Surge Issues Update on Valhalla South Ops

- Surge Issues Update on Valhalla South Ops

Monday, September 12, 2011
Surge Energy Inc.

Surge Energy Inc. on Monday provided the results of its fifth horizontal multi-frac well at Valhalla South, and to announce that it has confirmed its bank line at $150 million.

Operations Update:

Surge provided the following operations update with respect to its Valhalla property due to drilling results which are believed to be material.

Surge's fifth horizontal well (16-7-74-8W6M; 100 percent working interest "WI") in the Valhalla South Doig light oil pool (40 degree API) has been successfully drilled and completed. The well encountered approximately 820 meters of Doig Formation and was completed with nine frac stages averaging approximately 30 Tonnes of proppant per frac. A five day flow test on the well has been recently completed, resulting in flow rates averaging 1,992 boe per day (78 percent light oil and NGLs) with the last day of the test flowing at a rate of 1,866 boe per day (72 percent light oil and NGLs). The well produced through the 114.3mm (4.5") tie back liner.

This five day rate for 16-7, is comparable to that of Surge's previously announced horizontal multi-frac well at 11-18-074-08W6 (71 percent WI), which had a five day flow test rate of 1,979 boe per day (82 percent light oil and NGLs) with the last day of testing flowing at a rate of 1,903 boe per day (77 percent light oil and NGLs). The 11-18 well averaged approximately 1,180 boe per day (72 percent light oil and NGLs) for the first 30 producing days which is well above the Company's type curve for the area (675 boe per day), and it was producing approximately 870 boe per day (73 percent light oil and NGLs) on September 1, 2011 when it was last tested. The first month average production rate for Surge's 16-7 well is expected to be in line with results from 11-18.

Surge began drilling its sixth horizontal multi-frac well into the pool (8-31-073-08W6; 100 percent WI) during August 2011 with plans of having production on stream in the fourth quarter of 2011. The Company has one more horizontal multi-frac well (11-5-074-08W6; 100 percent WI) budgeted for the remainder of 2011 for a total of seven gross horizontal multi-frac wells budgeted for 2011.

In addition to operations at Valhalla South, Surge is actively drilling in each of its other core areas at Windfall, Waskada and South East Alberta. At Windfall, the Company has recently drilled and completed its sixth horizontal multi-frac well and is currently drilling its seventh well into the Bluesky light oil pool (36 degree API). At Waskada, Surge has commenced its nine horizontal multi-frac well drilling program targeting the Spearfish light oil Formation (36 degree API) and now has three wells drilled and cased. In South East Alberta, the Company continues to exploit its low cost, low decline, high rate of return crude oil assets via infill drilling and waterflood. Surge will drill a combination of vertical and horizontal wells in the area during the third and fourth quarters of 2011.

Increase in Bank Line:

Surge has recently confirmed the Company's bank line at $150 million, up from $120 million. The increase is subject to standard legal documentation which is in the process of being finalized.

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South Africa Awaits Shale Gas Assessment Outcome

- South Africa Awaits Shale Gas Assessment Outcome

Thursday, September 08, 2011
OilPrice.com
by Charles Kennedy

As South Africa has very limited natural gas reserves, the country's Department of Energy is awaiting the outcome of an assessment of the nation's shale gas potential.

South Africa's Department of Energy Deputy Director General for Hydrocarbon Tseliso Maqubela said at the 4th annual Natural Gas Conference, "The truth that we have to face and effectively deal with is that South Africa has very limited gas reserves. We are awaiting the outcome of the assessment of the shale gas potential, which is currently estimated to be around 485 trillion cubic feet. There are also projects afoot to explore the potential of importing natural gas both as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) to meet our country's energy demands," BuaNews news agency reported.

The Department of Energy has noted environmentalists' concerns about the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique, also known as "fracking," used to liberate the natural gas from surrounding rock formations. Maqubela said that an interdepartmental task team was investigating the procedure's possible impact on the environment, led by the Department of Mineral Resources.

The Department of Energy is in the process of reviewing the 2001 Gas Act, with the regulation of LNG and CNG being reviewed as well as concepts for improving the nation's natural gas regulatory framework.

(Charles Kennedy is Deputy Editor of OilPrice.com. The original article appears here.)

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Flexlife Expands Ops across South America

- Flexlife Expands Ops across South America

Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Flexlife

Flexlife has expanded its operations in Brazil to increase its capacity across South America.

The company is targeting initial revenue of approximately £4million per year, but that is expected to ramp up by 30-60% per year within two years.

As well as investing in new office accommodation in Rio de Janeiro at Rua Assembleia, Flexlife is manufacturing its ground-breaking integrity management products locally and offering a full assembly, deployment and maintenance service by staff based in the region.

The company has a suite of game-changing products to identify breaches in flexible pipes and repair them without interruption to production, a first in the 40 year history of the Oil & Gas industry.

