Jul. 2012 - Apache Energy awarded Technip a subsea installation contract worth around $61 million for the Balnaves oil field development. The project is situated in a water depth of about 442 feet (135 meters). The contract covers the project management, design, engineering and installation of 4.3 miles (7 kilometers) of flexible flowlines and risers and 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) of umbilicals. It also includes the transportation and installation of the subsea equipment including the manifolds, spools, flying leads, jumpers and a mooring system and riser column. First production from the $438-million development is scheduled in 2014, with gross peak production of approximately 30,000 barrels of oil per day and estimated gross recoverable resource of 17 million barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.

Jun. 2012 - Apache is ready to spud its Balnaves Deep-2 prospect offshore Australia, but is waiting on approval from the Australian government to move forward. The operator will use the Atwood Falcon (DW semisub) for drilling operations.

Apr. 2012 - Keppel Shipyard has secured Floating Production Storage and Offloading upgrading projects from SBM Offshore and Bumi Armada. The first project is from SBM Offshore to refurbish and upgrade the existing FPSO Xikomba. Work on this unit is expected to be completed by 3Q 2013. Leased by Eni for 12 years for the development of Block 15/06, offshore Angola, FPSO Xikomba is jointly owned by SBM Offshore and Sonangol. The scope of work on FPSO Xikomba comprises life extension, refurbishment and upgrading of existing topside modules and turret mooring system, as well as the installation and integration of new topside modules. The vessel will then proceed to Angola for completion. Keppel Shipyard's second project is to modify and upgrade Bumi Armada's FPSO Armada Claire. This includes refurbishment and life extension works as well as installation and integration of topside modules. Work is expected to commence in 3Q 2012, and be completed in 4Q 2013. Upon completion, FPSO Armada Claire will be deployed in the Balnaves field, northwest Australia.

Sep. 2011 - Apache's subsidiary, Apache Julimar, will continue with development of the Balnaves oil field in Production License WA-49-L offshore Australia. Balnaves is a light, sweet oil accumulation in a separate reservoir in the Triassic Mungaroo formation, located next to the large gas reservoirs of the Brunello gas field. Production is slated for 2014, with gross peak production of about 30,000 bopd. Balnaves, projected to cost US $438 million to develop, is estimated to hold 17 MMbbl of oil and 30 Bbl of cubic feet of gas. The field will be developed through two horizontal production wells connecting to an FPSO via subsea tie-backs. One water injection well will be used to maintain reservoir pressure, while gas will be re-injected into another reservoir to produce through the Wheatstone LNG project. Apache will lease the Armada Claire FPSO, owned by Bumi Armada, for Balnaves' development. The vessel has a production capability of 80,000 barrels of oil and 50 MMcm/d of natural gas and a storage capacity for 750,000 barrels.

Oct. 2010 - Three wells drilled appraising the Balnaves-1 discovery in License WA-356-P offshore Western Australia have kicked off development planning by Apache Corporation's subsidiary, Apache Julimar. The Balnaves field is an oil accumulation in the Mungaroo formation in a separate reservoir beneath the large gas reservoirs of the Brunello gas field. The recently drilled Balnaves-3 appraisal well test-flowed 9,076 barrels of oil and 13 MMcf/d of natural gas from a 16-foot (5-meter) perforated section, confirming good reservoir deliverability, stated Apache. Drilled in 2009 by the Stena Clyde semisub, the Balnaves-1 discovery well is part of a series of gas exploration and appraisal wells in the Julimar-Brunello complex. The discovery well encountered 64 feet (20 meters) of net oil pay in the B20 sand – a light, high-quality oil accumulation at a depth of 10,600 to 10,700 feet (3,231 to 3,261 meters). Balnaves-2 was a sidetrack from the discovery, and Balnaves-4 was a sidetrack from Balnaves-3. The Julimar and Brunello gas fields will be developed to provide additional gas for the Wheatstone liquefied natural gas project operated by Chevron. Apache Julimar will operate the design and construction phases of the WA-356-P upstream part of the Wheatstone project. A final investment decision on the first phase of the project is slated for 2011, after the FEED is completed.