Deepwater Exploration

Smedvig Secured New Assignments for West Navion

Smedvig has been awarded a letter of intent by ChevronTexaco, U.K. for the assignment of the deepwater drillship West Navion. The assignment includes drilling of one deepwater exploration well in approximately 1000 meters of water west of Shetland. The estimated contract value is approximately $ 8 million, and the drilling period is estimated to 45 days, with start-up late March. Furthermore, the existing contract for West Navion with Esso Norge AS has been extended by two months. The contract value for the extension period is approximately $ 10 million. The contract extension, which is a sublet to Statoil, includes drilling of one deepwater exploration well in 1150 meters of water in the Norwegian Sea. This will keep the unit continuously employed for an estimated period from end March to October 2003.

China's First Deepwater LNG Pipe-Layer Sets Sail

China's first 3,000 m deepwater pipe laying crane vessel 'Hai Yang Shi You 201; set sail for South China Sea operations China Rongsheng Heavy Industries Group has collaborated with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (“CNOOC”) to complete construction of a 3,000-meter deepwater pipe laying crane vessel (“DPV”) “HAI YANG SHI YOU 201.” The vessel has set sail for the “Liwan 3-1” gas field in the South China Sea today and will prepare for pipe

Energy Use Enjoys Strong Growth

Worldwide energy consumption will grow by 60% over the next two decades, according to the reference case projection released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its annual forecast of international energy demand. The "International Energy Outlook 2002" (IEO2002) expects much of the growth to occur in the developing world, with the regions of developing Asia (including China, India, and South Korea) and Central and South America leading the way as their consuming

BOEMRE Approves GOM Deepwater Exploration Plan

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) announced the approval of a deepwater Gulf of Mexico Exploration Plan (EP) following the completion of a site-specific Environmental Assessment (SEA) for deepwater oil and gas exploration.   Shell Offshore, Inc.’s Supplemental EP includes five proposed exploratory wells in approximately 7,160 to 7,259 feet water depth, as well as three previously approved wells approximately 72 miles offshore Louisiana.

BOEMRE Approves GOM Deepwater Exploration Plan

First Initial Plan to Undergo Site-Specific Environmental Review The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today announced the approval of an Initial Exploration Plan (EP), submitted by BHP Billiton, Inc., for activities in deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The EP was completed in accordance with new safety and environmental standards implemented since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill

Brazil Offshore Shipbuilding 'Center of Excellence' Planned

Petrobras plans to build the center, which is intended to help shipbuilders meet the company's pre-salt oil & gas exploration needs. The plans to build a center of excellence for the shipbuilding industry in Brazil were highlighted in the presentation made by Paulo Sergio Rodrigues Alonso, Petrobras Local Content Advisor to the President and the Executive Coordinator of Prominp, during an event sponsored by the Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce (Bratecc), in Houston

Crowley, Triunfo To Establish Joint Venture

Crowley Marine Services and Triunfo Operadora Portuaria Ltd., intend to form a joint venture to operate a deepwater logistics base in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. GAIA Comercial Exterior will participate as Crowley's Brazilian representative for energy logistics services. The partners announced the joint venture during a signing ceremony at Rio's prestigious Naval Club. The deepwater logistics base will be located at Triunfo's marine terminal on Guanabara Bay and will manage the

BP's Wells Doesn't Know Who Was in Charge

According to an August 26 report from Bloomberg, BP Plc’s Kent Wells, a senior vice president who joined the Gulf of Mexico oil-spill response two days after it began four months ago, said he doesn’t know who was in charge aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig when it exploded in April. Wells, a former chief of shallow-water exploration in the Gulf who has overseen BP’s onshore U.S. natural-gas business since 2007

BOEMRE on Resuming Pre-Approved Activities

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) notified 13 companies whose deepwater drilling activities were suspended by last year’s deepwater drilling moratorium that they may be able to resume those previously-approved activities without the need to submit revised exploration or development plans for supplemental National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. Before resuming those activities without additional NEPA review, however

South China Sea Energy Exploration by Chevron

Chevron Corporation's China subsidiary signs production sharing contracts for exploration blocks in the Pearl River Estuary, South China Sea. Chevron's agreement is with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Under the PSC agreements, Chevron China Energy Company will hold a 100 percent interest in blocks 15/10 and 15/28 in the Pearl River Mouth Basin. During the exploration phase Chevron China Energy Company will be the operator of the two shallow water blocks