Flexlife Chief Executive Stuart Mitchell said, "Flexlife is experiencing a period of significant growth and our new South American operation will expand our capability to offer specialised support to clients.

"Flexlife has continued to build on its reputation for offering a full subsea integrity and project management package, assisting clients to cost-effectively manage all of their subsea assets and infrastructure. We have built up high levels of expertise in deepwater markets and have a proven track record of providing a service that helps operators reduce risk in a cost-effective manner."

Leonardo Dias, Executive Manager Brazil, said, "Our aim is to establish ourselves in Brazil and also target work in Venezuela. We have recruited a team of engineering, technical and support staff who are all highly experienced in the Brazilian Oil & Gas market."

As part of a continuing global growth strategy Flexlife recently appointed Stephen Burgdorf as Vice President of Business Development for North America.

Based in Houston, Texas, he will focus on promoting Flexlife's award-winning offshore project and integrity management services to operators in the region.

A Newcastle base has also been opened in the last few months and the plans are in place to open an additional base in Angola.

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Cooper Begins Drilling Well South of Butlers Field

- Cooper Begins Drilling Well South of Butlers Field

Thursday, September 01, 2011
Cooper Energy Ltd.

Cooper announced that the Germein-1 exploration well in PEL 92 spudded at 0330 hours Wednesday August 31, 2011. The surface hole has been drilled to 600 meters and preparations are currently underway to run the 9⅝” surface casing.

Germein-1 is located 1.9 km south of the Butlers oil field. The well's primary objective is the Namur Sandstone, which is the oil reservoir in the nearby oil fields. The Germein prospect is estimated to contain 0.211 million barrels of Prospective Resources (P50). The well will be drilled to a total depth of about 1,410 meters and is expected to take about 10 days to drill and evaluate.

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RWE Dea's UK Fields Breagh and Clipper South on Track

- RWE Dea's UK Fields Breagh and Clipper South on Track

Wednesday, August 31, 2011
RWE Dea AG

RWE Dea UK's field developments Breagh and Clipper South are both progressing on schedule. On a visit to Heerema's fabrication yard in Zwijndrecht (Netherlands) Wednesday, RWE Dea CEO Thomas Rappuhn emphasized the high significance of both projects: "The proven reserves play an important role to significantly increase RWE Dea's gas production in the North Sea."

"Breagh for example is one of the largest natural gas discoveries in the Southern North Sea and our target is to bring field developments on stream quickly," added RWE Dea UK Managing Director René Pawel.

Gross investments are GBP 430 million (Breagh, Phase 1) and GBP 240 million (Clipper South). RWE Dea holds 70% interest in the Breagh gas field as operator (Sterling Resources UK 30%). With a stake of 50% in Clipper South, RWE Dea is operator with Fairfield Energy and Bayerngas each holding a 25% stake.

Pawel said, "We remain on course to achieve production from the Breagh field less than three years after we acquired operatorship of the Breagh license and expect first gas in the second half of 2012 and from Clipper South in the first half of 2012."

Both platforms are being constructed by the Heerema Fabrication Group. The Breagh platform consists of a jacket approximately 85 meters tall with a total weight of some 4,000 tonnes and topside of approximately 1,400 tonnes. The topsides have been moved out of the shed and are ready for sail-away from Heerema's fabrication yard mid September. The jacket is on schedule for load out early September. The Clipper South platform with topsides weighing 1,900 tonnes has accommodation for 40 persons and sailed away for offshore on Thursday 25th and was successfully installed on Saturday, August 27 with standalone overnight manning on the day of installation – testimony to the very high level of completion on departure from the yard. The Clipper South platform is in a water depth of approximately 23 meters, and a 12" pipeline will connect to the ConocoPhilips operated LOGGS complex for onwards transportation of gas to the Theddlethorpe terminal in the UK.

The Breagh field is located in UKCS blocks 42/12a and 42/13a of the southern North Sea in 62 meters water depth, approximately 100 kilometers east of Teesside. Around 100 kilometers of 20" pipeline have been successfully installed offshore. The platform will be installed by Heerema Marine Contractors.

The field is being developed in two phases. Phase 1 entails gas to be exported via the 20" pipeline from the Breagh Alpha platform to Coatham Sands, Redcar on the UK mainland, and a 10 kilometers onshore pipeline for processing at the Teesside Gas Processing Plant (TGPP) at Seal Sands. The TGPP site is owned by Teesside Gas & Liquids Processing, and after processing at the TGPP, the gas will enter the UK National Transmission System. Phase 2, planned to receive project sanction in late 2011, is expected to include additional wells in the east of the field likely to be drilled from a further Breagh platform tied back to Alpha.

