| Asia - Far East |
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| CNOOC Brings BZ 29-4 Field Online |
| Jul 22, 2010 - CNOOC has turned on the taps to the BZ 29-4 oil field in the Bohai Bay. The field's development and production operation will rely mainly on the facilities of the producing field, BZ 28-2S. BZ 29-4 is projected to reach a daily peak production rate of 7,800 within 2010. The oil field, located in a water depth of 72 feet (22 meters) in the south part of the Bohai Bay, is wholly owned and operated by CNOOC. |
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| Primeline, CNOOC Enter Framework Agreement for LS 36-1 Field |
| Jul 19, 2010 - CNOOC signed a framework agreement for the sale and purchase of natural gas to Zhejiang Natural Gas Development from the LS 36-1 gas field. Previously, the companies signed a gas sale agreement in principle defining the general terms on which Zheijang Gas agreed to purchase the future production of natural gas from the LS 36-1 gas field. This included the quality of gas, take-or-pay principles, base price, annual quantity and delivery schedule. Over the past year, while Primeline and CNOOC were preparing the field's overall development program, negotiations continued over detailed terms of the gas sale for a more formal framework agreement. According to Primeline, much of the details are the same except for a few detailed terms. During development of the production facility, once supply and production details are confirmed, CNOOC and Primeline will negotiate further details of the gas sale, with the framework agreement likely to be replaced by a final gas sale contract. The agreement is subject to governmental approval. |
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| S. America - Other & Carib. |
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| Rockhopper Updates Drilling Ops of Ernest Prospect |
| Jul 22, 2010 - The Ocean Guardian semisub is currently moving to Rockhopper's Ernest prospect in License PL024 in the North Falkland Basin. After arrival and mobilization, the semisub will drill the Ernest 26/6-1 well. Drilling should take about 30 days. Rockhopper wholly owns and operates the well. |
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| Asia - SouthEast |
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| Salamander to Acquire Remaining Interest in Gulf of Thailand License |
 Jul 20, 2010 - Salamander's subsidiary, Salamander Bualuang, reached an agreement with SOCO International to purchase SOCO Thailand, which holds a 40% interest in the B8/38 license in the Gulf of Thailand. The transaction has an effective date of January 1, 2010. Salamander is paying $105 million plus a contingent fee of $1 million will be made upon production of a million barrels of oil from any new discovery made within the B8/38 license area, and located 3 miles (5 kilometers) or more from the existing Bualuang oil field. The transaction is scheduled for completion in August 2010, and needs approval from Salamander's shareholders and SOCO's shareholders. As of December 31, 2009, the estimated gross proved and probable reserves in the Bualuang oil field amounted to 22.5 MMbo. Three horizontal development wells were completed in the first half of 2010, and the field should produce about 8,500 bopd in 2010. The operator recently acquired 3D seismic data of the license and plans to drill in the fourth quarter of 2010. Located offshore Thailand in the Western Basin's Block B8/38, the Bualuang oil field is situated in 197 feet (60 meters) of water. |
| Project Details: Bualuang |
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| Australia |
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| Apache Anticipates Spudding Zola Well in August |
| Jul 21, 2010 - Apache Northwest plans to spud the Zola-1 prospect as early as August, depending on the progress of the Stena Clyde's current activities. Once the semisub is on location, drilling should take about 40 to 50 days to reach a proposed total depth of around 16,404 feet (5,000 meters). Zola is a very large Triassic tilted fault block on trend with the Gorgon gas field. Considered one of the largest un-drilled structural features in the Carnarvon Basin, Zola is covered by high quality newly reprocessed 3D seismic data and is considered a moderate risk prospect. It is estimated Zola contains between 0.2 and 2 Tcf of recoverable gas with a mean volume of nearly 1 Tcf. In a water depth of 984 feet (300 meters), the well is targeting Mungaroo Formation sands ??? the primary reservoir at Gorgon. Situated near existing infrastructures, Zola has multiple development options in the event of a discovery. Apache operates WA-290-P, located offshore Western Australia, owning a 30% interest; Nippon Oil Exploration owns 25%; OMV Australia owns 20%; Santos Offshore owns 15%; and Tap owns 10%. |
