BP Moscow Office Resumes Work After Raid; Documents Sealed

- BP Moscow Office Resumes Work After Raid; Documents Sealed

Monday, September 05, 2011
Dow Jones Newswires
MOSCOW
by William Mauldin

BP's Moscow office resumed work Monday following a raid last week by Russian court officials, a spokesman in Moscow for the U.K. oil giant said.

Documents gathered by the court bailiffs are currently sealed inside the office, and no papers have been removed, said the spokesman, Vladimir Buyanov.

BP said Friday that the search had been halted for 10 days and that it would challenge the operation in court.

Russian bailiffs on Wednesday and Thursday entered the BP office with special police armed with automatic weapons, as part of a search requested in a $3 billion lawsuit by investors in a traded unit of the oil company's Russian joint venture.

BP has called the lawsuit "absurd" and the search "unfounded" and directed at the wrong unit of the company.

The minority investors' attorneys said the search was carried out according to Russian law, regardless of which BP unit was searched.

The minority investors are seeking documents related to BP's Russia joint venture, TNK-BP Ltd., and to a failed Arctic deal between BP and state-controlled oil company Rosneft, as part of a lawsuit brought in Siberia's Tyumen Region Arbitration Court.

The minority investors, who live in Tyumen, have filed suits against BP and two of the U.K. company's executives at TNK-BP, claiming at least $3 billion in lost opportunities as a result of the failed Arctic deal with Rosneft.

The raid suggests BP's difficulties in Russia are likely to continue despite its efforts to put the fiasco of the Rosneft deal behind it, energy analysts said. BP initially disclosed the landmark alliance with Rosneft in January but found a deal blocked by opposition from its billionaire partners in TNK-BP Ltd.

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

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

GPC OKs Commencement of FEED Work at Galoc Field

- GPC OKs Commencement of FEED Work at Galoc Field

Monday, September 05, 2011
Otto Energy Ltd.

Otto reported an announcement by the Galoc Production Company (GPC) regarding approval to commence the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) work and the acquisition of new 3D seismic in support of the planned Phase II development at the Galoc Oil Field (Galoc).

The FEED work will determine the exact locations and number of additional wells to be drilled, expected to commence in 2013. The new 3D seismic will support the placement of Phase II wells in the reservoir and de-risk capital expenditure.

Otto currently owns an 18.78% holding in Galoc through GPC. Otto has entered into an agreement to increase its interest to a direct 33.00% in Galoc, including 100% ownership of GPC, and to assume control of the operator of the field. Completion of the agreement is scheduled to occur prior to 30 September 2011.

Otto's Acting CEO Matthew Allen said, "These two approvals are key steps in the Phase II development of the Galoc Oil Field which we are currently on track to sanction in mid-2012. Given Otto's recent agreement to assume control of the operator and become the largest shareholder in Galoc, the development of Phase II is a core focus for Otto and we are very pleased with progress to date.

"The Galoc Oil Field recently produced its eight millionth barrel of oil and delivered its 23rd cargo. With the upgrade of the mooring and riser system for the FPSO Rubicon Intrepid expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2011, the field's performance continues to reinforce our confidence in its reserves and future production."

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

Atwood Semisubs Win Apache Work in AU

- Atwood Semisubs Win Apache Work in AU

Thursday, September 01, 2011
Atwood Oceanics Inc.

Atwood Oceanics announced that one of its subsidiaries has been awarded two contracts by Apache Energy Ltd for work in Australia for the Atwood Eagle and the Atwood Falcon with durations of 18 months and 30 months, respectively. With these contracts, Atwood's total revenue backlog increases from approximately $990 million to $1.55 billion.

The Atwood Eagle is expected to commence its contract in July 2012 in direct continuation of its prior contract. The Atwood Falcon will undergo approximately 90 days of planned maintenance and contract preparation work prior to transiting to Australia to commence operations expected in May 2012. The firm contractual commitments for the Atwood Eagle and the Atwood Falcon are expected to extend to January 2014 and November 2014, respectively.

"We are very pleased to be providing deepwater drilling services to Apache with these two longer-term agreements," commented Rob Saltiel, Atwood President & CEO. "Atwood has been active in Australia for over 35 years, and we look forward to increasing our presence further in this growing and strategic market."