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Land Camp to Serve Influx of Eagle Ford Workers in South Texas

- Land Camp to Serve Influx of Eagle Ford Workers in South Texas

Friday, August 26, 2011
Rigzone Staff
by Karen Boman

The exploration and drilling boom in South Texas' Eagle Ford shale play has drawn hundreds of workers to the region, crowding the existing hotels and housing beyond capacity. To meet housing needs, oil service companies that including Halliburton, Weatherford and Schlumberger invited Houston-based Remote Logistics International to set up the Three Rivers Lodge, a lodging camp for oil service workers in Three Rivers, Texas, approximately 70 miles south of San Antonio.

The facility, which held its grand opening on Aug. 6, is part of Remote Logistics' offerings of support services for both the offshore oil and gas industry as well as land camp harsh remote environments. For oil service companies, offering the housing is about safety. Workers driving great distances to and from work sites, and then looking for food on the way back to their lodgings, are more exhausted and at greater risks on the road, said Hud Gibbins, who works in business development at the company and helps directly oversee the lodge.

Founded by Jenny Savage, who comes from a background in hotel and restaurant management, Remote Logistics caters to what it considers niche markets like South Texas with facilities providing housing, laundry, meals and entertainment under one roof. Remote Logistics has handled catering and housekeeping duties for onshore and offshore rigs and facilities in the Gulf of Mexico and the Middle East for five years; the company also offers remote medical services for oil and gas operations. Remote Logistic's roster of clients includes Rowan and Cal Dive International.

Though the buildings are temporary, the landscaping and facilities feel more like a ski lodge, said Gibbins. The facility offers three meals a day, prepared by a culinary staff of four-star rated chefs from across the globe. The menu includes heart healthy offerings such as a salad bar and grilled chicken to southern fried chicken, biscuits and all the pies, cakes and cookies you can eat. Workers are sent out each day with a box lunch containing sandwiches, fruit and two bottles of water.

"The lodge caters to workers ranging from the mid-20s to 40s and 50s who are away from their homes and families for 21 days at a time," said Gibbins. "Offering food, entertainment and lodging under one roof, including a movie room, wireless internet and DVD players makes them feel more at home."

The facility offers 192 beds and 48 rooms. The lodge is made up of trailers 28 feet wide by 60 feet long, but the kitchen and rec room are each doubled up to make one 56 foot by 60 foot trailer. There are two dedicated to the kitchen and dining room, two for the reception, rec room, movie room and business center/conference room, six for crew quarters and bathroom/shower, and one for the camp boss and medic's office. A company spokesperson said the lodge is already almost entirely booked and additional buildings will need to be ordered to keep up vacancy given the enormous demand.

While Three Rivers was built with oil service workers in mind, the occasional traveler in the area would be welcome and receive the same treatment. In fact, some rooms are being set aside to accommodate hunters for the upcoming deer season. Three Rivers Lodge also will serve as a flagship facility for Remote Logistics training, said Gibbins, with all workers hired by the company will undergo training at the lodge before heading to assignments overseas.

Demand for worker housing is so great in South Texas, Remote Logistics has plans to open another lodging camp by year-end near Ashterton in Dimmit County or Cuero in DeWitt County to accommodate workers. Remote Logistics is conducting demographic work to determine the site for the new camp. The company also will begin offering its catering and housekeeping services to land camps geared towards the Bakken oil play, where the surge in exploration and production activity has created a similar influx of workers into North Dakota communities that lack the hotels and housing to accommodate all the newcomers.

Positive Outlook for Eagle Ford Development

Eagle Ford exploration and development activity has created positive economic output for South Texas, an area of the state that traditionally has had higher unemployment and lower income per household compared to other portions of the state, said Dr. Dominique Halaby, former director of the University of Texas at San Antonio's Center for Community and Business Research, who worked on a study of the Eagle Ford's economic impact on South Texas that was released earlier this year.

Since the Eagle Ford boom began, unemployment in South Texas has declined, going against the national trend of rising unemployment, and creating wealth for ranchers and farmers who have faced difficult financial times in the past, said Halaby, now a professor at Georgia Southern University, at the North American Prospect Expo in Houston earlier this month.

In 2020, Eagle Ford shale activity is expected to account to about $11.6 billion in gross state product, $21.6 billion in total economic output and support nearly 67,900 full-time jobs in the region.

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Range Resources Challenges South Fayette's Drilling Law

- Range Resources Challenges South Fayette's Drilling Law

Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
by Mike Wereschagin, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

A natural gas company has asked South Fayette's zoning board to overturn a 2010 law it says enacts a de facto ban on drilling in the township.

Range Resources petitioned the board on Tuesday, saying the restrictions strip the company's right to drill on 4,000 acres it has leased in the township. South Fayette's ordinance, enacted on Nov. 15, bans drilling within certain distances of homes, schools, streams, ponds, gas stations, mobile home parks, day cares, hospitals and nursing homes. The distances range from 300 feet to 2,500 feet.

Add each restriction together -- plus the requirement that the land on which drilling takes place be at least 10 acres -- and it covers the town's entire land mass, Range spokesman Matt Pitzarella said.

"You can't (drill in South Fayette). It can't be done," Pitzarella said.

