Esgian Week 12 Report: New Finds in Guyana, China and Norway
Esgian reports fresh finds confirmed in Guyana, China and Norway in its Week 12 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report Outline:ContractsDolphin Drilling has announced the award of a $154 million drilling contract from India's exploration and production company, Oil India Limited (Oil India), to the 6,000-ft semisub Blackford Dolphin.Malaysian offshore drilling firm Velesto confirmed Friday it had recently secured long-term contract extensions for three of its jackup rigs with Petronas Carigali…
Report: EU to Toughen Sanctions on Turkish Offshore Drilling in Contested Waters
The European Union will impose sanctions on more Turkish individuals and companies responsible for drilling in contested waters in the Mediterranean, according to a draft statement prepared for EU leaders to agree at a summit on Thursday.If agreed, the EU will “prepare additional listings” on the basis of a sanctions list already in place since 2019 and “if need be work on the extension” of its scope, according to the draft statement seen by Reuters.Negotiations over the two-page statement are still ongoing and Greece and Cyprus, which accuse Turkey of drilling for hydrocarbons off its continental shelf, believe the sanctions do not go far enough, according to diplomats briefed on internal discussions.EU leaders are considering whether to make good on a threat made in October to sanction T
Turkey Slams Greek Claim Over Mediterranean Seismic Survey
The eastern Mediterranean region where a Turkish ship will carry out a seismic survey is part of Turkey's continental shelf, Ankara said on Wednesday, rejecting Greece's accusation that the ship is encroaching on its own shelf.Long-standing tensions between the NATO allies escalated after Turkey's navy on Tuesday issued an advisory known as a Navtex for seismic surveys in waters between Cyprus and Crete.Athens and Ankara are at odds over overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources…
Turkey May Begin Drilling Under Libya Deal in 3-4 Months
Turkey may begin oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean within three or four months under a deal it signed with Libya that was condemned by others in the region including Greece, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Friday.Libya's internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the maritime delimitation deal last year. Turkey says it creates an exclusive economic zone from its southern coast to Libya's northeast coast, and protects rights to resources.Greece, Cyprus and others oppose the accord and call it illegal, an accusation Ankara has rejected.
Shearwater Bags Turkey Seismic Contract
The global provider of geophysical marine seismic acquisition Shearwater GeoServices has been awarded a seismic acquisition and depth processing contract by Turkish national oil and gas company Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortakligi (TPAO).The survey contract covers an area of 2200 sqkm and includes fast track processing, followed by full time and depth processing, but location not revealed.Work will commence in Q2 2019 and will be conducted by the Polar Empress, said a press release.“We are very pleased to see the Polar Empress contracted by TPAO for this 14-streamer survey, following on from efficient operations elsewhere completing ahead of schedule.
Turkish Survey Ship Continues Work Off Cyprus, Deepening Standoff
A Turkish research vessel will continue searching for oil and gas off Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot authorities said on Tuesday, extending a simmering standoff between rival sides on the ethnically-split island over offshore gas reserves. The row has already led to Greek Cypriots suspending participation in peace talks with estranged Turkish Cypriots, and on Monday they said they would not return as long as the vessel remained in the area. Barbaros, a seismographic research vessel commissioned by Turkey's state petroleum company TPAO, has been carrying out surveys in an area in the east Mediterranean claimed by Cyprus under international conventions.
Total Sells Its 10% Interest In Shah Deniz To TPAO
Total today signed an agreement to sell its 10% interest in the Shah Deniz field and the South Caucasus Pipeline to TPAO, the Turkish state-owned E&P company. The transaction is valued at $1.5 billion and is subject to customary approvals. “The sale of our interest in Shah Deniz is in line with Total’s active portfolio management and the focus of its investment capability on more strategic assets,” said Michael Borrell, Senior Vice-President Continental Europe and Central Asia at Total’s Exploration and Production. “This sale is another step forward in achieving our asset sale program. In Azerbaidjan, Total remains operator of the Absheron offshore field with a 40% share.
Statoil Completes Sale of Shah Deniz Stake
On May 1, 2014 Statoil completed the farm down of 10% of its interest of 25.5% in the Shah Deniz Production Sharing Agreement and the South Caucasus Pipeline Company Limited to BP (3.33%) and SOCAR (6.67%). The consideration for the sale and transfer of these assets is USD 1.45 billion. The divestment that was announced in December 2013, is in line with Statoil’s strategy of portfolio optimisation based on rigid prioritisation of future investments, and capturing value created from a significant gas position.
Northern Offshore Contract in Azerbaijan
Northern Offshore, Ltd. (Oslo Bors: NOF.OL) announced that its subsidiary, Northern Offshore U.K. Ltd, was awarded a contract with Caspian Drilling Company Limited (CDC) for the provision of support services for drilling operations in the Caspian Sea. The contract runs to July 2011 and has an estimated value of approximately $21m, comprised of fees for technical and operational support in management of the Dada Gorgud semisubmersible drilling rig. Any direct costs incurred in providing the services will be reimbursed. CDC is a subsidiary of The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). The drilling operations will take place on acreage operated by BP, on behalf of a consortium consisting of BP, Chevron, SOCAR, INPEX, StatoilHydro, ExxonMobil, TPAO, Devon, ITOCHU and Hess.
AIOC Awaits Go-Ahead on Caspian Oil Project
The BP-led Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) said on Wednesday it expected the Azeri government to give a green light in August for the next phase of its Caspian oil production project. AIOC's president David Woodward told an oil and gas conference in the Azeri capital Baku the next phase aims to boost production to 350,000 barrels per day in 2005 from current levels of 100,000-130,000 bpd. The project envisages bringing the Azeri field onstream in early 2005, adding to volumes from the Chirag field, which has been in production since 1997. The cost of the expansion plans, called Phase One, is put at $3.3-3.4 billion, Woodward said.
Offshore Project To Get Green Light
The BP-led Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) expects the Azeri government to give a green light in August for the next phase of its Caspian oil production project. AIOC's president David Woodward said the next phase aims to boost production to 350,000 bpd in 2005 from current levels of 100,000-130,000 bpd. The project envisages bringing the Azeri field onstream in early 2005, adding to volumes from the Chirag field which has been in production since 1997. The cost of the expansion plans, called Phase One, is put at $3.3-3.4 billion, Woodward said. The next phase envisages the construction of a drilling platform for 48 wells, a gas compressing facility, an underwater pipeline from the Azeri field and modernization of an onshore oil terminal.
