Agip Kco News

Russian shipbuilder Krasnye Barrikady and Iran's Tasdid Offshore Development Company (TODC)  have signed a deal worth $1 billion to build five offshore drilling rigs for oil and gas exploration in the Persian Gulf, reports Press TV. According to Krasnye Barrikady Shipyard CEO Aleksandr Ilichev cited by the Iranian IRNA news agency, the Russian shipyard could carry out feasibility study for the project. The company has extensive expertise in the area accumulated after implementation of similar projects in other Caspian states, he added. The deal signed with TODC envisages the construction of each drilling rig over two years in the port city of Khorramshahr, TODC Managing Director Ehsanollah Mousavi said.

Eni announces that first oil from the giant Kashagan oil field has been produced. The oilfield is located in the North Caspian Sea, approximately 80 kilometers southeast of Atyrau, in Kazakhstan. Eni holds a 16.81% stake in the consortium for the development of Kashagan and through Agip KCO is responsible for developing and start of production of the field. The other partners in the consortium, represented by the operator NCOC (North Caspian Operating Company) which operates within the North Caspian Sea Production Sharing Agreement (NCSPSA), are KazMunayGas (16.81%), ExxonMobil (16.81%), Shell (16.81%), Total (16.81%), ConocoPhillips (8.4%) and Inpex (7.56%). In the initial phase output will grow up to 180,000 barrels per day.

Keppel Kazakhstan LLP (Keppel Kazakhstan) and its consortium partner Ersai Caspian Contractor LLC, Kazakhstan (Ersai Caspian Contractor), have secured a contract from Teniz Burgylau LLP (Teniz Burgylau), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of JSC NC "KazMunayGas" (KazMunayGas) of Kazakhstan, for a KFELS B Class jackup rig worth US$242 million. Scheduled for delivery in 1Q 2015, the jackup rig will be deployed in the Caspian Sea when completed. The work scope of the rig will be shared equally among the two members of the consortium. According to the Oil and Gas Journal dated January 2010, Kazakhstan's proven oil reserves was estimated at 30 billion barrels and its natural gas reserves at 85 trillion cubic feet.

Saipem has been awarded new offshore contracts worth over 1 billion euro. The contracts refer to activities to be carried out between 2010 and 2012 in the main offshore areas where Saipem is present, in particular in the Caspian Sea, both in the Kazakh and Azeri sectors, Brazil, the Middle East, West Africa, the North Sea and Mexico. The operations will be performed by Saipem’s most powerful fleet vessels and include the laying of sealines, field development, as well as platform fabrication and installation. Among the major awarded contracts, in Kazakhstan, Saipem has signed an extension of the ‘Kashagan Trunklines’ contract with Agip KCO for the installation of the pipeline system connecting the offshore production facilities.

Cashman Equipment Corporation was awarded a three year contract by AGIP KCO, ERSAI, SAIPEM to provide living accommodations for 580 personnel in the Caspian Sea in the Kashagan field. Cashman Equipment constructed 108 buildings in its yard in Amelia, converted two ex Navy Barges at Conrad in Amelia & Morgan City, and built two new ABS barges at Conrad in Orange, Texas and Amelia, all within a six month period. The barges are now being loaded in Pascagoula, Mississippi at Northrop Grumman’s yard on a submersible ship, the Eagle.

Saipem has been awarded two new offshore contracts in Kazakhstan and Egypt worth a total value of $230 million. Agip KCO awarded the Saipem and Aker Kvaerner unincorporated consortium a contract as part of the experimental programme of the Kashagan field development in the Caspian Sea. The contract includes early work activities for the hook-up and commissioning of the offshore facilities as well as for the inshore completion to be executed in the Kuryk yard. The scope of work also includes the procurement, refurbishment and preparation of five barges which will be converted into temporary living quarters and offices, as well as temporary barges for power generation, tool sheds and warehouses.

Caspian Services’ subsidiary Caspian Services Group Ltd., has signed a contract to provide three vessels to Reservoir Exploration Technology ASA (RXT), a marine geophysical company specializing in multi component seismic sea-floor acquisition. RXT recently signed a letter of intent with Agip KCO to conduct a four component 3D seismic survey over the extensive Kashagan field. Caspian Services will add two additional shallow draft survey/work vessels to its fleet to service this contract. These vessels will be drawn from the Rederij Waterweg BV fleet as part of the ongoing partnership between the two marine companies.