One of the law's chief supporters said the legislation leaves land open to drilling -- just not some of the land Range has leased.

"Their problem is they bought their way into some land that's right in the middle of the community," said Keith McDonough, head of the anti-drilling group Friends of South Fayette. McDonough said he wanted to ban drilling in the town, but state law forbids it. "The entire western border (of South Fayette) that borders Cecil Township, which is heavily drilled, is all permissible. I wish that weren't the case, to be honest with you, but it is."

The conflict arises as municipalities around the state are crafting their own drilling regulations -- something Range worries will lead to an unpredictable and costly patchwork of restrictions on its business. There are 2,565 municipalities in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors in December published a model zoning ordinance for towns to use, although it doesn't recommend the size of buffer zones.

Just across the state line, a Morgantown judge struck down that city's drilling ban on Friday, saying it illegally pre-empted state law. Range says in its complaint to the South Fayette zoning board that Pennsylvania law also doesn't allow towns to ban drilling.

But the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has allowed municipalities to restrict drilling to certain areas by using zoning ordinances, said Myron Arnowitt, state director of environmental group Clean Water Action.

Arnowitt called South Fayette's ordinance "one of the best ... in the region." He said he wasn't sure whether it was legal to use zoning rules to ban drilling, and said he didn't know whether South Fayette's law amounts to such a de facto ban.

According to one South Fayette commissioner, "it's arguable" that it does.

"By limiting drilling to a very limited amount of zones, as South Fayette does, it does severely impact drilling operations," said Sue Caffrey. She said the ordinance was an emotional reaction to widespread drilling opposition in the town. Rather than solving difficult problems about how to safely regulate drilling, she said, "it kind of skirts that issue through zoning."

"I voted for it, and it is the one vote in my 12 years I regret making," Caffrey said.

The zoning board operates independently of the five-member board of commissioners. Whichever side the zoning board takes on Range's petition, the decision could wind up in the Court of Common Pleas.

Copyright (c) 2011, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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Marcellus Shale Driller Fighting South Fayette Ordinance

- Marcellus Shale Driller Fighting South Fayette Ordinance

Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
by Erich Schwartzel

Range Resources made a significant move Tuesday in what is likely the first step in a legal challenge to the wave of small-town regulations on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based company filed an appeal to the zoning hearing board of South Fayette that calls its drilling ordinance an "illegal" infraction against the company's business pursuits.

Range Resources says the township's zoning ordinance enforces buffer zones around schools, hospitals and certain commercial areas that force a de facto moratorium on drilling throughout the entire township.

That violates the portion of Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code that requires all municipalities to "allow for reasonable development of minerals" as part of any zoning ordinance, the company said.

The matter is before the zoning hearing board because the drilling regulations involved the township's zoning ordinance.

A date for the zoning hearing has not been set, but Range Resources spokesman Matt Pitzarella said his company will take the issue to the Court of Common Pleas and up the legal ladder if it is rejected by the South Fayette authorities.

If Range Resources wins a ruling in a higher court, it could create a precedent and threaten to overturn scores of small-town ordinances across Pennsylvania.

Throughout Western Pennsylvania, townships have passed ordinances that further regulate drilling beyond state law or take steps to mitigate side effects like road damage or noise control.

Range Resources owns approximately 4,000 acres in South Fayette but has not drilled any Marcellus wells. The ordinance was approved last November after more than a year of public hearings and input from energy companies, including Range Resources.

South Fayette solicitor Jonathan Kamin said the ordinance still allows drilling in "many zoning districts" throughout the township -- they just might not be in the convenient areas that Range Resources would prefer.

"Everyone has recognized that this is a use that cannot be banned," said Mr. Kamin.

Local communities like South Fayette have drafted conditional use ordinances to deal with natural gas drilling, which require every well site to undergo an approval process prior to drilling.

Energy companies say the site-specific requirements make as much sense as requiring a new driver's license in every town, and that the process slows predictability in an industry that plans years in advance.

"It's death by a thousand paper cuts," said Mr. Pitzarella.

The South Fayette ordinance enforces regulations that are already in place as part of the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act, and Range Resources says that regulatory double-dipping is illegal.

"[South Fayette] unlawfully seeks to achieve the same purposes and to regulate the same features of the development of oil and natural gas which are regulated exclusively and comprehensively by the Commonwealth," the appeal states.

Range Resources said the conditions of the ordinance are a "de facto taking" of land that make it impossible to drill. The company says this violates the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says private property cannot be taken for public use "without just compensation."

With the ordinance in place, Range Resources calculated the potential loss to the company and its leaseholders in South Fayette to be nearly $200 million.

Range Resources has already challenged local ordinances that it interprets as going too far. During deliberations for a conditional use ordinance in Mount Pleasant last April, the company sent a letter to residents threatening to move into "more cooperative communities" should the ordinance pass.

That ordinance did pass in June, and Range Resources has kept its promise to not drill any new wells in Mount Pleasant as long as it stays in place.