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

Engineering Work Underway at Sound Oil's Montemarciano

- Engineering Work Underway at Sound Oil's Montemarciano

Monday, August 22, 2011
Sound Oil plc

Sound Oil announced that its subsidiary Apennine commenced civil engineering works on August 18 at the drilling site for the farm-in exploration well, Casa Tiberi-1, at the Montemarciano permit (75% Sound Oil interest). Drilling operations are expected to commence in the next 90 days and the budgeted cost of the well to the Company is US $1.5 million.

Commenting on the above, Gerry Orbell, Sound Oil's Chairman and Chief Executive said, "Casa Tiberi-1 is the first well that we shall be drilling as operator. The competent person estimated the risk of finding hydrocarbons to be 35% which is relatively low for an exploration well. If successful, the most likely worth to Sound is approximately US $12 million based on the present evidence but I am hoping for the upside which could be worth US $37 million."

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

SacOil: Work Program to Commence at Congo Block III

- SacOil: Work Program to Commence at Congo Block III

Monday, August 15, 2011
SacOil Holdings Ltd.

SacOil provided an operational update on the Block III oil concession ("Block III"), Albertine Graben in the Democratic Republic of Congo ('DRC'), in which SacOil has an effective 12.5 percent interest.

As announced on March 4, 2011, Semliki Energy SPRL ("Semliki"), a 50 percent owned subsidiary of SacOil, successfully concluded a farm-in agreement in March 2011 with Total E&P RDC ("Total") pursuant to which Total acquired an effective 60 percent undivided interest in, and became the operator of, Block III. The Government of DRC holds an effective 15 percent interest and DIG Oil holds an effective 12.5 percent interest respectively in Block III.

Work Program

SacOil announced the establishment of the Block III Operations Committee ("Committee") for the management of Block III joint venture operations. The Committee consists of members from SacOil, Total, DIG and a representative of the Government. The first meeting took place in Kinshasa in June 2011 and further meetings are scheduled to take place on a bi-annual basis to monitor and report back on the execution of the work program.

The work planned and agreed on Block III includes an airborne gravity and magnetic survey over the license area, the results of which are expected in 4Q of 2011. This will form the basis for the next stage of the program which will include the acquisition of a targeted 2D seismic survey. The performance of the work program is subject to first obtaining the relevant ministerial authorization.

Bradley Cerff, Vice President Commercial of SacOil commented, "I am pleased with the progress we are making at Block III with our partners Total. Work will shortly commence on carrying out the preliminary aeromagnetic surveys which is the precursor to targeted seismic surveys. The Block III project in the DRC has an exceptional postcode in terms of recent neighboring discoveries in Uganda. We look forward to updating shareholders on further work programs as we move towards drilling a maiden well on Block III during the first phase of the exploration period."

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

EnerMech Scores Project Work for Perenco Facility

- EnerMech Scores Project Work for Perenco Facility

Friday, August 12, 2011
EnerMech Ltd.

EnerMech has been awarded a turnkey shutdown project by Perenco for its A1 plant at the Bacton gas facility in Norfolk.

The mechanical engineering specialist will play a lead role in the entire shutdown and isolation of the plant as it is removed from service for integrity inspections and additional upgrade work.

EnerMech will assist Perenco staff to isolate and drain the plant before it is handed over for nitrogen purging and the cleaning of all vessels and pipe work to allow safe entry by inspectors.

On satisfactory completion of the work scope, all vessels and pipe work will be returned to Perenco, fully re-assembled and nitrogen leak tested and processing equipment will be dried with nitrogen on reinstatement.

EnerMech will also provide all associated consumables, scaffolding, painting, grit blasting and lagging requirements on project, which is expected to last up to three months and will be managed from EnerMech's Great Yarmouth base.

Thomas Smith, EnerMech business development manager, said, "We have previously provided training services for Perenco but this is the first process and pipeline workscope we have been awarded.

"The award strengthens our growing reputation in the UK and southern North Sea as a leading provider of pre-commissioning and pipeline integrity services and it gives us a base to develop our other business lines throughout the area."

The Perenco contract is the latest of a number of awards secured by EnerMech following the recent £20 million investment in launching a new Process, Pipelines and Umbilicals division.

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

Gas Drillers Have Work To Do To Address Environmental Concerns

- Gas Drillers Have Work To Do To Address Environmental Concerns

Thursday, August 11, 2011
Dow Jones Newswires
WASHINGTON
by Ryan Tracy

Regulators should require the oil and gas industry to disclose the contents of the fluid used in a drilling technique that has helped unlock vast reserves of U.S. energy resources, a panel convened by the U.S. Energy Department recommended Thursday.

