band and infrared oil spill detection systems that may increase the ability of the vessel crew to conduct skimming operations during times of adverse weather, low visibility and night operations.

This contract is a continuation of the relationship that MSRC has developed with HOS as a part of MSRC's "Deep Blue" expansion program to significantly enhance the response capability in the Gulf of Mexico. MSRC has also expanded its capability to include a manned equipment site in Port Fourchon, LA, at Hornbeck Offshore's primary shore base facility, HOS Port. This facility will also house a spill response school to enhance responder training.

HOS Chairman, President & CEO, Todd Hornbeck commented, "We are excited to be selected by MSRC and are confident that this additional response capability in the Gulf of Mexico contributes to the region's commitment to safe and environmentally sound exploration and production activities. We believe these vessels will be the largest spill response vessels in the U.S. fleet and among the largest in the world."

MSRC President & CEO, Steve Benz added, "We are pleased to have this working partnership with Hornbeck Offshore. HOS utilized a number of their resources during the Deepwater Horizon incident, and the knowledge and experience they gained will fit very nicely with MSRC's extensive capability in the Gulf Coast."

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WESI, TEI Join Forces to Form New Company

- WESI, TEI Join Forces to Form New Company

Thursday, July 07, 2011
Waterford Energy Services Inc.

Waterford Energy Services (WESI) and Trendsetter Engineering (TEI) have entered into an agreement to form a joint venture company to leverage the strengths of both companies in the areas of subsea solutions, drilling, completions and well control.

"We are well positioned to provide expertise and solutions to Canadian clients in areas such as capping stacks and containment, secondary blow out preventer (BOP) controls, subsea trees, manifolds, and related equipment. Our primary goal is to provide the Canadian offshore market with a capping stack and containment service," said Ian O'Leary, Project Manager at Waterford Energy NL Inc.

"We have developed a First Response Well Containment System (FRWCS) using equipment and technology located in Newfoundland and Labrador so we will be able to provide an immediate and local response to contain spills at the source. The technology we're using is the first of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Canada. We can help protect and save our environment in a timely manner, and show that our province has the capability and infrastructure to be a legitimate industry center, serving Canada and the North Atlantic region."

Delays in oil spill response time can have disastrous consequences as demonstrated by the 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Reliance on comparable containment systems located elsewhere in the world would result in potentially catastrophic delays in mobilization to Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, the Gulf of St Lawrence, Beaufort Sea, or other parts of Canada due to their location and possible contractual commitment(s) to other operators.

WESI has consulted extensively with the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) to ensure alignment with evolving regulatory requirements and the CNLOPB has been very supportive of the direction WESI is taking with the containment system. O'Leary said its FRWCS is designed to be compatible with the rigs operating in the harsh North Atlantic environment.
"We have the ability to export this capability to frontier regions where exploration is in its early stages. We're confident that this is the answer to an existing gap in the local oil and gas industry. With the locally-based FRWCS, we can be ready to protect our waters and coastlines, sustain future growth, and help industry explore in a responsible manner."

WESI's containment system is managed by an advisory board of world class industry experts and local professionals in areas such as spill response, subsea equipment, environment-health-safety, insurance and law; their role is to assist in the design and oversight of the manufacturing and commissioning process. O'Leary said Canadians should feel confident that the best industry practices and equipment will be located in an area where immediate access is assured. "We have the equipment and expertise to create a solution to oil spills off our coast and beyond, helping to ensure that past tragedies are never to be repeated."

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TGS, Dolphin Join Forces for Seismic Acquisition in NW Africa

- TGS, Dolphin Join Forces for Seismic Acquisition in NW Africa

Thursday, June 23, 2011
TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. ASA

TGS has signed an agreement with Dolphin Geophysical Ltd. to jointly acquire, process and market multi-client 2D seismic data along Northwest Africa. The survey will total 25,000 km of long offset seismic data in the offshore areas of multiple countries. This program was designed based on the partnership's extensive geologic knowledge of the area. Approximately 10,000 km of seismic data has been acquired to date using the M/V Artemis Atlantic and the remaining acquisition will continue into the second half of 2011.

The data will improve the understanding of highly prospective areas along the Northwest African Passive Margin and adds to TGS' existing and continuous multi-client 2D seismic library along the African margin.

Data processing will be performed by TGS and certain data will be available to clients beginning in late 2011, with the full program completed in 2012.

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Statoil, Petrobras to Join Forces in Exploration Agreement

- Statoil, Petrobras to Join Forces in Exploration Agreement

Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Statoil

Statoil and Petrobras have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to expand the cooperation between the companies within exploration, and to assess how the two companies can benefit from operational synergies.

The agreement focuses on two key initiatives, including the possible joint acquisition of new exploration acreage in areas of mutual interest (AMI).

This would be acquired through joint participation in public bid rounds. The second initiative will entail a joint screening study to evaluate possible operational synergies.

"For a number of years Statoil has had a technology agreement with Petrobras. A lot of good work has been done in both companies through information sharing and a joint commitment to common technology projects," said Statoil CEO Helge Lund. "I look forward to exploring this cooperation further on the basis of the letter of intent that we signed today."

Statoil in Brazil

The Peregrino field is located 85 kilometers offshore Brazil in the Campos basin at about 100 meters of water depth in licenses BMC-7 and BMC-47.

The first phase of the development includes two drilling and wellhead platforms and a large floating production, storage and offload unit (FPSO). A total of 37 wells are planned, all of them using advanced horizontal well technology to maximize recovery.

The field contains 300 to 600 recoverable million barrels of oil equivalents, with a significant yet-to-find potential. An exploration well is currently being drilled at Peregrino South to explore this potential. Following completion of this well, one additional well will be drilled in the area.

Production started at Peregrino in April this year.

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ONGC, Uzbekneftegaz Join Forces in Uzbek Exploration

- ONGC, Uzbekneftegaz Join Forces in Uzbek Exploration

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
ONGC Videsh Ltd.

ONGC Videsh (OVL) entered in to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Uzbekneftegaz (UNG), the National Oil Company of Uzbekistan for Joint Cooperation in the Upstream E&P sector of Uzbekistan as well as third countries. The MOU was signed on May 17, 2011 by Mr. Satpal Garg, Director (Finance) of OVL and Mr. Shokir Faizullayev, Chairman, Uzbekneftegaz in the presence of H.E. Mr. Rustam Azimov, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan has long been an important gas producer and ranks 13th in terms of global gas supply. The MOU provides for the formation of Joint Working Group consisting of experts from both the companies for identifying specific oil & gas fields in Uzbekistan and the areas in third countries for E&P activities through Joint Cooperation.

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