Jun 29, 2012 - Faroe Petroleum will plug and abandon the Clapton exploratory well 2/8-18S on Production License 440S in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The well found hydrocarbons in chalks of the Shetland Group and also encountered reservoir rocks, but the reservoir properties were poorer than expected. Reaching a vertical depth of 8,593 feet (2,619 meters) by the Maersk Guardian (350’ ILC) jackup, the well is a dry hole.

Jun 29, 2012 - Shell awarded Technip a subsea installation contract for the Prelude FLNG facility, which is moored in a water depth of 787 feet (240 meters), about 124 miles (200 kilometers) off the northwest coast of Australia. The contract covers the project management, fabrication, transport and installation by reeling of 12 inch flowlines and the fabrication of pipeline end terminals, flowline appurtenances and rigid spools. It also includes the transportation and installation of the subsea equipment including manifolds, umbilical termination assemblies, rigid spooks and flying leads. Shell said it expects the Prelude FLNG project to be ready in 2017. Once operational, the Prelude FLNG facility will produce at least 5.3 million tones per annum (mtpa) of liquids.

Jun 29, 2012 - ShawCor announced that its pipecoating division, Bredero Shaw, has received a contract to provide pipeline coatings and related products and services for the flowlines and tie-in spools for the Ichthys LNG project. The contract involves coating approximately 148 km of 6-inch to 18-inch diameter pipe that will be protected with three-layer polypropylene anticorrosion coating and Thermotite multi-layer polypropylene insulation. Work will commence during the second quarter of 2013. The company will execute the work at Bredero Shaw's facilities in Kabil, Indonesia and Kuantan, Malaysia.

Jun 29, 2012 - Allied Energy reported that it plans to drill a development well on the Oyo field in 4Q 2012. The new well, Oyo No. 7, is being designed to test the prospective resource potential of the deeper Miocene reservoir in the field, but also to increase production in the Pliocene reservoir. With these dual objectives, the No. 7 well is expected to both significantly increase oil production from the currently producing reservoir and de-risk much of the unrisked resource potential in the field.

Jun 29, 2012 - Saipem has signed a new E&C offshore contract in West Africa for the development of the southern part of the Mafumeira field within Block 0. The contract has been awarded by CABGOC (Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Ltd), wholly owned by Chevron. The Mafumeira Sul EPCI 3 scope of work is for the engineering, procurement and pre-fabrication activities for subsequent offshore modifications and tie-in activities on the existing Mafumeira Norte platform and the future Mafumeira Sul production platforms. Mafumeira Sul EPCI 4 comprises the engineering, procurement, fabrication and installation of an onshore pipeline portion connecting the field to the oil storage and export facilities in the Malongo Terminal. The marine activities will be carried out in different time frames between the fourth quarter of 2013 and the second quarter of 2015.

Jun 28, 2012 - BHP Billiton will plug and abandon the Banambu Deep-1 well as wire-line logs show that the well is water-bearing. The well, located in permit WA-389-P, lies in waters 1,050 feet (320 meters) deep. The well was drilled to 15,470 feet (4,696 meters) measured depth (mMD) on June 26, 2012, within the Mungaroo Formation.

Jun 28, 2012 - Eni has commenced gas production from the Seth field off the coast of Egypt. The field is expected to produce about 4.8 MMcm/d. The Seth project consists of a platform placed at a water depth of 262 feet (80 meters), two production wells and a pipeline of 6.8 miles (11 kilometers). The pipeline links the platform to the onshore processing facility in El Gamil.

Jun 28, 2012 - ConocoPhillips is moving forward with drilling of the Boreas-1 exploratory well in WA-314-P following the final function testing of the blowout preventers for the semisub Transocean Legend (mid-water semisub). The BOPs and marine riser were run to the sea floor, and after function testing, were pulled from the hole for further repair and maintenance. After passing all checks on the surface, they have been re-run to the seafloor for final subsea function testing. The company will drill the second well in the program, Zephyros-1, in permit WA-398-P approximately 4.9 miles (8 kilometers) southwest of the Kronos-1 discovery location. The third well, Proteus-1, will be drilled in WA-398-P approximately 8.6 miles (14 kilometers) southeast of the Poseidon-1 discovery location.