The Natural Gas Subcommittee, in a report issued Thursday morning, also said the industry has to expend effort to fully address environmental concerns related to the drilling technique, known as hydraulic fracturing, and other aspects of the drilling process, including wastewater management and well design.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu convened the subcommittee to identify ways to improve the safety of gas drilling. Neither the panel nor the Energy Department have regulatory authority over the industry, but the recommendations come as operators face increasing scrutiny from the media and environmental groups along with the prospect of tighter regulation from states and other federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

The panel noted that a recent boom in gas drilling that has quickly transformed the U.S. into a production giant has brought economic benefits and "enhanced national security," but added that "the growth has also brought questions about whether both current and future production can be done in an environmentally sound fashion that meets the needs of public trust."

The EPA is conducting its own study on the impact of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water, while planning to regulate air emissions from gas operations and the use of diesel fuel in the fracturing process. New York is moving toward allowing more drilling to tap what are thought to be considerable reserves within its borders, but regulators are still evaluating the environmental consequences.

The Energy Department panel recommended more research into possible methane leakage from gas wells--a problem that, according to Pennsylvania regulators, has tainted water supplies in dozens of homes. It said operators should develop best practices for well design and regulators should inspect wells at crucial points during the drilling process.

In addition, the panel said regulators should "immediately develop rules to require disclosure of all chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids," addressing a longstanding complaint from environmentalists who say that without that information, they cannot hold companies accountable for potential contamination. The panel said there should be an exception for information that was "genuinely proprietary."

Federal agencies should make a joint effort to evaluate the emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases from natural gas drilling as part of a look at the "life-cycle use of natural gas as compared to other fuels," the panel said.

Proponents of natural gas have long argued that gas is cleaner-burning than oil or coal, but recent research has suggested that extracting the gas may release more greenhouse gases than previously thought, raising questions about whether it is an effective way to mitigate climate change.

Environmental groups have questioned the panel's objectivity, saying that some of its seven members have been paid to do research for the oil and gas industry. The industry, meanwhile, has griped that it has no direct representatives in the panel. The members include academics, consultants, and the president of an environmental advocacy group.

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

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

Sentry Updates Appraisal Work at AU Wells

- Sentry Updates Appraisal Work at AU Wells

Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Sentry Petroleum Ltd.

Sentry provided the following update on its drilling exploration and appraisal work on ATP 862 and ATP 864 in Queensland Australia.

Sentry Petroleum has now completed the drilling of two Coal Seam Gas wells on ATP 862. The wells, Talundilly_CSG1 and Albilbah_CSG1 reached depths of 1,430 feet and 1,555 feet, respectively. In Talundilly_CSG1, 833 feet of core were cut, out of which 51 feet of coal and carbonaceous rock were canistered for gas desorption in 21 samples. Gas desorption is still ongoing as gas was found in all the canistered core samples. The Company expects this process to be completed for the Talundilly_CSG1 during the coming week. The Company further advises that isotherms will be obtained on selected coal and shale samples.

In Albilbah_CSG1, 472 feet of core were cut, out of which 35 feet of gaseous coal and carbonaceous rock were sealed in 20 canisters for desorption measurement. In addition, the lower Winton Sandstones were found to contain free gas and 20 feet of these cores were also canistered and evolved gas is being measured. Once these measurements are completed during the coming weeks the cores will be sealed and sent to a laboratory for routine core analysis to measure porosity, permeability and residual fluid saturation. The wireline logs from the previously drilled Albilbah-1 also indicate the presence of gas in these sands over a 128 feet interval starting beneath the last coal.

The Company's coalbed gas content measurements are using the direct method which is the preferred method in coalbed methane and gas shale resource assessment. The direct method physically measures the volume of gas released over time from a core sample sealed into a desorption canister—termed the measured gas content. Adjustments are made to the measured gas content to account for gas lost prior to the core being placed in the desorption canister and for residual gas remaining in the core at the completion of the desorption period. The process of acquiring the measured gas content generally requires four to five weeks. Upon completion of the gas desorption results will be forwarded for independent certification.

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

Prep Work Back On Track at Imperial's SWDF

- Prep Work Back On Track at Imperial's SWDF

Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Imperial Resources Inc.