The appeal filed Tuesday in South Fayette is the latest in a series of recent challenges to local drilling regulations. Earlier this month, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl refused to sign a city council measure that would have banned drilling within Pittsburgh city limits, and a similar ban in Morgantown, W.Va., was overturned by a judge last Friday.

Copyright (c) 2011, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Shell NZ to Join Great South Basin JV, Seismic Program to Begin in 4Q11

- Shell NZ to Join Great South Basin JV, Seismic Program to Begin in 4Q11

Tuesday, August 16, 2011
OMV

OMV New Zealand and Shell New Zealand announced major milestones for the Great South Basin joint venture, with the addition of Shell into the venture and confirmation that a comprehensive 3D seismic program will begin later this year on Permits 50119 and 50120. Permit 50121 will be returned to the Crown.

Subject to ministerial approval, under the new joint venture agreement Shell, a world leader in deep water exploration and production with a 100 year history in New Zealand, will take a 50% share while the existing joint venture partners OMV and PTTEP retain 18% each and Mitsui Australia retains 14%.

OMV New Zealand will remain operator of the Great South Basin permits until the end of the seismic acquisition program which is expected to be completed in early 2012. The 3D program itself will be undertaken by the state of-the-art vessel Polarcus Alima and is expected to cover about 3,000 km2.

Shell will become the joint venture's operator once the seismic acquisition program is completed.

"We are very pleased to announce these developments which we believe clearly demonstrate the joint venture's commitment to the Great South Basin. It is important to be geared up for the next steps in the exploration of a frontier basin," said OMV New Zealand Managing Director Peter Zeilinger.

"We have allocated significant manpower to studying the Great South Basin over the past four years and invested over NZ$50 million to date. The joint venture is now committing to an additional significant investment for the next phase of the project," he said.

In late 2010 OMV and its joint venture partners began an in-depth review of their planning for the Great South Basin. As part of that assessment, the joint venture identified the need for an additional partner with considerable deep water experience and best practice exploration and operating processes.

OMV New Zealand

"We undertook a detailed evaluation of several companies who could meet these tests. Shell's proven track record as an internationally experienced deep water operator with high safety and environmental standards made them the logical partner of choice," Mr. Zeilinger said.

Shell brings valuable technical expertise to the joint venture from safely delivering more than 20 groundbreaking deepwater projects around the globe. Shell's membership in the Great South Basin joint venture builds on its continuing investment in Taranaki, where it is a joint venture partner in the Maui, Kapuni and Pohokura fields.

Chairman Shell Companies in New Zealand Rob Jager said the new Great South Basin venture reflected Shell's continuing commitment to exploration and production in New Zealand.

"Shell has been investing in New Zealand for more than 100 years and safely operating offshore for more than 30 years in the challenging conditions off the coast of Taranaki. We have been impressed by the work of the joint venture to date, and see this as an exciting opportunity to bring our local and global experience to another promising region," he said.

Exploring a new frontier area is very much a long term process, Mr. Zeilinger explained.

"There are no guarantees that drilling will take place, but we are hopeful that the seismic survey will yield positive results. Our focus right now is on carrying out a robust survey," he said.

Mr. Jager said that as the new joint venture partner and future operator Shell is looking forward to working with OMV on the next stage of the project.

"Safety comes first for Shell. We have a Goal Zero operating philosophy which demands no harm to people and protect the environment. Another top priority is to get to know the local stakeholders better so that we have a strong understanding of their views and a positive foundation for continuing engagement over the coming years," he said.

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Philippines Set to Seek Oil in South China Sea

- Philippines Set to Seek Oil in South China Sea

Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Dow Jones Newswires
MANILA

The Philippines plans to auction off areas of the South China Sea for oil exploration despite worsening disputes with China over the territory, an official said Tuesday.

Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug said several foreign firms, including China's state-owned CNOOC, had already expressed interest in drilling in waters off the western Philippine island of Palawan.

The areas set for exploration are far from the disputed Spratly islands and well within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, he said on the sidelines of an energy conference in Manila.

"These are not disputed areas. The area we are offering for bidding is definitely within the territory of the Republic of the Philippines."

However, China is known to claim most of the South China Sea, including areas the Philippines says are clearly Filipino territory.

Aside from CNOOC, two other Chinese firms are among those interested in contracts to drill in the area, Layug said without naming the other two.

The Philippines is to name the winning bidders next year, Layug said.

He expressed confidence the Chinese wouldn't try to harass Philippine-sanctioned oil exploration vessels there.

"These areas are near Palawan which means they (winning bidders) will have to come to the Philippines to do it," he said.

Tensions have risen in recent months, with countries in the region claiming China has been more aggressive in enforcing its claims on parts of the South China Sea.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims to all or parts of the sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits.

Last February, two Chinese vessels allegedly harassed a Filipino-commissioned exploration vessel off Reed Bank, an islet north of the Spratlys.