| Project Details: Zola |
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| AWE to Plug, Abandon Kahu Well |
| Jul 19, 2010 - AWE will plug and abandon the Kahu-1 well after reaching a total measured depth of 12,582 feet (3,835 meters). A significant amount of hydrocarbons were not detected within the targeted sandstone reservoirs. Once abandonment operations are completed, the Kan Tan IV drilling rig will relocate to PMP 38524 to drill the Tuatara-1 well. AWE Limited operates the PMP 38158 license, holding a 42.5% interest. |
| Project Details: Kahu |
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| N. America - US GOM |
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| Droshky Comes Online in GOM |
| Jul 19, 2010 - Production has commenced from Droshky, and the oil and gas field is expected to produce about 50,000 bopd at its peak, consisting of nearly 45,000 barrels per day of liquid hydrocarbons and 30 MMcf/d. Droshky was developed as a subsea tie-back consisting of four wells connecting to the third-party Bullwinkle platform by dual, 18-mile (29-kilometer) flowlines. At a final development cost of US $900 million, the initial stage of development is expected to produce 35 million of the estimated 60-million boe net resource. Future expansion of the project and ultimate total recovery largely depends upon well performance. At year-end 2009, Droshky held about 26 MMboe of proved reserves. Located on Green Canyon Block 244 in deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Droshky is situated in 2,900 feet (884 meters) of water about 137 miles (220 kilometers) southwest of Venice, Louisiana. Marathon wholly owns and operates the Droshky field. |
| Project Details: Bullwinkle |
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| Mediterranean |
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| Dana Acquires Interest Offshore Egypt |
| Jul 21, 2010 - Dana Petroleum signed an agreement with BG to acquire a 50% interest in the El Manzala Offshore Area Concession, located in the Mediterranean Sea. Spanning 155,676 acres (630 square kilometers), the El Manzala Offshore Area Concession is situated in the prolific offshore Nile Delta area of Egypt. Dana will fund the cost of the next exploratory well up to an agreed cap, in order to earn the interest. Drilling is expected to commence in early 2011. |
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| Marine Subsea Completes Prep Work at Casablanca Platform |
 Jul 21, 2010 - Marine Subsea (UK) has completed a contract for Repsol at the Casablanca platform. The firm used its multipurpose offshore intervention vessel, Sarah, to prepare subsea equipment for installation work scheduled for next year, and to modify trawl-protection structures at two well sites. The Casablanca field is located approximately 37 miles (60 kilometers) offshore Tarragona, Spain in a water depth over 440 feet (134 meters). |
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| Petroceltic Files Application to Suspend Elsa's Drilling Requirements |
| Jul 20, 2010 - Petroceltic has lodged an application with the Ministry of Economic Development to suspend the current timing of the company's commitments on the B.R268.RG permit. Petroceltic made this decision due to uncertainty regarding the proposed decree to restrict drilling in the Italian seas close to mainland. The proposed legislative changes would prohibit drilling in Italian seas within 5 miles (8 kilometers) of the coastline and within 12 miles (19 kilometers) around the perimeter of protected Marine Parks. Under the permit and Petroceltic's farm-in agreement with Vega Oil S.p.A., Petroceltic is required to spud the Elsa-2 well before Oct. 31, 2010. Given the continued legislative uncertainty, the company says they cannot commit to a timetable to procure long lead items, nor to finish rig negotiations prior to the spud date. The company was scheduled to drill the Elsa 2 well in the fourth quarter of 2010 in a location of the permit that is likely to be affected