Imperial Resources announced that preparation work for bringing its Green Tide Salt Water Disposal Facility ("SWDF") back on line is on schedule.

• Green Tide has contracted a drilling consultant with over 30 years relevant experience to advise on drilling and completion operations;
• Appropriate contractors are being engaged for mud logging, directional work, casing the well, verifying good cement bonds, and all other necessary experts are scheduled to be on hand ready for rig arrival;
• Electrical power to the facility should be restored during the course of this week at which point the computer system that manages the surface plant will be tested and upgraded. During this period the pumps will be de-pickled and a number of the transfer pump actuators are likely to be upgraded. This and any other necessary work will be carried out in parallel with the wellbore deepening to ensure that the facility is brought back on line as soon as is practically possible;
• A marketing plan is being developed and sales staff identified so that Green Tide may commence disposal sales operations as soon as drilling operations on the well are completed.

The drilling rig is expected to arrive over the course of the next three weeks after release from prior commitments elsewhere.

The aim is to deepen the Green Tide SWDF well from 3,100 to 8,500 feet to establish the well around 400 feet to 600 feet into the Ellenburger formation. Casing will then be cemented between about 7,500 and 8,500 feet and the well drilled ahead to ideally create about 2,000 feet of open hole exposure in the Ellenburger so as to maximize disposal capacity. Subject to success, commercial operations will commence immediately targeting full disposal capacity of 15,000 barrels per day as quickly as possible. At full capacity, the Company believes the Green Tide SWDF has the potential to generate significant cash flow at relatively low operating costs.

The Green Tide SWDF

The Green Tide SWDF is conveniently located for the disposal of large volumes of salt water generated from essential fracture stimulation operations on Barnett Shale gas wells. There are approximately 6,000 such Barnett wells within 20 miles of the SWDF.

Imperial plans to reopen Green Tide to dispose of up to 15,000 barrels of salt water a day. The Company's acquisition and development of the low run-time Green Tide assets and disposal permit is expected to save in excess of $5,000,000, compared to a new build cost.

Green Tide is one of two key projects identified as transformational for Imperial (the other being the Company's Oklahoma project).

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Entek Launches Green River Basin Work Program

- Entek Launches Green River Basin Work Program

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Entek Energy Ltd.

Entek announced the commencement of its Green River Basin work program for 2011.

DHS Rig-18 has spudded the Battle Mountain 14-10L well, which is the first of a minimum 3 well Niobrara Shale Oil appraisal drilling program in 2011. Battle Mountain 14-10L was selected from 7 currently permitted well locations based on close proximity to the Battle Mountain 14-15 well which flowed oil last year against all odds from a severely damage well bore (drilled by the previous operator). Subsequent wells in the program will be located based on drilling results, local operating season constraints and field operational considerations.

Entek holds a 55% interest in the Green River Basin Joint Venture (GRBJV) with Emerald Oil & Gas NL holding 45%. Entek is the Operator of the GRBJV. As a result of continued leasing activity and ongoing lease maintenance the GRBJV now controls close to 80,000 gross acres, approximately 60,000 net acres, covering the Niobrara Shale Oil Play.

The wells planned in the 2011 appraisal program will be drilled vertically to intersect the oilprone Niobrara Shale which can be up to 1,100 ft thick in the area. The wells are expected to penetrate the brittle naturally fractured bench intervals within the Niobrara section that have been proven as porous and permeable reservoirs in offset wells. As an example the Sierra Madre 12-20 well owned by Anadarko which is approximately 8 miles from the 14-10 well, had initial production of around 550 BOPD, has recovered in excess of 355,000 BO and is still on production. In addition, the fractured igneous intrusive reservoirs that are present in this area will be further
evaluated. The Company's Focus Ranch 12-1 well (which was tested in 2009 at a cumulative rate of 240 BOPD and 2.75 MMCFD) has already indicated the potential of the igneous intrusive reservoirs in the area.

The primary objectives of the 2011 vertical well appraisal program are to:

• establish deliverability and commercial production of the oil prone Niobrara Shale;
• identify the most prospective Niobrara intervals;
• gather technical information necessary to design and execute effective fracture stimulation treatments; and
• select which intervals to target with both vertical and horizontal wells in 2012 as part of the continued appraisal and development program.