The Philippines has also accused Chinese forces of shooting at Filipino fishermen and placing markers on some of the islets.

The Reed Bank, which Manila calls "Recto Bank" and is also claimed by China, is 273 kilometers from Palawan.

Philippine officials said Manila had previously authorized drilling in that area without any Chinese opposition.

Copyright (c) 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Earb South Discovery Disappoints Partners

- Earb South Discovery Disappoints Partners

Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate

Marathon Oil Norge AS, operator of production license 505, has completed the drilling of wildcat well 25/10-11 testing the Earb South prospect in PL505.

The well was drilled about eight kilometers southwest of the previous discovery, 25/7-2, in the North Sea, about 40 kilometers south of the Heimdal field.

The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in Upper Jurassic reservoir rocks (Draupne and Heather formation). The secondary exploration target was reservoir rocks in the Middle Jurassic (Hugin formation).

Hydrocarbons were proven in a 95-meter interval with thin reservoir zones, in Middle/Upper Jurassic rocks. Hydrocarbons where also found in an intermediate 283 m gross interval, however, also in poorly developed reservoir rocks. A deeper zone had poorer reservoir properties, which was expected.

There were also hydrocarbons in the intermediate layer, but these were also in poorly developed reservoir rocks. The interval was production-tested, but did not achieve stable flow. Due to poor reservoir properties the well is not considered commercially interesting, but the licensees will consider further work in the production license.

The well is the first exploration well in production license 505, which was awarded in APA 2008.

The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 4534 meters below the sea surface, and was terminated in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks. The water depth is 120 meters. The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.

Well 25/10-11 was drilled by Transocean Winner which will now proceed to production license 431 in the Norwegian Sea to drill wildcat well 6406/3-9, where Maersk Oil Norway AS is the operator.

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American Petro-Hunter Adds Acreage in South Oklahoma

- American Petro-Hunter Adds Acreage in South Oklahoma

Wednesday, July 20, 2011
American Petro-Hunter Inc.

American Petro-Hunter has executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement which entitles American Petro-Hunter to acquire a 40% Working Interest in a minimum of 3,000 acres of lands in South-Central Oklahoma. The Company has designated the new acreage as the "South Oklahoma Project."

The acreage covers highly prospective Mississippi Limestone targets which, through detailed sub-surface geological mapping and extensive engineering, show Mississippi targets similar and analogous to the recently discovered oil and gas reservoir now being exploited at the North Oklahoma Project. Based on the commercial success of the NOM-1H horizontal well, and the Company's recently announced development plan for the Northern project area which includes an additional 11 horizontal wells, the new South Oklahoma Project offers considerable opportunities to increase the Company's presence in this increasingly important and highly productive region. Additional lands may be acquired and added to the 3,000 acres as leasing is ongoing.

Currently, the Company and engineers have identified 5 key areas under the 3,000 acres which, if developed on 160 acre spacing, could allow future development of 18 additional locations for horizontal wells. Over the next several months, targets will be refined and prioritized with plans to spud the first well in late 4Q or early 2012. The Northern and Southern project development strategy aims for synchronized operations with new drilling commencing every other month, thus ensuring a continuous area wide drilling program throughout the next 24 to 36 months.

Company President Robert McIntosh stated, "By adding these new South Oklahoma projects to our asset base, the Company forecasts the regional drilling of up to 29 horizontal wells in the future which, based on the results we have seen to date, will give American Petro-Hunter a key presence in the emerging Mississippi play and demonstrates that growth by the drill bit is a formula for success in Oklahoma."

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Petroceltic Discovers Gas in South Eastern Algeria

- Petroceltic Discovers Gas in South Eastern Algeria

Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Petroceltic International Inc.

Petroceltic, in association with its partner Sonatrach issued an operational update on its Isarene permit (Blocks 228 & 229a) in the Illizi Basin in South Eastern Algeria. Petroceltic operates the permit with a 56.625 % interest, Sonatrach holds a 25% interest, and Enel holds 18.375% interest, pending final Government of Algeria ratification, which is expected later this year.

Highlights

• AT-6 well encounters 45 meters of net pay
• AT-5 testing underway
• Second rig mobilized to accelerate appraisal activities
• Drilling of AT-7 and AT-8 wells scheduled to commence this month

AT-6 appraisal well

Well AT-6, the third well in the current appraisal campaign on the Ain Tsila gas discovery was drilled to a total depth of 2085m and has successfully logged gas in the main Ordovician reservoir. The well is currently being suspended in preparation for testing with a rig-less testing unit following completion of the testing progra currently underway at AT-5.

The AT-6 well is a vertical well targeting a broad culmination in the South East of the Ain Tsila Field outside the 3D seismic survey area, approximately 17 km South East of the AT-4 well location. The principal objective of the well was to extend the proven gas in place and to test the reservoir quality towards the mapped south eastern limit of the field. The well commenced drilling on June 9, 2011 and reached a total depth of 2085m on July 5, ahead of schedule and within budget.