by the proposed restrictions. Petroceltic has applied to have the permit back dated to April 16; the date of the last official correspondence on the environmental application. The permit should remain suspended until the Ministry of Environmental issues the decree of environmental compatibility for Petroceltic's drilling program. Once it is approved, the company will have enough time remaining on the permit to drill the Elsa-2 well. Until then, Petroceltic will continue with the existing environmental permitting process. The Elsa field is situated in the B.R268.RG permit in the central Adriatic Sea offshore Italy in water depths of 100 to 165 feet (30 to 50 meters). Petroceltic, operator, holds a 70% working interest in the permit; Cygam holds the remaining 30% interest. |
| Project Details: Elsa |
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| Eni Fires Up Gas Production from Tuna |
| Jul 19, 2010 - Eni has commenced gas production from the Tuna field in the Mediterranean Sea, offshore Egypt. Production is expected to ramp up to a peak rate of 4.5 MMcd/d by the end of September. The development of Tuna includes a new four-leg platform situated in about 262 feet (80 meters) of water, connecting to three wells. Production is sent via a 9-mile (14-kilometer), 24-inch pipeline to existing infrastructure. Tuna is located in the Temsah concession, which is operated by Eni, holding a 50% interest; BP holds the remaining interest in the concession. A joint operating company, Petrobel, equally owned by IEOC and EGPC, operates the Tuna project. |
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| Africa - West |
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| FEED for Egina's Field Development Nearing Completion |
| Jul 20, 2010 - J P Kenny and MCS Kenny, part of Wood Group, alongside Dover Engineering, are completing the first comprehensive Front End Engineering Design undertaken locally in Nigeria for the Egina field development. Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd awarded the FEED to Dover Engineering in July 2009, and Dover contracted J P Kenny and MCS Kenny to support the project delivery. The subsea scope of work included comprehensive design studies and engineering assessments, development of specifications, documentation and technology studies, relating to the design of the umbilicals, flowlines, risers and the subsea production systems of the field's development. Spanning an area of roughly 500 square miles in the Niger Delta in Block OML 130 is the Egina field, situated in a water depth of 5,085 feet (1,550 meters). Egina is operated by Total, holding a 24% interest; CNOOC holds 45%; Petrobras holds 16%; NNPC holds 10%; and Sapetro holds the remaining 5% interest. |
| Project Details: Egina |
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| VAALCO Appraising Southeast Etame Well |
| Jul 16, 2010 - The Southeast Etame No. 1 well reached a total depth of 9,045 feet (2,757 meters), encountering about 16 feet (5 meters) of Gamba sandstone, which logged oil full to the base. VAALCO completed a sidetrack of the well and a second sidetrack is underway to further delineate the prospect. Results from the first sidetrack are still being analyzed, and the second sidetrack should be completed by the end of July 2010. If the field is proven commercial, development will consist of tying Southeast Etame to an existing FPSO. Once drilling is completed, the Sapphire Driller jackup will move to the Etame field to drill a new horizontal development well, Etame 7H, in a known separate fault block on the field. Situated in a water depth of 250 feet (76 meters), the Etame field lies within the Etame Marine License in the northern section of the Congo Basin offshore southern Gabon. Serving as operator of the block is VAALCO Energy, holding a 28.07% interest; Addax holds 31.36%; Sasol Petroleum West Africa holds 27.75%; Sojitz Etame Limited holds 2.98%; PetroEnergy Resources Corporation holds 2.34%; and Tullow Oil Gabon holds the remaining 7.5%. |
| Project Details: Etame |
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| Europe - North Sea |
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| Aker to Design, Supply Mooring System for Goilat FPSO |
