Oil Well Exploration News

Japanese shipping firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation (JX) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain between Japan and Australia, including CO2 marine transport.The MoU focuses on the establishment of a CCS value chain by capturing CO2 emitted from ENEOS refinery and nearby various industries in Japan, transporting it by CO2 carrier to the Port of Bonython in Australia, and…

On August 25, NYK was commissioned by a consortium comprising ENEOS Corporation, Electric Power Development (J-POWER), and JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration to conduct a study on the marine transportation of liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2).The study is part of a fiscal 2023 feasibility study on advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Japan.NYK will study the economics and feasibility of the technology for transporting by ship CO2 emitted in western Japan from ENEOS…

Future Energy Exports CRC, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation, Low Emission Technology Australia, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and Osaka Gas have executed a project agreement for the "LP Technology R&D Project" to conduct research and development to demonstrate the technical feasibility and operability of low-pressure and low temperature solutions for the bulk transport of CO2 by ships.The LP Technology R&D Project will involve studying behaviour and boil off characteristics of liquid CO2 under dynamic operating conditions and the impact of non-CO2 components.

The Supreme Court in the Philippines on Tuesday declared the country's 2005 energy exploration agreement with Chinese and Vietnamese firms was illegal, ruling that the constitution does not allow foreign entities to exploit natural resources. The decision, on an agreement that expired in 2008, could complicate efforts by China to revive oil and gas exploration talks with the Philippines in areas of the South China Sea that are not in dispute. The court gave no explanation for why the ruling came 14 years after a petition was filed.

France will increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, calling on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters that has heightened tensions with Greece.The French leader voiced concern over "unilateral" exploration by Turkey in a call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron's office said in a statement. It added that prospecting should "cease in order to allow a peaceful dialogue" between the neighboring NATO members.The standoff deepened this week with the arrival of Turkish seismic research vessel Oruc Reis in a disputed area of the Mediterranean…

Masirah Oil, an exploration and production company operating Block 50 offshore Oman, has awarded a contract to Wings Offshore for a floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel, which will be used on a field located offshore Oman.Masirah said it had awarded the FSO contract to Wings Offshore for the Mt Bull Papua, which is an Aframax tanker with a storage capacity of 750,000 barrels.The FSO will be used to store crude oil that will be produced during the early appraisal phase of the Yumna field in Block 50 Oman.Drilling of the Yumna 1 appraisal well is planned to start in December 2019, it said.Masirah Oil holds a 100 per cent interest in Block 50 Oman.

Indonesian oil & gas exploration and production company Conrad Petroleum has flowed dry gas from its Tambak-1 well located in the Duyung PSC in the West Natuna Basin, offshore Indonesia.The Tambak-1 well was designed to both appraise the Mako gas field and test the underlying Tambak exploration prospect. Coro Energy plc holds a 15% interest in this project.The drill stem test (DST) flowed dry gas from the intra-Muda sands at a rate of 11.4 MMcf/day on a 181/64-inch (2.8 inches) choke, maintaining a wellhead tubing pressure of 225psi. The DST of the Tambak-1 well was completed with cased hole perforations along with a 6-foot interval.The DST demonstrates that this completion method is viable…

The global offshore oil and gas seismic equipment and acquisitions solutions market stood at around $660 million in 2018 and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5% to cross $890 million by 2024.According to a report by ResearchAndMarkets, the growth of global offshore oil and gas seismic equipment and acquisition solutions market is majorly attributable to rising investments in oil & gas exploration activities, stability in crude oil prices and an increasing number of strategic partnerships.Moreover, the increasing demand for oil and gas is resulting in rising exploration activities to find more oil and gas reserves, which in turn, is further fueling the growth of global offshore oil and gas seismic equipment and acquisitions solutions market.In terms of type…

Malaysia’s oilfield services player Sapura Energy said it has has clinched contracts worth a total of MYR 1 billion ($242 million) for several new oil patch deals and one – the company’s first – offshore wind contract.The 10 new contracts are for its engineering and construction and drilling segments across Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Australia, said a press release from the company.In addition, the company has been selected for a frame agreement with Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) for fixed offshore structure works, the company said in a statement today.Regarding the first offshore wind farm contract, the statement said, "Sapura Offshore Sdn Bhd (Sapura Offshore) has been awarded a contract by Yunneng Wind Power Co. Ltd.

