OFFSHORE VENTURES

Buccaneer's Jack-up Rig Mobilizes to Alaska

Australia-based Buccaneer Energy sees its 'Endeavour – Spirit of Independence' en route to Cook Inlet, Alaska. Buccaneer says it jack-up rig has been loaded on to the heavy lift vessel Kang Sheng Kou bound to drill for fossil fuels in waters off the coast of Alaska. The delivery of the Endeavour jack-up rig to the Cook Inlet will complete the first phase of Buccaneer’s business plan started almost 2 years ago. That plan included the acquisition of the Endeavour and the modification and repairs in Keppel FEL shipyard, which was managed by Buccaneer’s internal management team. The Endeavour project was funded through a joint venture company Kenai Offshore Ventures, LLC (“KOV”). With Buccaneer in the joint venture are Singapore listed Ezion Holdings Limited, that specializes in the development, ownership and chartering of strategic offshore assets and the provision of offshore marine logistics and support services to the offshore oil and gas industries, and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (“AIDEA”). AIDEA will be investing a total of US$23.65-million into KOV on completion of the mobilization phase. “We are very excited to finally have the Endeavour on its way to the Cook Inlet,” said Jim Watt, President of Buccaneer Alaska

Golar LNG Limited Enters Joint Venture Agreement

Golar LNG Limited signed a share purchase agreement with OLT Energy Toscana SpA in November 2006 for the acquisition of 20% of shares in OLT Offshore LNG Toscana SpA (OLT-O). The purpose of the joint venture company OLT-O is the construction of the Livorno offshore LNG import and regasification terminal, which will be located approximately 20 kilometers off the coast. Source: CCN

Cuba Offers 59 Offshore Oil Blocks In Joint Venture

The Cuban government is reportedly offering 59 offshore oil blocks for joint venture projects with foreign companies as part of its bid to develop the local hydrocarbon industry and remedy national fuel shortages.

Oceaneering and DNV Form Joint Venture

Oceaneering International, Inc. announced that its Norwegian subsidiary, Oceaneering AS, has entered into a joint venture agreement with Det Norske Veritas (DNV) to provide a new inspection service capability to the offshore oil and gas, shipping, and other vessel-related markets utilizing a unique combination of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Resonance Thickness Measurement (RTM) technology. The 50/50 joint venture company, Argus RTM AS, will be headquartered in Stavanger, Norway

Tidewater Provides Update on Sonatide Joint Venture

Tidewater Inc. announced today the following update with respect to its negotiations with Sonangol, the national oil company of Angola, regarding Sonatide, the joint venture between Sonangol and Tidewater through which Tidewater markets its boat services to energy companies for operation in the waters offshore Angola. Tidewater has a 49% ownership interest in Sonatide.   The Company has previously announced that its Sonatide joint venture agreement with Sonangol expires on March 31

AMEC & Samsung Form Offshore Market J/V

AMEC forms a joint venture with Samsung Heavy Industries & Samsung Engineering to serve the offshore energy sector. AMEC will  carry out design engineering for fixed and floating offshore platforms, FPSOs and subsea pipelines for Samsung’s future offshore oil and gas projects. The joint venture, which is subject to final regulatory approvals, has been named AMEC Samsung Oil and Gas LLC (ASOG). It is 51 per cent-owned by Samsung and 49 per cent by AMEC and will be based in

Keppel Shipyard Delivers 9th FPSO

Keppel Shipyard Limited has delivered the floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) Espirito Santo to SBM Offshore. The vessel has left Singapore for deployment in the Espirito Santo field in offshore Brazil. The FPSO is capable of processing 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) with a maximum storage capacity of two million barrels of oil. It will be leased to the BC-10 Joint Venture, which is operated by Shell with ONGC Campos Ltda. and Petróleo Brasilieiro S.A

Nor-Shipping Launches 'Venture Initiative'

The intitiative is aimed to provide new opportunities for finance professionals and capital hungry maritime companies from around the world. To highlight more of the maritime value chain at its leading maritime event week, Nor-Shipping will enable copmanies to pair up, network and showcase themselves. The initiative includes “Venture Park” and “Venture Forum”. Venture Park Venture Park will provide 12 start-up companies with a platform for testing the market and

Chevron Postpones Newfoundland Venture

Chevron Canada Ltd. says its partnership has decided to suspend negotiations with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador and demobilize the Hebron offshore project team after failing to reach a development agreement with the province. The joint-venture partners are ExxonMobil Canada, Petro-Canada and Norsk Hydro Canada Oil & Gas Inc., a subsidiary of Norway's Norske energy and industrial giant. Toronto Star reported that Hebron poses a number of challenges due to the high degree of

Houston Exploration Obtains Leases In Private Transaction

Houston Exploration has acquired 100 percent working interests in six offshore leases from ATP Oil & Gas Corporation. Varying from 25 to 100 percent, the Gulf of Mexico locales include blocks on Matagorda Island, Vermilion, South Timbalier and Galveston. With total bidding amounting to $1 million, the company is also involved in the formation of another joint venture with KeySpan Energy. The project will entail the exploration and development of the company's current unspoiled offshore acreage