 Jul 22, 2010 - Aker Solutions will design and supply an on-vessel Pusnes mooring systemTM for the Goliat FPSO. The contract, awarded by Eni Norge for about US $24 million (NOK 150 million), consists of 14 Pusnes fairlead chain stoppersTM and three moveable Pusnes windlassesTM for a 165 mm chain size. The hull for the round-shaped production unit will be built in South Korea. Once completed, the FPSO will mobilize to the Goliat field in the Barents Sea. The fairlead chain stopper, developed by Aker, constrains the mooring load to a limited area on the hull. Its long, pivoting stopper arm reduces chain wear and increases the fatigue life of the chain. Delivery of the equipment will take place during 2011. Located on Production Licenses 229 and 229B is the Goliat field, in waters measuring 1,312 feet (400 meters) deep. Eni, which holds a 65% interest, operates the field; Statoil holds the remaining 35% interest. |
| Project Details: Goliat |
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| Maria Proves to be Golden for Wintershall |
| Jul 22, 2010 - An oil discovery was made in well 6406/3-8 T2 on the Maria prospect in the North Sea. Maria consists of two segments, Maria South and Maria North, located up dip to the southwest and northeast of the discovery well, respectively. Drilled to a vertical depth of 13,832 feet (4,216 meters) in the lower Jurassic Tilje formation on the Maria South segment, the well proved oil in the main target of the Garn formation in Jurassic sandstones. Preliminary log analysis indicates a thicker than expected gross oil column of 210 feet (64 meters) in a better than expected reservoir with excellent properties and a high net to gross ratio. Reportedly, Maria has oil properties similar to that of the nearby Trestakk discovery, at around 40 degree API. It is estimated that Maria holds volumes in place of between 250 and 520 MMboe with recoverable volumes currently estimated at between 75 and 155 MMboe of oil and associated gas. The well was drilled by the Songa Delta semsiub in a water depth of 994 feet (303 meters), and is now being plugged and abandoned. Maria is situated on Blocks 6407/1 and 6406/3 in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Serving as operator of the field is Wintershall, holding a 25% interest; Concedo holds 10%; Spring Energy holds 15%; Centrica Resources holds 20%; and Faroe Petroleum holds 30% interest. |
| Project Details: Maria |
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| Lundin Spuds Avaldsnes Prospect in North Sea |
| Jul 21, 2010 - Lundin Petroleum has spudded exploration well 16/2-6 on the Avaldsnes prospect offshore Norway. The well is located about 16 miles (25 kilometers) east of the Luno discovery, on the opposite side of the Utsira structural high. The target is a Lower Cretaceous/Jurassic age sandstone sequence, analogous to the Luno reservoir, within a combined stratigraphic/four-way-dip closure. It is estimated that the gross unrisked prospective resource of the primary Avaldsnes target is about 130 million barrels of oil equivalent. Lundin is using the Transocean Winner semisub for drilling operations, which should last about 38 days, excluding testing. The water depth at the site is 377 feet (115 meters). Lundin Petroleum operates the prospect, holding a 40% interest; Statoil holds 40%; and Maersk Oil Norway AS holds 20%. |
| Project Details: Avaldsnes |
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| Wintershall to Carry Out Exploratory Drilling at Blakeney |
| Jul 21, 2010 - Exploratory drilling should commence on the Blakeney well in Block 21/27b of the Central North Sea within the next few days. In a water depth of 240 feet (73 meters), the well is targeting the Upper Tay sandstone formation at an estimated targeted depth of 3,260 feet (994 meters). Blakeney consists of a robust four-way dip closure, as a sediment drape over a prominent Chalk high. The operator is using the Ocean Nomad semisub to perform the drilling operations. Wintershall holds a 75% operating interest in P1619; Sterling Resources holds 25%. |
| Project Details: Blakeney |
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| Sterling to Delineate Cladhan Well |
| Jul 21, 2010 - The JW McLean semisub should arrive at the Cladhan field towards the end of July to drill a sidetrack into the discovery well. Delineation of the field begins with sidetracking to an up dip location in Upper Jurassic channel sands to prove a deeper oil column in the structure. The Cladhan field is located on Blocks 210/29a and 210/30a in the UK sector of the North Sea in a water depth of 1,634 feet (498 meters). Sterling operates the field, holding a 39.9% interest; Wintershall holds 33.5%; Encore holds 16.6%; and Dyas holds 10%. |
