Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Shell Exploration News

23 Dec 2018

Maurel & Prom Buys Shell's Stake in Venezuela

Paris-based Maurel & Prom announced that it has acquired Shell Exploration and Production Investments' 40% interest as Shareholder B in Petroregional del Lago Mixed Company, which operates the Urdaneta West field in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela.Maurel & Prom said further that all condition precedents have been satisfied and that the acquisition has been completed.The total consideration for the acquisition of Shell's shares in the Mixed Company is EUR70 million, funded from Maurel & Prom's existing cash resources and composed as follows: EUR47 million which have been paid at closing of the transaction, and EUR23 million payable in December 2019…

07 Nov 2018

Kosmos Energy, Shell Form Alliance

Oil and gas exploration and production company Kosmos Energy said that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Shell Exploration Company B.V. to jointly explore in Southern West Africa.Initially, the alliance will focus on Namibia, where Kosmos has completed the farm-in to Shell's acreage in PEL 39, and Sao Tome & Principe where it has entered into exclusive negotiations for Shell to take an interest in Kosmos’ acreage in blocks 5, 6, 11, and 12.As part of the alliance, the two companies will also jointly evaluate opportunities in adjacent geographies.

07 Aug 2018

McDermott Wins Shell Contract for Gulf of Mexico

McDermott International announced a contract from Shell Exploration and Production Company, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) plc, for subsea umbilical and flowline installation at the Perdido development, located 230 miles south of Galveston, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico."This award strengthens McDermott's relationship with Shell as we work together to safely and competitively deliver this next-generation deepwater energy project," said Richard Heo, McDermott's Senior Vice President for North, Central and South America. "Our proven track record of project execution in the Gulf of Mexico, industry-leading subsea capabilities…

17 Aug 2015

US Gives Shell Final Nod to Drill for Oil in Arctic

Fennica (Photo: Arctia Shipping)

The Obama administration on Monday granted Royal Dutch Shell the final permit to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic for the first time since 2012, a move environmentalists vowed to fight. The Interior Department gave Shell the final permit to drill into the oil zone in the Chukchi Sea off northern Alaska after the Fennica, an icebreaker the company leases that carries emergency well-plugging equipment, was repaired after suffering a gash in its hull. The permit was expected as…

31 Jul 2015

Shell Moves Ahead in Arctic with Exploratory Well

Shell Oil's icebreaker MSV Fennica weaved through nine remaining protesters hanging from the St. Johns Bridge and made its way toward the Pacific Ocean. Authorities have removed protesters dangling from a bridge and in kayaks in Oregon, allowing an icebreaker to get through and head toward the Arctic, The Associated Press reported. Demonstrators had been trying to stop the Fennica from leaving Portland, Oregon, and heading for an oil drilling operation, the AP reported. The ship had tried to leave earlier Thursday, but was forced to turn around by the protesters dangling from the bridge. "The Fennica is now safely on its way to Alaska…

25 Jul 2015

Shell Gets APD for limited Arctic Drilling

After extensive review and under a robust array of safety requirements, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno today announced that Shell has received conditional approval of two Applications for Permits to Drill (APD) to conduct limited exploratory drilling activities in the Chukchi Sea offshore Alaska. Specifically, the APDs limit Shell to drilling only the top sections of wells and prohibit Shell from drilling into oil-bearing zones. Shell currently is not permitted to drill into oil-bearing zones because, to do so, BSEE requires that a capping stack be on hand and deployable within 24 hours. A capping stack is a critical piece of emergency response equipment designed to shut in a well in the unlikely event of a loss of well control.

15 Jul 2015

Green Groups Ask U.S. to Stall Shell's Final Arctic Permits

Ten environmental groups say a missing icebreaker should be a deal-breaker for Arctic offshore drilling by Royal Dutch Shell PLC off Alaska's northwest coast and urged the U.S. government not to grant final permits to Shell, reports Reuters and AP. The groups in a letter that under Shell's exploration plans, the U.S. Interior Department cannot allow it to begin exploring for oil in the Chukchi Sea off northern Alaska while the icebreaker, the Fennica, is unavailable. The icebreaker is a key part of Shell's exploration plan and spill response plan, said attorney Mike LeVine of Oceana. "The Fennica plays an important role in protecting the entirety of Shell's fleet from ice," he said.