The Company is working closely with Halliburton to design fracture stimulation treatments for at least one interval in each well this year with scheduled slots available from August. Initial flow test results from these wells are not expected to be available immediately after reaching total depth and logging. Rather, weekly announcements will be made each Thursday morning where drilling progress, fracture stimulation, testing and completion operations for each well will be updated as these operations will be occurring concurrently across all wells in the work program.

Interested parties are directed to review the Investor Presentation (to be presented to institutional investors from July) that was released to the ASX on July 14, 2011 for further information on the Niobrara Shale Oil Project in the Green River Basin as well as the Company's
update on its recent successful oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico.

CEO and Managing Director Trent Spry commented, "It is exciting to have commenced our 2011 Green River Basin appraisal program. I am certain that our appraisal efforts in 2011 will provide the Company with the information and confidence it needs to accelerate appraisal and development in 2012. We are seeing increased industry activity across leasing, well permitting (both vertical and horizontal), and acreage acquisitions and transactions in the area as the attention shifts from the DJ Basin to the Green River Basin this
year. Industry activity and success will provide valuable information on the Niobrara in the GRB and is expected to have a significant impact on acreage value. I look forward to providing further updates from now until the end of the year on what is an exciting time for the Company."

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

Chevron Begins Work to Double Capacity at Caspian Pipeline

- Chevron Begins Work to Double Capacity at Caspian Pipeline

Friday, July 01, 2011
Dow Jones Newswires
MOSCOW
by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen

The Chevron-led Caspian Pipeline Consortium Friday said it has started a $5.4 billion expansion to double capacity to 1.4 million barrels a day by 2015.

"The capacity of the 900-mile [1500 kilometer] pipeline, which carries crude oil from Western Kazakhstan to a dedicated terminal in the Black Sea, will increase to 1.4 million barrels a day from its current capacity of 730,000 barrels a day," Chevron said in a statement.

The project will be implemented in three phases with capacity increasing progressively from 2012 to 2015, Chevron said.

The pipeline, which has been operating for ten years, ships crude from the Tengiz and Karachaganak fields in Kazakhstan to Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

CPC shareholders include Lukoil Holdings, Transneft, Shell, ExxonMobil), Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGas and Italy's Eni.

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

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too
LINK

AF Group Awarded Decommissioning Work Offshore Germany

- AF Group Awarded Decommissioning Work Offshore Germany

Tuesday, June 28, 2011
AF Group

The AF Group has been awarded a Letter of Intent with Statoil, on behalf of Gassco as operator, regarding removal and recycling of the Norpipe H7-platform.

The platform is located at the German continental shelf of the North Sea, and has been a part of the pipeline which exports gas to Europe. The Letter of Intent covers planning, engineering, removal and demolition of the installation. The Letter of Intent also includes an option to decommission a similar platform, B11.

Environmental Base Vats on the west coast of Norway will be used as decommissioning site. The site is Europe's most modern decommissioning facility for decommissioned offshore installations.

The contract value is approx. NOK 420 million, excl. abovementioned option works. A condition for the contract is a final decision by the ownership Gassled on the implementation of the removal project.

The work will start immediately, and is planned to conclude by the end of 2016.

"The AF Group has built up expertise and capacity to handle removal and recycling of obsolete petroleum installations. It is therefore a recognition that Statoil, on behalf of Gassco, has chosen us for this mission. The work lays the foundation for further growth within our environmental business in the North Sea," said Pål Egil Rønn, CEO of the AF Group.

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Clough Wins Construction Work at AU Macedon Proj.

- Clough Wins Construction Work at AU Macedon Proj.

Friday, June 24, 2011
Clough Ltd.

Clough announced the award of a circa A$45 million contract to the STREICHER-Clough Joint Venture (SCJV) for pipeline construction work on the Macedon Project.

SCJV is a 50/50% joint venture between Clough and Germany's pipeline engineering and construction specialists, STREICHER Group.

The scope of work includes horizontal directional drilling, construction of an onshore wet gas pipeline and sales gas pipeline and umbilical installation. Work is due to commence in June 2011 with completion anticipated in May 2012.

"We are delighted to be working on this important Western Australian project," said Clough's CEO John Smith.

"We will utilize resources and expertise from our Clough Seam Gas division and partner STREICHER to deliver the best possible project outcomes."

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

EOG Resources Contracts Seafox Rig for East Irish Sea Work

- EOG Resources Contracts Seafox Rig for East Irish Sea Work

Monday, June 20, 2011
Seafox Contractors B.V.