| Project Details: Cladhan |
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| Dong Gets Green Light to Conduct Development Drilling on Trym |
| Jul 20, 2010 - The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway granted Dong E&P Norge AS consent to carry out production drilling on the Trym field using the Maersk Giant jackup. Trym's Plan for Development and Operation was approved in March 2010. According to the plan, the field will be developed by a subsea installation tied-back to the Harald facility on the Danish side of the border. The approved consent applies to the drilling of production wells, and according to Dong's application for consent, the drilling activity has an expected duration of 216 days. The Trym gas/condensate field is located in the far south of the North Sea, just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the border of Denmark in a water depth of 213 feet (65 meters). DONG operates the field, holding a 50% interest. |
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| Xcite Energy Contracts Rig for Bentley Field |
| Jul 20, 2010 - Xcite Energy entered into a binding contract for the Ocean Nomad semisub to drill the 9/3b-R well on the Bentley field. The expected spud date of the well is around the middle of September 2010, subject to the current rig program. Drilling of this well will allow Xcite Energy to complete the intended 9/3b-R well program as planned in 2010. Located on Block 9/3b in License P.1078 in the UK sector of the North Sea is the Bentley oil field, situated 99 miles (160 kilometers) east of the Shetland Isles in 371 feet (113 meters) of water. Xcite Energy wholly owns and operates the field. |
| Project Details: Bentley |
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| ConocoPhillips to Perform Well Work on Ekofisk |
 Jul 20, 2010 - ConocoPhillips received approval from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway to carry out well work on Ekofisk 2/4 Bravo using the Maersk Gallant jackup. The consent entails plugging and drilling a sidetrack well from an existing production well. Work should commence in September and last for about 140 days. The Ekofisk field is located in the southern part of the North Sea in a water depth of 243 feet (74 meters). Ekofisk is located on Blocks 2/4 and 2/7 about 200 miles (322 kilometers) southwest of Stavanger. ConocoPhillips operates the project. |
| Project Details: Ekofisk Center |
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| Talisman Completes Appraisal Drilling on Grevling |
| Jul 20, 2010 - Talisman has completed the drilling of appraisal wells, 15/12-23 and 15/12-23A, on the Grevling discovery in Production License 038D in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The 15/12-23 well was drilled to the south of the discovery and found oil in an 860-foot (262-meter) column in the Sleipner and Skagerrak formations, without encountering the oil-water contact. The reservoir quality was as expected. The 15/12-23A well was then drilled further west in the structure and found a 223-foot (68-meter) oil column with reservoir rocks and quality as expected, and the discovery was further delineated. The 15/12-23 well was formation tested, flowing at an average rate of 83 Sm3 oil per flow day through a 16/64-inch nozzle. Preliminary estimates as to the size of the discovery are between 6 and 15 million Sm3 recoverable oil. Additionally, Det norske, a partner on the field, claims it is too early to conclude, but a development of the Grevling field may also lead to the possible recovery of resources found in Storskrymten, located 3 miles (5 kilometers) west of Grevling. A development solution will now be finalized. The discovery lies 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of the Varg field, and might be tied-back to Varg or developed independently. |
| Project Details: Grevling |
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| Aibel to Build Topsides for Gudrun Platform |