US-owned renewable energy company Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) announced that the Company's PB3 PowerBuoy deployed in the Adriatic Sea has produced more than one MegaWatt-hour (MWh) cumulative energy to date. The cost-effective ocean energy solutions provider said that the PowerBuoy has been deployed for six months, operating continuously and error-free while being controlled remotely from OPT’s NJ facility.George H. Kirby, OPT’s President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are excited to announce this major power generation milestone for our PB3 PowerBuoy deployed in the Adriatic Sea. Since the contract began in March of last year…

Some 2,250 workers on Norwegian offshore oil drilling rigs and in drilling and catering services on oil producing platforms could go on strike this summer after rejecting a proposed wage deal, the Safe labor union said on Thursday.Industri Energi, the largest labor union representing drilling workers, last month agreed to a deal, while the smaller Safe said it would ask its members to vote on the offer made by the Norwegian Shipowners' Association.A strike could hit oil companies' exploration efforts later this summer, although a mandatory round of mediation must be held before any conflict is

Malaysia’s Yinson Energy Sdn Bhd plans to take over the Layang floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) project from TH Heavy Engineering Bhd (THHE)  Edge Markets reported. THEE, which has the Layang FPSO contract with Japan’s JX Nippon. has applied to Kuala Lumpur High Court, Malaysia to allow it novate the contract and deliver the vessel to Yinson. Yinson has confirmed this in the Bursa Malaysia filing on Wednesday, saying it has no objection to the THHE application. The charter contract — which is for EPCIC and leasing of a floating production storage and offloading facility to be deployed at the Layang field in Block SK10, offshore Miri, Sarawak — was initially made between JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Ltd and THHE.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Italy’s Eni signed a cooperation agreement that includes assessing opportunities in the gas and LNG value chain. "CNPC and Eni signed cooperation agreement today in order to cooperate in oil & gas exploration and production, gas and LNG value chain opportunities, trading and logistics opportunities, refining and petrochemicals. The partnership will regard both China and overseas activities," said a statement from the company. The signing took place in Rome at Eni's headquarters during a meeting between the Chairman of CNPC, Wang Yilin, and Eni's CEO, Claudio Descalzi. The meeting was a…

Marsol International, a UAE-based global marine solutions provider focused on the offshore oil terminal market and related infrastructure, has signed a two years contract with Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production LLC (OOCEP) for the provision and management of the marine and offshore activities related to the tanker loading, via the single point mooring (SPM) offshore marine terminal including maintenance works, vessels, equipment and manpower. The Musandam gas plant, located on the west coast of the Musandam Peninsula…

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday banned new oil and gas drilling in federal waters in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, in a push to leave his stamp on the environment before Republican Donald Trump takes office next month. Obama used a 1950s-era law called the Outer Continental Shelf Act that allows presidents to limit areas from mineral leasing and drilling. Environmental groups said that meant Trump's incoming administration would have to go court if it sought to reverse the move.

The Obama administration on Friday blocked new exploration for oil and gas in Arctic waters, in a win for environmental groups that had fought development of the ecologically fragile region. The Department of the Interior released a 2017 to 2022 leasing plan that blocked drilling in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off northern Alaska. It also limited petroleum development in the Cook Inlet off south-central Alaska. Environmental activists have battled drilling in Alaska to protect whales, walruses and seals, and as part of a broader movement to keep remaining fossil fuels in the ground.

Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production LLC (OOCEP) shipped its first crude oil cargo from the Musandam gas plant (MGP) with the support of UAE-based Marsol International. OOCEP, a subsidiary of Oman Oil Company S.A.O.C exported 300,000 barrels of crude oil as part of the operation, which were fully processed at the MGP on May 4 in Oman. Marsol, a global marine solutions provider focused on the offshore oil terminal market and related infrastructure, said its involvement included the provision and management of all marine and offshore activities related to the tanker loading…

Monaco – March 31, 2016 –Dynagas LNG Partners LP. * Gazprom Global LNG Limited has extended its current charter for the 2007-built LNG carrier Ob River, on the same terms, until May 1, 2018 (plus or minus 15 days). In addition, the Partnership has entered into a new long-term time charter agreement with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Pte. Ltd., an affiliate of Gazprom, for the Ob River, which is expected to commence immediately following the vessel’s redelivery from its current charter with Gazprom, for a period of 10 years (plus or minus 15 days). *  The Partnership has entered into a new long-term time charter agreement for its 2013-built LNG carrier Lena River for the Yamal LNG Project.

Chinese shipping major Sinotrans has signed with Greek shipowner Dynagas and China LNG Shipping (CLNG) for the joint purchase of five Arctic-class LNG carriers from South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The agreement is structured as five separate joint ventures between the parties; each venture includes membership in the shipbuilding contract and in a 25-year time charter of the vessel to Yamal LNG. The time charter is for about $20 million per month per vessel. Upon the JV completion, the company indirectly owns 25.5% in the deal, whereas CLNG holds 25.5 percent stake and  Dynagas the remaining 49 percent. Total construction cost for the five vessels is estimated at $1.6 billion.

Ecopetrol reports it has established an Alliance with Japan’s JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration through its affiliate in Brazil, Ecopetrol Óleo e Gás to explore the FZA-M-320 block, located in shallow waters of the Foz Amazonas basin on the equatorial margin of the Brazilian Amazon region. Ecopetrol has held the exclusive rights for this block since May 2013, which was awarded during the 11th Round carried out by the ANP, the National Petroleum Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency in Brazil. The commercial agreement announced today, yet to be approved by the ANP, establishes that JX Nippon will undertake exploration of this block with a 30% share, for both exploration investments and potential resources that may be discovered. Ecopetrol will maintain its 70% share and will continue as Operator.

Seabed Geosolutions will soon mobilise for the variation order that was signed today by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) with CGG to conduct a shallow water seabed survey. The survey is over the Ghasha-Butini field, will take around 12 months and has a value of around USD 125 million. The recent successful completion of the Hail-Shuweihat survey has promoted this variation order, confirming ADNOC’s confidence in Seabed Geosolutions’ ability to operate safely and efficiently. In addition, Seabed Geosolutions has mobilised for an ocean bottom cable survey in Asia Pacific with a value of approximately USD 55 million. This survey is expected to be finished in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Even though the struggle for independence from Britain finally resulted in Ireland being declared “a sovereign, independent, democratic state” in 1937 there was little interest being shown in the maritime affairs of the country. This, despite Ireland being seen as having opportunities to derive added value from its vast marine resources. Up until a few years ago, sporadic endeavors failed to achieve optimum economic benefits. Ireland’s ambition to create a maritime cluster gathered momentum only during the last few years. It began with the introduction of the tonnage tax regime in 2003. This made Ireland an attractive destination for shipping. The immediate effect was that it reversed the trend of Irish shipping companies flagging out to foreign registries.

The marine insurance sector is undergoing a rapid period of change and it is critical that insurers understand the risks the industry is facing and offer products that match these new trends, Dieter Berg, president of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) said. He outlined four new risks the industry is facing that insurers must endeavour to better understand. The first was cyber threats, thanks to the industry’s growing reliance on IT within shipping companies, ports & logistics and offshore. “Underwriters need a better understanding of these risks and must tailor their products to meet client needs,” he said. The second was Ultra Large Container Vessels…