Oil Well

Aker Kvaerner's Technologies Win OTC Award

Aker Kvaerner's focus on technology has been duly recognized by the 2007 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). Aker Kvaerner's PowerTracCone Crusher and Aker Kvaerner's SeaBooster technologies have both won 2007 OTC Spotlight on New Technology Awards. The PowerTrac Cone Crusher(TM) (full press release attached) provides a new solution for cost efficient, safe and environmentally sound removal of scale from well completions. Aker Kvaerner's SeaBooster(TM) (full press release attached) increases production rate of oil wells requiring local pressure support by injecting sea water. The OTC Spotlight on New Technology Awards showcases advanced technologies for the offshore oil and gas industry. Companies exhibiting at this year's OTC submitted entries detailing why their innovative technology should be in the spotlight at OTC.

Global Drilling Expected To Bounce Back In 2000

World drilling activity for oil and gas fell 24 percent in 1999 from 1998, but levels should bounce back in 2000, IHS Energy Group said. "In 2000, I expect levels to reach at least those of 1998," said Ian Cross, Asia director for IHS, who produced an IHS report on world drilling activity in 1999. "Some areas in 2000 will be slow to catch up. I think the Far East will be one of them. There is less money going into this region," he said.

Coflexip Records Best Results Ever

Offshore oil equipment and services provider Coflexip set an all-time high on Thursday following a price target upgrade by a major broker and on bright prospects for North Sea contracts. Coflexip was quoted up 6.67 percent at 152 euros, the broad market's best performer. Earlier, it had surged to a record 156 euros after Morgan Stanley Dean Witter lifted its price target to 200 euros from 165 euros and maintained a "strong buy" recommendation

“Idle Iron” Mandate to Plug Wells Could Save Some GOM Jobs

Yesterday Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Director Michael R. Bromwich announced a mandate – effective October 15, 2010 – that oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico will be required to set permanent plugs in nearly 3,500 nonproducing wells that are currently completed with a subsurface safety valve in place and dismantle about 650 oil and gas production platforms if they are no longer being used

U.K. Drilling Activity 39 Percent Of 1998 Levels

U.K. offshore oil and gas appraisal and exploration drilling so far this year is only 39 percent of 1998 levels with no significant new drilling activity reported in the week ending Sept. 29, consultants Arthur Andersen said. They said in their weekly Well Report that only two new exploration wells were spudded in northwest Europe during the week in review. "This has created little change in the difference between drilling activity in 1998 and 1999

MMS Responds with Royalty Relief Modifications

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) has updated two Notice to Lessees (NTL) to help the domestic industry adjust to and survive low prices. "Oil prices, adjusted for inflation, are down to levels last seen in the early 1970's," said Carolita Kallaur, associate director, Offshore Minerals Management Program. "While benefitting consumers generally, unanticipated price drops have some adverse consequences for society

DOE, EPA, DOI to Partner on Oil & Gas Research

Obama Administration Announces New Partnership on Unconventional Natural Gas and Oil Research.   Today, three federal agencies announced a formal partnership to coordinate and align all research associated with development of our nation’s abundant unconventional natural gas and oil resources. The partnership exemplifies the cross-government coordination required under President Obama’s executive order released earlier today

Wärtsilä-Hyundai JV Wins Big Order

The Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engine represents a pioneering industry change from traditional steam turbine machinery to a dual-fuel-electric concept with the benefits of much better operating economy and lower exhaust emissions. The engine can run on either natural gas, marine diesel oil (MDO) or on heavy fuel oil (HFO). Furthermore, the engine can smoothly switch between fuels during engine operation and is designed to give the same output regardless of the fuel used

Rig Rates Down 10 Percent

According to a Nov. 25 report from Business Standard, the current global credit crisis and an over 63 percent fall in crude oil prices in the last four months have resulted in oil companies drilling fewer wells in offshore areas. This has increased the availability of rigs across the world and helped bring down rig rentals by up to 10 percent in the recent past. The rig rates have corrected primarily in the shallow water fields where there have been traditionally more rigs available.

China Oil Producer Sees Profits Soar

China's top offshore oil and gas producer, CNOOC, has posted a 38 percent jump in earnings for the first half of the year. The better-than-expected results were driven by soaring energy prices and higher output, according to a report on www.voanews.com. Oil and gas production at the state-owned company increased by more than seven percent in the first six months of 2006 compared to a year earlier. CNOOC's chairman Fu Chengyu says the company achieved breakthroughs in its overseas business