| Jul 20, 2010 - Aibel received a US $427.8 million contract from Statoil to build topsides for the new Gudrun production platform. The contract includes engineering and construction of the platform deck and a processing facility for partial treatment of oil and gas. The contract also includes an option for connection and offshore assembly, with related engineering services. Mechanical work is scheduled for completion in March 2013, and in July 2013, the platform should be ready for departure. The Gudrun platform, to be supplied with electricity through a cable from the Sleipner field, will also contain necessary equipment to operate the Sigrun field. Sigrun will be developed as a subsea tie-back to the Gudrun platform, which will then be tied-back to existing facilities in the Sleipner field. Statoil serves as the operator, holding a 46.8% interest; Marathon Oil holds 28.2%; and GDF Suez E&P Norge holds the remaining 25% interest. |
| Project Details: Sleipner Area |
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| Statoil will Perform Well Work on Statfjord |
 Jul 20, 2010 - Statoil will perform well work on the Statfjord field using the Polar Pioneer semisub. The granted consent from the PSA covers the workover of an injection well on Statfjord Nord. Work should commence in August 2010, and take about one month to complete. The Statfjord area lies on the border between the Norwegian and British sectors in the northern part of the North Sea, and Statoil serves as the operator. |
| Project Details: Statfjord Area |
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| Technip Wins Umbilical Contract for Andrew Development |
 Jul 16, 2010 - Technip's wholly owned subsidiary Duco received a contract for Andrew's field development. The contract covers engineering, project management services and fabrication of a 705-foot (215-meter) static riser umbilical and an 18-mile (29-kilometer) static seabed umbilical. The umbilicals include more than 383 miles (600 kilometers) of thermoplastic hoses and more than 99 miles (160 kilometers) of electrical cables. The project is scheduled for delivery in 2011. Located approximately 143 miles (230 kilometers) northeast of Aberdeen on Blocks 16/27a and 16/28 is the Andrew field, spanning an area of 6,672 acres (27 square kilometers). BP operates the field, holding a 62.75% interest; ENI holds 16.21%; Nippon holds 11.18%; and Talisman holds 9.86%. |
| Project Details: Andrew (UK) |
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| S. America - Brazil |
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| Additional Section Identified in OGX-15 Well |
| Jul 22, 2010 - OGX has identified another hydrocarbon presence in the 1-OGX-15-RJS well; specifically in the Aptian section, where carbonate rocks showing the presence of hydrocarbons were encountered in two intervals with net pays of about 13 and 56 feet (4 and 17 meters). Drilling will continue until a total estimated depth of 11,483 feet (3,500 meters) is reached. The well is located on the Santa Helena in BM-C-41 block, approximately 48 miles (78 kilometers) off the coat of Rio de Janeiro in 427 feet (130 meters) of water. OGX wholly owns and operates the block. |
| Project Details: Santa Helena |
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| OGX Detects Oil in 1-OGX-15-RJS Well |
| Jul 20, 2010 - OGX found an oil-bearing interval in the Albian section of the 1-OGX-15-RJS well. Specifically, an oil column of about 315 feet (96 meters) with a reservoir thickness of 105 feet (32 meters) was detected in carbonate reservoirs. Pressure and seismic data suggest a connection between the well and the nearby Etna and Pipeline prospects. Commencing drilling on June 15, the Ocean Ambassador semisub is expected to reach a final depth of 11,319 feet (3,450 meters). The well, located on the Santa Helena prospect, lies in Campos Basin's BM-C-41 block. OGX wholly owns and operates the block. |
| Project Details: Santa Helena |
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| OGX Fails to Hit Pay in Niteroi Prospect |
| Jul 16, 2010 - OGX completed drilling of well 1-OGX-12-SPS in the BM-S-57 block in the shallow waters of the Santos Basin. The OGX-12 well on the Niteroi prospect reached a total depth of 16,647 feet (5,074 meters), encountering carbonate reservoirs in the Albian section with good conditions of permo-porosity. Additionally, two thin intervals of carbonate reservoirs indicating hydrocarbons were found in the Aptian and Barremian sections, confirming an active petrolific system. The well is considered noncommercial. Niteroi lies about 59 miles (95 kilometers) off the coast in a water depth of 492 feet (150 meters). OGX wholly owns and operates the block. |
| Project Details: Niteroi |
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