Camden Hills News

There are 2,511 identified pending, probable and possible subsea production wells forecast (base case) worldwide over the next six years. Some 18 percent of these subsea completions will be installed in North America, 30 percent in Africa/Mediterranean, eight percent in Asia-Pacific, 26 percent in the North Sea and 18 percent in Brazil. These subsea projects are in various development stages, including: 23 percent at the pending/construction stage, 11 percent bidding, 9 percent in detailed engineering, 16 percent at the front-end engineering design (FEED) stage, 16 percent of the wells probable and 26 percent possible indicating possible development in the future.

Not only did most oil producing companies post increased income and revenues in the first quarter 2000, compared to 1999, but in some cases, the increases were record-setting. In fact, Conoco's first quarter was the best quarter in the company's 125-year history. Here is a capsulated report of several companies' earnings. USX-Marathon Group's net income adjusted for special items was $199 million in first quarter 2000, compared with a net loss adjusted for special items of $11 million in first quarter 1999. The Marathon Group recorded first quarter 2000 net income of $254 million, which included a $55 million favorable aftertax gain on the sale of its 33.34 percent interest in the Angus/Stellaria development in the Gulf of Mexico. Net income in first quarter 1999 was $119 million.

A unit of Williams has announced that it has commissioned a new production handling platform in federal waters approximately 60 miles south of Mobile Bay, Ala. Gas production from approximately 35,000 acres of federal leases is dedicated to the platform. Construction of Williams' Canyon Station -- a fixed-leg platform in 300 feet of water in East Main Pass Block 261 -- was completed on schedule at the end of June. The jacket was installed in October 2001, followed by the deck and all of the topsides equipment in May 2002. Phil Wright, president and chief executive officer of Williams' energy services unit, said, "The deck is set, the generators are running and we're raring to go.

TotalFina reportedly made a deep offshore gas discovery in the Gulf of Mexico as part of a consortium with U.S. Marathon Oil and WI Inc. The group found a gas column approximately 197 ft. high located southeast of New Orleans, on the Camden Hills prospect.

The third quarter proved to be a prosperous one for oil companies, as most of our sampling realized substantial gains in net income and net operating income for the period, as compared to 1998's third quarter. A higher average worldwide crude oil price was chiefly responsible for the increases, although in some cases, cost-cutting measures also contributed heavily to the financial results. Exploration and production net operating income was up, nearly across the board. However, for the first nine months of 1999, earnings and net income are still down from the same period in 1998. Phillips Petroleum Company reported third-quarter net income of $221 million up from $46 million for the same period last year. Total revenues were $3.8 billion, versus $2.9 billion a year ago.

Canyon Offshore has been awarded a one-year Remotely Operated Vehicle services contract to support maintenance on the Canyon Express development in Mississippi Canyon in the Gulf of Mexico. At 7,200 feet of water, Canyon Express is the deepest operating production project in the world and includes three separate gas fields, King’s Peak, Aconcagua and Camden Hills. Under the terms of the contract, Canyon will provide integrated ROV and DP vessel services on an ongoing scheduled and callout basis. Initial planned work includes a detailed baseline CP and visual survey of the East and West flowlines, and the main umbilical and methanol coiled tubing lines. In addition, Canyon will replace subsea chemical injection valves and undertake other field maintenance and intervention tasks as required.