EOG Resources United Kingdom Limited, a subsidiary of EOG Resources, Inc., has signed a contract with Seafox Contractors for the use of accommodation and multi-support jackup Seafox 1 at the Conwy field in the East Irish Sea.

Seafox Contractors will provide EOG with one of her jackups to assist with piling works and the hook-up and commissioning of an offshore structure at the Conwy field. Besides the installation works, Seafox 1 will be re-positioned to the Douglas platform to perform accommodation and crane services.

"We are very pleased to work on EOG's first oil project in the East Irish Sea and we are confident to deliver a successful project to EOG Resources," said Keesjan Cordia, Managing Director of Seafox Contractors BV.

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Circle Commences Surveying Work at Moroccan Permits

- Circle Commences Surveying Work at Moroccan Permits

Thursday, May 26, 2011
Circle Oil plc

Circle announced the commencement of surveying work and mobilization for the new seismic acquisition campaign within our permits in the Rharb Basin, Morocco.

The campaign is scheduled to acquire a further 120 square kilometers of 3D data as well as 24 full fold line kilometers of 2D and is expected to last 4-5 months.

The data will be subsequently processed and interpreted for use in the identification and prioritization of drilling targets for the third drilling campaign presently scheduled to commence in early 2012.

Senior Management Appointment

Circle also announced the appointment of Dr. Mohamed El Mostaine as Operations Manager for Circle Oil Maroc Ltd. Dr. El Mostaine holds a Doctorate in Geology and Petroleum Geology Engineering from the French Institute of Petroleum. He joined the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) in 1981. From 2006 until taking up his position with Circle, Dr. El Mostaine was Director of Exploration Petroleum for ONHYM. He is also a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and is the President of the Moroccan Association of Petroleum Geologists (MAPG).

Dr. El Mostaine will initially manage the new seismic acquisition campaign and contribute to both the planning and technical studies to be produced in preparation for the third drilling campaign in the Rharb Basin.

In combination with other senior Circle staff and our country managers in Morocco, Tunisia and Oman, he will also contribute to identifying, evaluating and securing new business opportunities in Circle's geographic area of interest.

Commenting on the appointment Prof. Chris Green, CEO, said, "We welcome Mohamed to Circle. With his extensive experience and knowledge of North Africa we look forward to his contribution to Circle's growth."

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

CB&I Secures Engineering Work for Golden Eagle Platforms

- CB&I Secures Engineering Work for Golden Eagle Platforms

Thursday, May 26, 2011
CB&I

CB&I has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $150 million by Nexen Petroleum U.K. Limited for the detailed engineering of two fixed platforms for the Golden Eagle field in the U.K. sector of the North Sea.

CB&I's scope of work includes detailed engineering design for the topsides facilities of a wellhead platform and a production utilities and quarters platform. CB&I's contract is expected to be completed by year-end 2012. CB&I recently completed the front-end engineering design (FEED) for the project.

"This award builds on our decades of experience in the offshore industry," said Philip K. Asherman, President and CEO. "Following our successful completion of two projects in the Buzzard field, we are pleased to extend our relationship with Nexen for additional work in the North Sea."

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Techlam Bags Work on Petrobras' Roncador Field

- Techlam Bags Work on Petrobras' Roncador Field

Monday, May 23, 2011
Techlam S.A.

Petrobras has awarded an important contact for manufacture of flexible joints on their P-55 Roncador field development program. These mission critical components of the P-55 riser system are designed for the life of the field. Techlam flexible joints enjoy a 100% reliability record having experienced zero failures. Maximum operating conditions for these flexible joints are as follows:

• Maximum pressure = 209 bar.
• Maximum rotation angle = +/- 16 deg.
• Maximum operating temperature = 70 deg. C.

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Chesapeake Resumes Work Three Weeks after Accident

- Chesapeake Resumes Work Three Weeks after Accident

Monday, May 16, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
by Laura Olson

Three weeks after the gas-well blowout at one of its Bradford County sites, Chesapeake Energy announced it will resume well-completion operations in Pennsylvania.

The company had voluntarily halted hydraulic fracturing and other procedures to prepare a well for production following an April 19 accident. As workers attempted to seal that well, briny wastewater spilled for several hours into a nearby creek tributary.

Chesapeake's well-completion work resumed in late April at its West Virginia and Ohio sites, but sites here remained idle as state Department of Environmental Protection officials sorted through company paperwork detailing what happened.

