Oil Field Development News

Japanese floating oil and gas production systems provider MODEC has signed a contract to perform Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) for an FPSO vessel for ExxonMobil's “Uaru” oil field development project offshore Guyana.The FEED contract award relates to the initial funding by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to begin FEED activities related to the FPSO design and to secure the second M350TM hull for FPSO service.Following FEED and subject to government approvals in Guyana of the development plan…

The Dutch FPSO leasing specialist SBM Offshore said Friday the construction of the topside modules had kicked off in Singapore for one of the company's largest-ever FPSO units, the One Guyana FPSO."During September this year, two steel strike ceremonies were held in both Keppel FELS and DynaMac yards. This marks a key milestone, which is the start of the fabrication of the marine structures and the topside modules," SBM Offshore said.SBM Offshore received an order from ExxonMobil in April to deliver the One Guyana FPSO for the Yellowtail development offshore Guyana.

Australian oil and gas company BHP, working to develop the Trion field offshore Mexico, has hired DNV GL to verify that the new infrastructure built for the Trion project is compliant with local and global safety, as well as other requirements. BHP acquired the Trion asset in Mexico’s first-ever Deepwater Bid Round in 2016. The Trion field encompasses an area of 1,285 square kilometers and is located in the deep waters of the Perdido belt. BHP is the operator holding a 60% interest in the development and PEMEX is the non-operating partner with a 40% interest.Last week…

China's Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) shipyard has delivered another Guyana-bound FPSO hull for the Dutch FPSO specialist SBM Offshore.Following the delivery of the Liza Unity hull in late 2019, SWS on Monday delivered the Liza Prosperity hull, the second hull built under SBM Offshore's Fast4Ward standardized-FPSO-hull program. The construction of the FPSO Prosperity hull started in January 2019.The FPSO Prosperity is expected to be deployed at ExxonMobil's Stabroek block offshore Guyana, as part of the Payara oil field development.

Aker Solutions has secured an order from Statoil to provide a concept study for a floating production, storage and offloading facility for the Johan Castberg oil field development in the Barents Sea. The order is a call-off by Statoil on an engineering contract for Johan Castberg won by Aker Solutions in 2013. "We've worked with Statoil for two years on finding a cost-effective solution that will enable development of this strategically important oil field in northern Norway," said Per Harald Kongelf, head of Aker Solutions' Norwegian operations. The Statoil-operated Johan Castberg field is located about 240 kilometres north-west of Hammerfest.

General Electric today announced the opening of the $500 million Brazil Technology Center that will focus on developing advanced subsea oil and gas technology. The center, GE’s first in Latin America, will be a hub for engagement and collaboration with GE’s customers in the region and is expected to employ 400 researchers in the future. In the twentieth century, one of mankind’s greatest feats was successfully landing on the moon more than 235,000 miles from earth. In the 21st century, mankind’s greatest feat may well be securing the  world’s energy future for the next few centuries. Subsea engineers often say that it is actually more difficult to put a machine 10,000 feet under the sea than send a rocket to the moon.

Oil and gas—and also mining—are the drivers today propelling Arctic maritime operations and the construction of new vessels able to operate in extreme latitudes. While the gas and oil resources can be recovered in the Arctic or far north and shipped to markets by sea or pipeline, the cost of doing must be balanced upon the global market price for those commodities. Ships and marine structures able to operate in the harsh conditions of the extreme latitudes require special designs and construction techniques.

US-based CB&I wins a project contract worth US$250-million from Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, Ltd. (DSME). CB&I's scope of work, which will commence in the first quarter, includes detailed engineering design services for the Mariner Topsides project that is part of the Mariner oil field development project being operated by Statoil in the UK North Sea. The Mariner heavy oil field is located on the East Shetland Platform of the UK North Sea, approximately 150 kilometers east of the Shetland Isles. Pending final approval of the field development plan by the UK authorities, Statoil expects to start production from Mariner in 2017. The field is estimated to produce for 30 years with an average production of around 55,000 barrels of oil per day.

AtoBviaC Plc announces a new anti-piracy routing tool in its popular subscription 'BP Shipping Marine Distance Tables'. The AtoBviaC tool enables the ship operator to select routes based on the most current intelligence, and accurately calculate the time and fuel implications of the voyage. "In many cases this can work out to be considerably more accurate than the other available options and provides a level of self-determination that is missing from other solutions,” said Captain Trevor Hall, Director of AtoBviaC. Anti-Piracy Routing from AtoBviaC within the BP Shipping Marine Distance Tables is based upon information on piracy activity obtained on a regular basis from the Joint War Committee bulletins, and from specific routings requested by ship operators.

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. designs towboat in support of offshore oil field development in Alaska. Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI), of Bristol, RI, was contracted by Northern Maritime Logistics, LLC of Anchorage, Alaska, for the design of both a towboat and the bow ramp for a new, USCG Inspected deck barge. Both vessels have been put into service use on the North Slope of Alaska, servicing Nikaitchuq Island in support of oil field development. miles to the North-Northwest of Point Oliktok and South of Spy Island).

Technip said it has won a deepwater pipeline installation contract from Callon Petroleum Company for the Entrada oil field development in the . Technip will be responsible for installation of two 6.5-mile steel flowlines in a water depth of 1,364 m (4,475 ft) connected to two subsea wells, plus pipeline end terminations and inline structures and steel catenary risers which will be hooked up to the Magnolia production platform, at a depth of 1,452 m (4,675 ft), reports said. Technip will  provide engineering and procurement for the offshore project, which will use its Deep Blue installation vessel in the third quarter this year.

Husky Energy Inc. reported net earnings of $126 million ($0.29 per share) in the first quarter of 2002, compared with $192 million ($0.42 per share) in the same quarter of 2001. Cash flow from operations in the same period was $373 million ($0.87 per share), down from $620 million ($1.46 per share) in the first quarter of 2001. Results for 2001 have been restated to reflect the adoption of the recommendations of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants on foreign currency translation. lower natural gas prices in the quarter. heavy/light crude oil differentials and a lower income tax provision. “The first quarter of 2002 was significant for Husky. announced in March,” said John C.S. Lau, President & Chief Executive Officer.

Husky Energy Inc. (Husky) announced that time charter contracts have been awarded to Knutsen OAS Shipping A.S. for two newbuild shuttle tankers to transport oil from the White Rose offshore project to market following commencement of production planned for late 2005. Husky is the operator of the White Rose project, the third major oil field development in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin located about 217 miles east of Newfoundland and Labrador. White Rose will be developed using a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO). Husky awarded contracts for the construction of the FPSO vessel in April. Husky and Petro-Canada, as co-charterers, signed the shuttle tanker time charter agreements with Knutsen OAS Shipping A.S. of Haugesund, Norway as owner.

Tenders are currently being sought for the conversion of the Norwegian owned 2001-built, 91,676 dwt crude oil tanker Odin into an FPSO for operation in Marathon Oil’s Alvheim oil field development project in the North Sea. Marathon Oil expects to announce the shipyard that will convert the vessel in the early part of next year. Conversion of the Aframax tanker will result in an FPSO with an oil storage capacity of 560,000 barrels. The Alvheim field is expected to begin operations in 2007.

Iran has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to export natural gas to Italy, to be implemented by 2011, says an IranMania report. Iran will also export gas to China by the end of the current year. China’s oil giant Sinopec Group signed a $70 billion oil field development and LNG agreement with Iran earlier this fall, according to the report. Iran will attain an annual LNG export of 36 million tons, worth $6 billion, by 2015. Source: IranMania