The Ordovician reservoir was encountered as expected with good gas shows and a full suite of logs was run. Initial log interpretations indicate a gross Ordovician reservoir interval of 168m, and a net pay interval of 45m.This confirms the extension of the field at this significant step-out from the previously drilled wells.

Following suspension of AT-6, the Dalma rig will move to drill a further vertical appraisal well in the far southwest of the field, AT-7, which is expected to commence drilling operations in late July.

AT-5 well test

Rig-less well testing operations have recently commenced at the AT-5 wellsite, following minor delays associated with the arrival of certain personnel and equipment to the site. AT-5 was drilled with a 376m of horizontal section through a fractured "pop-up" feature in the Ordovician reservoir. Depending on the results of initial testing, the program is likely to include hydraulic fracturing of some of the reservoir zones to enhance gas flow rates.

Second rig mobilized for extended appraisal program

A second rig, the KCA Deutag T-211 rig, has mobilized to the Isarene permit and is currently rigging up to drill well AT-8 at a location in the north of the field. The AT-8 well is expected to spud in mid-July and is a vertical well targeting a structural pop-up feature similar to AT-5. The well objective is to test for significant additional gas in place as well as potentially accessing fracture features identified on seismic.

With the addition of a second rig, the current six well delineation program is expected to be complete by year end in time for the preparation of the Final Discovery Report for submittal to the Algerian authorities.

Brian O'Cathain, Chief Executive of Petroceltic commented, "Initial results from the AT-6 well are very encouraging and increase the proven area of the Ain Tsila field considerably to the southeast with this large step-out. We are also extremely pleased that testing operations on AT-5 are underway. We are now entering a most exciting and busy period on our Isarene permit in Algeria with 2 rigs and a rig-less testing unit in operation. We look forward to announcing further well results by the end of July."

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Iran: Will Spend $18B on O&G Fields in South through 2015

- Iran: Will Spend $18B on O&G Fields in South through 2015

Monday, July 11, 2011
Dow Jones Newswires
LONDON
by Benoit Faucon

Iran will invest $18 billion in the development of its oil and gas fields in the hydrocarbon-rich south of the country in a 5-year development plan ending 2015, its deputy oil minister in charge of planning was quoted as saying Sunday.

The remarks comes as Iran is moving forward with projects to develop its oil and gas capacity despite international sanctions.

Speaking to Iran's oil ministry website Shana, Mohsen Khojastemehr said the plan included a $3 billion investment planned for the current Iranian year, which ends March 2012.

"Many plans are being implemented to accelerate development of shared oil and gas fields while the ministry aims to increase oil production in the oil-rich region of the south to 3 million barrels a day," the official told Shana.

Copyright (c) 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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South Africa, South Korea Sign Deal on Hydrocarbon Exploration

- South Africa, South Korea Sign Deal on Hydrocarbon Exploration

Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)

The national oil companies of South Africa and South Korea on Tuesday signed a deal on hydrocarbon exploration in Africa.

PetroSA and the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) said they will also explore investment opportunities in the oil and gas sector on the continent.

The South African company said the deal would help it secure fuel supplies for the country, while its South Korean counterpart said this was a "golden opportunity to advance into African regions."

This is the latest deal between major Asian economies and African firms on natural resources, while countries like South Korea seek access to key exports to ensure their growth.

Copyright 2011 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH

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Statoil Successfully Drills Peregrino South Sidetracks

- Statoil Successfully Drills Peregrino South Sidetracks

Monday, June 20, 2011
Rigzone Staff
by Karen Boman

Statoil has reported successful discoveries in both side tracks on the Peregrino South well, immediately adjacent to the newly opened Peregrino field offshore Brazil. Both wells were drilled by Fred Olsen semisub Blackford Dolphin.

The estimates of recoverable volumes in Peregrino South are between 150 – 300 million boe. This discovery brings a phase two development of the Statoil operated Peregrino field considerably closer.

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China Says Won't Use Force in South China Sea

- China Says Won't Use Force in South China Sea

Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Dow Jones Newswires
BEIJING

China said Tuesday it wouldn't resort to the use of force in the tense South China Sea, after its neighbors expressed concern about its more assertive maritime posture.

"We will not resort to the use of force or the threat of force," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters.

"We hope relevant countries will do more for peace and stability in the region," Hong said.

Vietnam on Monday staged live-fire exercises following recent confrontations at sea with China, which reignited a long-standing dispute over the sovereignty of two potentially oil-rich archipelagos--the Paracels and Spratlys.

Hong insisted Vietnam was to blame for the recent flare-up, sparked by a confrontation between Chinese surveillance vessels and a Vietnamese oil survey ship.

"Some country took unilateral actions to impair China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and released groundless and irresponsible remarks with the attempt to expand and complicate the issue of the South China Seas," Hong said, in a thinly veiled reference to Hanoi. "This is where the problem lies."