Jun 27, 2012 - Falkland Oil and Gas has executed a farm-out agreement with Edison International in relation to its licenses in the Falkland Islands. Edison will farm-in and earn a 25 percent interest in FOGL's northern area license, which contains the Loligo prospect, in return for which it will contribute a pro-rate share of the costs of the 2012 drilling program - comprising two exploration wells. Edison will also farm-in and earn a 12.5 percent interest in FOGL's southern area license, containing the Undine prospect, and will contribute to the 2012 work program. Meanwhile, Edison has agreed to pay its pro-rate share of certain historical costs incurred by FOGL during 2011 related to the 2012 drilling program. Edison's share of these costs is expected to be around $50 million. FOGL expects to receive the Leiv Eiriksson (UDW semisub) in July to commence the drilling program.

Jun 27, 2012 - BP is selling its interests in the Alba and Britannia fields in the UK sector of the North Sea to Mitsui & Co. for $280 million. Net BP production from the two fields averages some 7,000 barrels of oil per day. The sale comprises BP's 13.3-percent stake in Alba and 8.97-percent stake in Britannia. Completion of the deal is anticipated by the end of 3Q 2012, subject to regulatory and other licensee approvals.

Jun 27, 2012 - Salamander Energy reported that the Far East prospect on the Bualuang field in License B8/38 in the Gulf of Thailand has reached a total vertical depth of 4,580 feet (1,396 meters) and is currently being prepared for a Drill Stem test. The well encountered an 82 foot (25 meter) section of excellent quality T5 Miocene sandstones, the primary target on depth prognosis. However, following the acquisition of a full suite of wireline logs, these sandstones are interpreted to be water-wet, with no evidence of hydrocarbon saturation. The well was then deepened to test the secondary objective. The well penetrated a conglomeratic section overlying the Ratburi carbonates from 4,423 feet (1,348 meters) TVDSS to current total depth ("TD"). Oil shows were observed at 4,482 feet (1,366 meters) TVDSS and severe mud losses were experienced from 4,495 feet (1,370 meters) TVDSS. Interpretation of logging while drilling data shows zones of potential oil pay in highly porous section from 4,478 feet (1,365 meters) to current TD.

Jun 27, 2012 - Bridge Energy has executed an agreement with Agora Oil & Gas for the farm-down of a 15-percent working interest in Production Licenses 497 and 497B. After the transaction Bridge Energy will hold a 15-percent working interest in the two licenses. Cairn will, as a consideration for the transaction, carry a substantial share of Bridge Energy's well cost. Geite, the main prospect in the licenses is scheduled for drilling in 3Q 2012.

Jun 27, 2012 - InterMoor has completed the installation of the electrical submersible pump conductors for the artificial lift manifold as part of the Shell BC-10 phase two project. InterMoor was responsible for the fabrication and installation of four conductors in addition to one spare conductor for the project. Weighing in at more than 70 metric tons, the conductors measured 48 inches in diameter and 197 feet (60 meters) long with a 1.5-inch wall. The conductors were installed in water depths up to 5,600 feet (1,707 meters) off the coast of Brazil in the northern Campos Basin.

Jun 27, 2012 - Rialto Energy has awarded Petrofrac a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) contract for Block CI-202, containing the Gazelle field, offshore Cote d'Ivoire. Work is scheduled for completion in October. Rialto is working to fast track first hydrocarbons. It expects to award further contracts before the end of this year. The field development plan and gas agreement has been approved by the Cote d'Ivoire authorities and the production facilities will consist of a fixed production platform at the Gazelle field with separate oil and gas pipelines from the platform to shore.

Jun 27, 2012 - ExxonMobil awarded Aker Solutions a frame agreement for fields located on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The frame agreement covers engineering, procurement, construction and installation of several fields, including Balder, Jotun A, Jotun B and Ringhorne. The fixed contract duration is five years from 2012 to 2017, with options for two additional five year periods. The frame agreement will be managed from Stavanger.