23 Jun 2015

Environmentalists: Walrus Population at Risk in Arctic

Green groups urged the U.S. Department of Interior on Tuesday to revoke the agency's conditional approval of Royal Dutch Shell's 2015 Arctic oil exploration plan, saying it runs counter to established protections for walruses. A 2013 rule implemented by the Fish and Wildlife Service, a bureau of the Interior Department, prevents energy companies from exploring for oil simultaneously at wells in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska that are within 15 miles (24 km) of each other. The rule is meant to protect walrus populations that are sensitive to the noise and disruption of drilling in their habitat. But Shell's exploration plan for the Chukchi…

03 Jun 2015

Environmentalists Sue BOEM over Shell Plan to Drill in Arctic

Ten major environmental groups filed a lawsuit on June 2 challenging the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) approval of Royal Dutch Shell's exploration plan for drilling in the Chukchi Sea this summer. The lawsuit seeks a review of permits granted to Royal Dutch Shell PLC by the BOEM for exploratory drilling in the Chukchi (chuk-CHEE’) Sea off Alaska’s northwest coast. Shell paid $2.1 billion for its Arctic leases. The oil giant intends to drill six exploratory wells this summer at a site about 75 miles northwest of the Alaska hamlet of Wainwright. Although Shell still needs drilling permits and other government authorizations, the ocean energy bureau's approval of its exploration plan was a significant milestone.

23 May 2015

U.S. Senators Urge Obama to Block Arctic Oil Drilling

A group of 18 mostly Democratic U.S. senators on Friday urged the Obama administration to stop Royal Dutch Shell's preparations for oil exploration in the Arctic, saying the region has a severely limited capacity to respond to accidents. The senators, from both coasts and several Midwestern states, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, urging her to retire Arctic leases in the Chukchi Sea. Jewell's department earlier this month conditionally approved Shell's exploration plan in the Arctic. The move means the company is likely to return to the Chukchi Sea this summer for the first time since a mishap-filled drilling season in 2012.

31 Mar 2015

U.S. DoI Upholds 2008 Shell Arctic Lease

              Researchers working on the Chukchi Sea in 2010 (photo courtesy of NASA/Kathryn Hansen)

The U.S. Interior Department on Tuesday upheld a 2008 lease sale in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska, moving Royal Dutch Shell a step closer to returning to oil and gas exploration in the Arctic since it suffered mishaps in the region in 2012. "The Arctic is an important component of the Administration's national energy strategy, and we remain committed to taking a thoughtful and balanced approach to oil and gas leasing and exploration offshore Alaska," said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

26 Sep 2014

Brunswick Promotes Foulkes to Chief Technology Officer

Brunswick Corporation today announced that effective immediately, David M. Foulkes, has been promoted to the new position of chief technology officer, reporting in this additional capacity to Brunswick President and Chief Operating Officer Mark D. Schwabero. Foulkes also will retain his current responsibilities as vice president - product development, engineering and racing for Mercury Marine, Brunswick's largest operating segment. In that capacity, Foulkes will continue to report to John C. Pfeifer, President - Mercury Marine. "In this new role, David will work with all of Brunswick's businesses to ensure that they have a clear view of developing opportunities as well as a roadmap for technology evaluation and deployment to remain at the technological leading edge…

06 Mar 2014

Shell's US Arctic Policy an 'Ongoing Gamble': Greenpeace Analysis

Image courtesy of Greenpeace

The analysis considers that the US Arctic Ocean presents almost a perfect storm of risks: a requirement for a long-term capital-intensive investment for uncertain return; a remote and uniquely challenging operating environment; ongoing court challenges; a lack of extraction and spill response infrastructure; and the spotlight of the world’s environmental organisations, the US political community and international media. Royal Dutch Shell stands at a strategic crossroads. Its response…

17 Sep 2013

Shell, DMC Sign MoU to Explore Alternative Energy

VP Global LNG receiving a memento from Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World & Maritime World

Dubai Maritime City signed an MOU with Shell to explore the diverse business options related to promoting alternative sources of energy such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The primary focus would be on exploring opportunities that would enable the adoption of LNG as a fuel in markets including marine transportation, road transportation, power and industries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. The team from Shell including Mr Roger Bounds…

25 Jul 2012

Vigor Industrial: A Rising Star in Shipbuilding in the Pacific Northwest & Alaska Arctic

Vigor Industrial’s CEO, Frank Foti (Photo courtesy Vigor Industrial)

“There is a resurgence of the marine industry in the Pacific Northwest we haven’t seen for 20 to 30 years now,” said Vince Piscitello, Vice President of Business Development for Vigor Industrial LLC. “The oil and gas industry is really new to our area,” he said, although he expects to see it grow significantly with Shell’s exploration of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off Alaska’s northern coast. State run ferry operations in Washington and Alaska are at a point where they must renew fleets built in the 50s and 60s.

25 Jul 2012

Shell Signs New Deals with CNOOC, CNPC

Shell signed two offshore oil and gas Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with CNOOC, and a PSC amendment with CNPC for a new development phase for the Changbei gas field in China. Shell has also entered an agreement with CNOOC for its participation in two Shell exploration blocks offshore Gabon, West Africa. The two offshore oil and gas PSCs with CNOOC are for blocks 62/02 and 62/17 in the Yinggehai Basin. Shell, as operator, will apply advanced seismic acquisition and processing technologies to conduct 3D seismic data surveys in the Yinggehai blocks. Shell will cover the costs for the acquisition of seismic data and will use advanced drilling technologies to drill exploration wells during the exploration phase.

