Salamander News

UK-based company Tugdock has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Salamander floating offshore wind farm to collaborate on innovation for floating offshore wind energy in Scotland.Tugdock, based in Cornwall, UK, has patented marine buoyancy technology that enables heavy marine structures to be built or assembled and loaded-out in ports with water depth or space restrictions.Salamander Offshore Wind is a joint venture development project between Simply Blue Group, Ørsted and Subsea7, which is developing a floiating wind farm to be located offshore from Peterhead in North-East Scotland.

Salamander Energy said it has submitted a draft shareholder circular to the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to previously stated plans to divest of an interest in the Greater Bualuang Area. Salamander had announced on July 21 the signing of an agreement under which Sona Petroleum Berhard (SONA) would acquire an effective 40% working interest in the B8/38 concession (containing the Bualuang oil field) and the surrounding G4/50 concession, both located in the Gulf of Thailand (together the Transaction). Salamander understands that SONA is expecting to receive clearance from the Malaysian Securities Commission ("MSC") in the coming weeks.

Salamander announces that its Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) for exploration drilling in the G4/50 licence, Greater Bualuang area, Gulf of Thailand, has been granted conditional approval. Of  the 20 drilling locations in the original EIA, 18 have been approved subject to: updating the oil spill response modelling to account for the removal of two potential drilling locations; and communicating the removal of the two locations to local stakeholders. In addition the Thai authorities have stipulated technical adjustments to the drafting. The 18 locations include all of Salamander’s top ranked prospects in the G4/50 licence and the company expects to commence exploration drilling before the end of 2014.

Salamander announces that first oil has been received in the tanks of the newly converted Suksan Salamander Floating Storage and Offtake Vessel (“FSO”) at the Bualuang field in the Gulf of Thailand. This is the culmination of the planned upgrade to the field’s facilities which targets a reduction in operating costs of up to $25 million per annum. New power and processing modules were loaded out to the Bravo platform in the first half of the year. These have been operating smoothly since hook up and commissioning in May. The FSO arrived on location in July. Following hook up and commissioning the new FSO is now fully operational. As well as halving the day rate of the production vessel…

Robert Allan Ltd. announced that it was selected by Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd. to provide the contract engineering package for the conversion of the M/V Navion Clipper from a shuttle tanker into a Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) unit. Teekay Offshore Partners LLP, a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation, was awarded a contract in 2013 to supply a FSO unit to the Bualuang Field in the Gulf of Thailand. The contract is for a 10-year charter, with extension options. The oilfield is operated by Salamander Energy and has been in production at this site since 2008. The scope of work from Robert Allan Ltd. includes the design of the crude oil export and import systems (turret design and supply by London Marine Consultants)…

Robert Allan Ltd. says it has been selected by Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd. to provide the contract engineering package for the conversion of the M/V Navion Clipper from a shuttle tanker into a Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) unit. The scope of work from Robert Allan Ltd. includes the design of the crude oil export and import systems (turret design and supply by London Marine Consultants), a new helideck capable of landing a Sikorsky S61N helicopter, accommodation and systems modifications to suit an increased crew complement…

In its latest subsea vessels report Douglas-Westwood (DW) forecast more than $100b of expenditure on subsea vessel operations over the next five years – with global demand is expected to increase by 23%. The increase in expenditure is expected to be higher than the growth in vessel days, due to the move towards higher specification vessels to cater for deeper and more complicated field development programs. Dayrates for high specification dive support vessels (DSV) and multipurpose support vessels (MSV) are expected to increase by over 40% by 2017.

Energy services company Senergy added a number of appointments to its senior management team with to consolidate its position for future growth. The company, which provides fully-integrated project and asset development services across the energy industry, anticipates creating up to 80 new positions by the end of May, as a result of increasing demand for its services. Senergy applies its expertise and technology to develop and manage oil and gas fields and alternative energy projects in partnership with its clients.

An Atwood Oceanics, Inc. subsidiary awarded year's contract extension by Salamander Energy for the jackup 'Atwood Mako'. The extension is priced at a day rate of $155,000 and begins September 9, 2013. The Atwood Mako commenced its initial twelve month drilling services contract with Salamander on September 9, 2012 for operations offshore Thailand. With the extension, the Atwood Mako's firm commitment extends through September 9, 2014. Atwood Oceanics, Inc. is a global offshore drilling contractor engaged in the drilling and completion of exploratory and developmental oil and gas wells. The company currently owns 12 mobile offshore drilling units and is constructing three ultra-deepwater drillships and one high-specification jackup.

Regular visitors to this year’s Oceanology International (OI) will be surprised to learn that the Exhibition and Conference is moving to the ExCeL (Exhibition Center London) in London Docklands. Since 1969 the Exhibition and Conference has been at the Brighton Metropole, emerging as the largest event in the marine science and ocean technology sector. This year OI, which will take place from March 5-8 , offers the 600 exhibitors from 50 countries and over 6,000 visitors unparalleled modern facilities in a waterfront environment in the heart of London, along with a collection of vessels that will be moored directly alongside the Exhibition. Many exhibitors plan the launch of new products and services to coincide with this meeting of the global marine science community.