He said China was willing to hold direct negotiations with the other nations embroiled in territorial disputes in the South China Sea within the framework of a code of conduct agreed to in 2002.

Tensions have also risen this year between China and the Philippines, another claimant to the Spratlys, which on Monday said it would from now on refer to the South China Sea as the "West Philippine Sea".

Taiwan at the weekend reiterated its claim to the Spratlys, and said missile boats and tanks could be deployed to disputed territory.

Brunei and Malaysia have also staked claims in the area.

Copyright (c) 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Statoil Gets OK for Development of Visund South Fast Track

- Statoil Gets OK for Development of Visund South Fast Track

Friday, June 10, 2011
Statoil

The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has approved the plan for development and operation for Visund South. Production is planned to start up in the third quarter of 2012, and a subsea template is already on its way out to the field.

Visund South, which is located 10 kilometers from both the Gullfaks C and Visund A platforms in the North Sea, is a subsea development consisting of a template with four slots, from which three wells will be drilled and tied to Gullfaks C for processing.

"With the approval of the ministry, this first project in a series of fast-track developments is well underway, just four months after the PDO was submitted in January. This also means we're one step closer to our goal of halving the time taken from discovery to production," said Statoil senior vice president of Norwegian continental shelf field development Ivar Aasheim.

In the course of June everything will set for the installation of the seabed template, so that the project can commence drilling in August.

The template is the first one built that has its basis in a standard catalogue for subsea equipment, which was compiled in collaboration with the suppler industry. This catalogue will be used for the forthcoming fast-track developments.

Visund South will be installed on the field in conjunction with the Marulk development, which Statoil is carrying out now on behalf of operator Eni.

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Rodinia Spuds Well in South Australia

- Rodinia Spuds Well in South Australia

Thursday, June 09, 2011
Rodinia Oil Corp.

Rodinia has spudded its first well, Mulyawara 1, in the Officer Basin of South Australia.

Rodinia began drilling Mulyawara 1 on the morning of Thursday June 9, 2011, Australian Central Standard Time. Rodinia has an 80% working interest in this well and prospect, and is the operator. Drilling of Mulyawara 1 is expected to take approximately six to eight weeks to reach total depth after which prospective hydrocarbon shows will be tested.

Mulyawara 1 is located in the northwest corner of PEL 253 in the Officer Basin on a structure of approximately 36.3 square kilometers (per horizon) in size as identified on seven separate 2-D seismic lines. It will be drilled vertically to an estimated total drilling depth of 2,700 metres to test five prospective reservoir horizons: Murnaroo, Talina, Mundallio, Emeroo and Pindyin, the deepest of which is the aeolian Pindyin sandstone (also called the sub-salt unit).

Rodinia's drilling contract with Ensign International Energy Services includes four firm wells with the option for up to four additional wells in the Officer Basin. Rodinia's second drilling location, Kutjara 1, has recently been hi-graded and re-confirmed by additional 2-D seismic lines. Kutjara 1 is located in the west-central portion of PEL 253 approximately 35 kilometers southeast of Mulyawara 1.

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Total: Ekofisk South, Eldfisk II Get Govt Nod for Development

- Total: Ekofisk South, Eldfisk II Get Govt Nod for Development

Thursday, June 09, 2011
Total

Total announced the launch of the Ekofisk South and Eldfisk II projects offshore in the southern Norwegian North Sea on Production Licence (PL) 018. Total holds a 39.90% interest in the license.

The plan for development and operation for each project has been approved by the Norwegian authorities.

The Ekofisk South project will include a new platform (Ekofisk 2/4Z) and a new subsea facility (Ekofisk 2/4VB) at the Ekofisk complex. The platform will have a 40 years design life and a capacity of 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day. The new facilities will enable the drilling of 35 production and 8 water injection wells to further develop the Ekofisk field and increase oil recovery. Production start-up is expected early 2014.

The Eldfisk II project will include a new platform (Eldfisk 2/7S) at the Eldfisk complex and substantially upgrade the existing facilities on the Eldfisk field. The new platform will have 40 years design life and a capacity of 70,000 boe per day. It will provide accommodation, new process facilities, and will enable the drilling of 30 production and 9 water injection wells to further develop the Eldfisk field and increase oil recovery. Production start-up is expected in 2015.

These two projects will enable the development of around 450 million barrels of oil equivalent of reserves.

"These two projects represent major investments for Total and clearly demonstrate our long-term commitment to continued value creation in Norway," said Patrice de Viviès, Senior Vice President Exploration & Production Northern Europe, Total.

The Ekofisk and Eldfisk fields were discovered in 1969 and 1970. First production was achieved from the Ekofisk field in 1971 and Eldfisk came on stream in 1979. The two fields produced around 260,000 boe per day on average in 2010.

PL 018 partners are Total (39.90%), ConocoPhillips (35.11% and Operator), ENI (12.39%), Statoil (7.60%) and Petoro (5.00%).

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