07 Nov 2011

UK P&I Club Elects New Board

New Directors, UK P&I Board

Seven directors were elected to the Board of the UK P&I Club at its AGM in Athens on the 27th October. After obtaining a postgraduate degree in industrial engineering, Ibrahim Güngen founded Güngen Foreign Trade Co Ltd with his brother Mehmet in 1976 and the business quickly became the biggest importer of molasses in Turkey. Mr Güngen has been chief executive officer of Güngen Maritime and Trading since 1990. Dr Grahaeme Henderson, aged 56, joined Shell following a PhD in Engineering from Southampton University in 1980.

21 Mar 2011

BOEMRE: First GOM Deepwater Exploration Plan Approved

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Director Michael R. Bromwich announced that the bureau has approved an Exploration Plan, submitted by Shell Offshore Inc., following the completion of a site-specific Environmental Assessment (SEA) for deepwater oil and gas exploration. This is the first new deepwater exploration plan approved since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill. An exploration plan describes all exploration activities planned by the operator for a specific lease or leases, including the timing of these activities, information concerning drilling vessels, the location of each planned well, and other relevant information that needs to meet important safety standards.

09 Dec 2009

Pew Disappointed by Chukchi Sea Drilling Approval

The federal Minerals Management Service gave the green light to Shell Oil's plan to drill exploratory wells in the waters of the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's northwest coast next summer. "We are very concerned because drilling for oil runs the risk of devastating spills in a sensitive marine ecosystem already stressed by dramatic climate change," said Marilyn Heiman, director of the Pew Environment Group's U.S. Arctic program. Shell purchased a swath of oil leases in the Chukchi Sea in 2008 when the previous administration opened up 30 million acres for drilling. Beginning in July 2010, Shell plans to drill three exploratory wells - the first time in 19 years that drilling will be allowed in the Chukchi Sea northwest of Barrow.

03 Dec 2008

TENC-CA UK North Sea Sale & Transfer

Shell U.K. Limited (Shell),Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, (ExxonMobil), Mobil North Sea LLC (ExxonMobil) and Enterprise Oil U.K. Limited (Shell) completed the final sale and transfer of a number of northern North Sea assets to TAQA Bratani Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) on Dec. 1, 2008. The assets include equity and operatorship of Tern, Kestrel, Eider, Pelican, Cormorant North and South Cormorant fields (TENC-CA) and related infrastructure, a non-operated interest in Hudson, and equity interests in the Sullom Voe Terminal and Brent System. TAQA Bratani will assume responsibility for the decommissioning liabilities relating to these fields and infrastructure.

07 Jul 2004

Offshore

What About Cuba? Political allegiance notwithstanding, continuing unrest and war in the energy critical Middle East continues to wreak havoc with world oil prices, with consumers around the world struggling to keep up with fast escalating gasoline prices. While (at press time) the benchmark prices for a barrel of crude have settled just under $40, the situation has spurred new exploration and production ventures, one such speculation in the Gulf of Mexico off of Cuba. According to a recent report in The Economist (June 5, 2004 edition, page 48), Spain's Repsol has moved into position a Deep Water drilling rig off of the country's northwest coast with the intention of drilling two wildcat wells in what could amount to a successful attempt to energize a failing economy.

06 Nov 2001

Sonsub Awarded ROV/Survey Vessel Contract for Na Kika

Sonsub has been awarded a contract by Shell Exploration & Production Company for ROV/Survey vessel support during the export pipeline and flowline construction phase of the Na Kika project. Tasks will include pipeline and flowline touchdown monitoring, setting acoustic arrays, sled deployment and assisting in the installation of SCRs at the host facility. Additional responsibilities for Sonsub comprise flowline and well jumper metrology, installation of span rectification measures and conducting an as-built survey of all export pipelines and flowlines. Located approximately 144 miles southeast of New Orleans, La., the Na Kika development is composed of 5 independent fields in the Mississippi Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico, ranging in water depths from 5,800 fsw to 7,000 fsw.

22 Oct 2001

Technology Sets Tone at Dynamic Positioning Conference

The Dynamic Positioning Committee of the Marine Technology Society held its fifth annual conference in Houston, September 18 to 19. Don Jacobsen, drilling and exploration manager, Shell Exploration and Production introduced the two-day conference and was followed by a line up of industry professionals who gave papers on a wide range of topics. These included many cutting-edge presentations on technological advances, sensors, thrusters, drives, operations, training, power plants and verification, testing and trials. Lunch presentations from vessel operators included a presentation by Royal Caribbean International on how DP is impacting cruise ship operations.