Petroleum Systems News

TDI-Brooks International, Inc. announced it has appointed Paul Walker as its director of laboratory operations, tasked with leading the company's geotechnical, geochemical and environmental labs.Walker began his career at Humble Geochemical where he was tasked with method development, instrument maintenance, and general lab and project management. He then joined Baseline Resolution where he continued developing and optimizing specialized pyrolysis and hydrocarbon separation methods for onshore and offshore petroleum systems.

ION Geophysical Corporation, a provider of geoscience technology, services, and solutions for the oil and gas industry, has entered into a multi-client agreement with Colombia’s National Hydrocarbon Agency (ANH), granting rights to reprocess existing data and acquire new 2D and 3D multi-client programs offshore Colombia’s Caribbean coast.In February, the ANH announced a series of reforms to encourage investment in exploration and production, such as a permanent license round and a more attractive tax regime, to boost declining production and increase reserves.The data is intended to enable better understanding of hydrocarbon potential…

Norwegian seismic services provider Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) said that key areas for the 2020 Malaysia Licensing Round are covered by the PGS Sabah MC3D program.Data is available to evaluate the petroleum potential of the highly prospective offshore Sabah province, said a press note from the geophysical company.Over 47 000 sq. km high-resolution 3D data is available for Sabah, covering new opportunities near established plays in this exciting hydrocarbon province.Block SB-2T on the 2020 bid round is almost entirely covered by Sabah MC3D. SB-2T lies in the proven fold and thrust belt and is surrounded by producing oil and gas fields.

Sri Lanka on Wednesday signed an agreement with a subsidiary of U.S.

Namibian Portfolio. In an update it informed about its Namibian portfolio, its repositioning in the region and forward work programmes across these licences. These steps improve Chariot's negotiating position in partnering discussions and provide further commercial optionality. The move also aligns this part of Chariot's portfolio with its strategy of being a fast follower and managing risk whilst retaining significant equity and acreage positions. In line with this strategy, Chariot will aim to proceed towards the drilling phase across its Namibian acreage following appropriate geological and financial de-risking. Within the Central blocks…

Chariot Oil & Gas Limited, the Atlantic margins focused oil and gas exploration company, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Chariot Brasil Petróleo e Gás Ltda., has signed a farm-out agreement with AziLat Limited  through its local subsidiary AziBras Exploração de Petróleo e Gás Ltda. Following completion of this agreement, which is subject to the approval of the Brazilian authorities, AziLat will hold a 25% equity interest in Chariot's BAR-M-292, BAR-M-293, BAR-M-313 and BAR-M-314 blocks in the Barreirinhas Basin, in return for paying 50% of the 3D seismic acquisition and processing costs to be incurred across these blocks. Chariot will remain Operator with a 75% equity interest. AziLat is a subsidiary of the Azimuth Group.

Woodside has acquired a 40% participating interest in an exploration, exploitation and production sharing contract (EEPSC) for Block F15 in the Gabon Coastal Basin. Block F15 is located 140 km off the south-western coast of Gabon and covers over 2,700 km². Water depths range from 2,300 to 3,000 m. Noble Energy has a 60% participating interest in the EEPSC and will be the Operator. The EEPSC has a seismic commitment and option for future drilling. Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said the EEPSC was an opportunity for Woodside to secure significant acreage in a high graded emerging oil-prone province with a like-minded and experienced partner. “This is yet another exciting opportunity for us in Africa, building on recent acquisitions in Tanzania and Morocco,” Mr Coleman said.

The inaugural 2011 OTC Brasil technical conference will present addresses from industry leaders and experts on issues facing the Brazilian and global offshore oil and gas industry. Organized by the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), OTC Brasil will be held October 4-6 in Rio de Janeiro and is expected to attract a large audience. “OTC Brasil will offer a wide range of important topics, with speakers and panelists from Brazilian and international companies presenting their views. Speakers continue to be added for a series of special sessions...in addition to the 200 technical papers from 19 countries that will be presented,” said OTC Brasil Program Committee Co-Chair Ricardo Juiniti Bernardo, OGX Petroleo & Gas.

Schlumberger announced today that it has acquired Integrated Exploration Systems (IES), the , Germany-based supplier of advanced petroleum systems modeling software and services for the exploration and production (E&P) industry. IES specializes in the modeling of the generation, migration and entrapment of oil and gas using the industry-leading software PetroMod. This technology is used to estimate undiscovered hydrocarbons in frontier basins and to enable oil and gas companies to mitigate risk in exploration prospects. In order to help meet growing global demand for hydrocarbon resources, oil and gas companies are looking more toward exploration.