DEP spokeswoman Katy Gresh said the agency also was waiting on "assurances" from Chesapeake that they would use local well-control specialists if the company has an accident requiring such assistance. In the Bradford incident, the company called the Houston-based company Boots and Coots, who did not arrive on the scene for 12 hours.

Ms. Gresh said Chesapeake agreed to local well-control specialists in the future, which the company also noted in its statement.

The company attributed the accident's cause to a faulty connection at the wellhead, which allowed fluid to be released. They described the valve failure as "extremely rare," adding that they have since inspected their wellheads and updated how the equipment is assembled.

"We understand that operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a privilege," said John Reinhart, Chesapeake's vice president of operations for its eastern division. "We have learned from this and have taken steps to mitigate the risk of this type of event happening in the future."

Of the wastewater that spilled off the well pad, Chesapeake officials said about 240 barrels of "a mixture of well fluid and rain water" flowed onto nearby land and into a small tributary. They estimated that figure included one barrel's worth of highly diluted chemical additives used in hydraulic fracturing.

The spill caused "minimal and localized impact" to the environment, according to the company. They said a small farm pond near the well was drained, and the water treated at a Chesapeake wastewater recycling facility. DEP officials also have reported that an unknown number of amphibians died in the pond.

State environmental officials have not yet issued any fines or violations in response to the incident. Ms. Gresh said the DEP investigation is ongoing.

Copyright (c) 2011, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Oil & Gas Post

Promote Your Page Too

Blackford Dolphin Picks Up Additional Brazilian Work

Blackford Dolphin Picks Up Additional Brazilian Work

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Fred. Olsen Energy ASA

Dolphin Drilling, a subsidiary of Fred. Olsen Energy, has entered into a Letter of Intent for the provision of the semi-submersible Blackford Dolphin for the drilling of one well offshore Brazil. Commencement is scheduled late in the fourth quarter 2011, with an estimated duration of total 135 days of which some 118 days will be in continuation of the existing Reliance contract. Total contract value is approximately USD 47 million. The contract remains subject to final contract agreement, partner and management approval which are anticipated to be closed within end May.

Gas Jobs Await Trained Work Force

Gas Jobs Await Trained Work Force

Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
by Laura Legere, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.

The list of want ads is long.

Project engineer, gas marketing administrator, landman, heavy equipment operator, compressor technician, business development director, regulatory clerk, petrophysicist.

In late March, the member companies of the Marcellus Shale Coalition advertised hundreds of open positions they want to fill in Pennsylvania or just over the border in New York. Three years into the gas-drilling boom, the job listings testify to the continued need for workers with a variety of skills to propel the growing industry.

Researchers with the Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center estimate shale drilling will require between 3,700 and 15,000 direct jobs in central and northern Pennsylvania by 2013 and an additional 8,100 to 13,500 direct jobs in southwestern Pennsylvania by 2014.

About 75 percent of the jobs will be blue-collar work, said the study's author, James Ladlee, director of Penn State Cooperative Extension in Clinton County. A significant amount, 20 percent, of the jobs can be characterized as general office work -- everything from information technology to receptionists.

"People think about the workers on the drilling rig and they think those are the only jobs out there," he said. "There are a whole bunch of people that are backing them up in a variety of ways to make sure that they are able to do their jobs out in the field."

The Education and Training Center, based at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, has continued to adapt to the industry's work force needs, but the basic framework for many of the skills necessary for industry jobs are already available in general skills courses at most technical schools.

For example, many of the skills learned in a diesel mechanics course will apply to the diesel compressors used to push gas from wells into pipelines, Mr. Ladlee said.

Some higher-paying jobs will require more education. Engineers, a real need for the industry, will need four or more years of college education to acquire the necessary skills.

Larry Milliken, director of energy programs at Lackawanna College, said a certified pipeline welder can make more than $100,000 anywhere in the country because they are in such high demand.

"You can't get that skill in a year, but you can develop that skill in four years," he said. "And most of that is paid, on-the-job training after you get a two-year technical degree."

Prospective employees will need to accept a demanding schedule if they want to work in the gas industry, Mr. Milliken said. It is a hard truth he reiterates to the 50 students in the college's natural-gas technology program.

"A lot of people want to work an eight-hour day, go home, not work holidays or weekends and never be interrupted on their personal schedule. That's not the oil and gas business," he said.

"It's a 24-hours-a-day business. It is demanding. You've got to be available when the job calls."