Chevron exits Indonesia's Makassar Strait block
Chevron will exit the Makassar Strait gas block in the Indonesia Deepwater Development (IDD) offshore natural gas project to focus on more promising areas in the venture, Indonesian officials said on Wednesday.Indonesia's energy minister had issued a decree terminating Chevron's Makassar Strait production sharing contract (PSC) after it decided not to extend its operation of the block beyond 2020, upstream oil and gas regulator SKKMigas said."Chevron was not interested in requesting an extension," SKKMigas chairman Amien Sunaryadi told reporters.
This Day In Naval History: July 1
1801 - Commodore Richard Dale's squadron arrives at Gibraltar for the protection of American interests and to strike at the Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean. Squadron ships were USS President, USS Philadelphia, USS Essex, and USS Enterprise. 1850 - The Naval School at Annapolis, Md., is renamed the U.S. Naval Academy and adopts a four-year course of study. Also on this date, Commander Cornelius K. Stribling becomes the first Superintendent of the Naval Academy and serves until the fall of 1853.
This Day In Naval History: June 21
1898 - During the Spanish-American War, the cruiser USS Charleston captures the island of Guam without resistance from Spain, because the Spanish Navy had no sufficient ammunition for defense. 1919 - The German navy scuttles its own fleet at Scapa Flow. After the Nov. 11 Armistice, the surrendered German ships are divided by Allies. German officers then organize a mass destruction of the fleet that occurs on this day. 1942 - PBY aircraft from (VP 24) recovers a two-man torpedo bomber crew from USS Enterprise (CV 6) 360 miles north of Midway after their plane went down June 4. The aviators are the last survivors of the Battle of Midway to be recovered. 1944 - USS Newcomb (DD 586) and USS Chandler (DMS 9) sink Japanese submarine (I 185), 90 miles east-northeast of Saipan.
Green Bay Recovers Mariners in Makassar Strait
Amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) rendered assistance to distressed mariners in the waters between the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi June 19. Shipboard lookouts first spotted the distressed mariners waving a black flag approximately 3 to 5 nautical miles from the ship, their raft surrounded by fuel and debris. Once Green Bay was in proximity to the craft, the ship launched a small boat to provide immediate assistance. "To be able to render assistance to mariners in distress is a fundamental maritime skill," said Rear Adm. Hugh Wetherald, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7. "The Sailors and Marines of the strike group were trained and ready.
USS Rushmore Aids 65 People Near Indonesia
USS Rushmore (LSD 47) rendered assistance to 65 people on makeshift bamboo rafts in the waters between the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi June 10. Shipboard lookouts spotted the distressed persons waving orange and white flags. Rushmore's commanding officer, Cmdr. Thomas Stephens, ordered the launch of a small boat with two search and rescue swimmers to provide assistance. Rushmore Sailors discovered 65 people on sinking bamboo rafts tied together with no means of propulsion, food or water. Sailors and Marines brought all 65 people on board the Rushmore for medical attention and will coordinate with local officials for their well-being.
KrisEnergy Acquires 42 Pct Stake In Tanjung Aru Block
Singapore's oil and gas explorer KrisEnergy acquired a 42 percent stake in the Tanjung Aru block in the Makassar Strait from its partner Neon Energy on May 5, company spokesman Tanya Pang said. The transaction occurred after Neon Energy failed to pay a cash call worth $1 million, submitted by KrisEnergy. (Kontan) Note: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy. (Compiled by Jakarta Newsroom; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Today in U.S. Naval History: January 24
Today in U.S. Naval History - January 24 1942 - Battle of Makassar Strait, destroyer attack on Japanese convoy in first surface action in the Pacific during World War II 1991 - Helos from USS Leftwich and USS Nicholas recapture first Kuwaiti territory from Iraqis For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
This Day in Naval History - January 24th
From the Navy News Service: 1942 - During the World War II Battle of Makassar Strait, U.S. destroyers attack a Japanese convoy in the first naval surface action in the Pacific. 1986 - The Coral Sea (CV 43) and Saratoga (CV 60) carrier battle groups conduct freedom of navigation exercises in and near the Gulf of Sidra, demonstrating the long-standing United States' refusal to recognize Colonel Khadafi's attampt to include the gulf in Libyan territorial waters, 1991 - Helicopters from USS Leftwich (DD 984) and USS Nicholas (FFG 47) recapture the first Kuwaiti territory from Iraqi forces.
Statoil Increases its Presence In Indonesia
Statoil has farmed in to three offshore exploration licenses in Indonesia, significantly expanding the presence in the country. Statoil will acquire a 40% equity interest in a North Makassar Strait Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and a similar interest in two additional offshore PSCs (West Papua IV and Halmahera-Kofiau). The three production sharing contracts (PSC) will be operated by Niko Resources Ltd. Given exploration success, Statoil has the option to become the operator in the development and production phases.
This Day in U.S. Naval History – January 24
1942 - Battle of Makassar Strait, destroyer attack on Japanese convoy in first surface action in the Pacific during World War II 1991 - Helos from USS Leftwich and USS Nicholas recapture first Kuwaiti territory from Iraqis (Source: Navy News Service)
Transocean Gets Contract for GSF Explorer
Transocean Inc. was awarded of a 689-day contract by a consortium headed by Marathon International Petroleum Indonesia Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corporation, for the ultra-deepwater drillship GSF Explorer to drill a series of exploration wells in a deepwater province in Indonesia. The Makassar Strait Explorers Consortium (MSEC) comprises Marathon International Petroleum Indonesia Ltd, Anadarko Popodi Ltd, ConocoPhillips (Kuma) Ltd, ENI Bukat Ltd, Statoil Indonesia Karama AS and Talisman (Sageri) Ltd. The 689-day contract is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2009 following the completion of existing contractual commitments in Angola and mobilization to the Makassar Strait…
This Day in Naval History - Jan. 24
From the Navy News Service 1942 - During the World War II Battle of Makassar Strait, U.S. destroyers attack a Japanese convoy in the first naval surface action in the Pacific. 1986 - The Coral Sea (CV 43) and Saratoga (CV 60) carrier battle groups conduct freedom of navigation exercises in and near the Gulf of Sidra, demonstrating the long-standing United States' refusal to recognize Colonel Khadafi's attampt to include the gulf in Libyan territorial waters, 1991 - Helicopters from USS Leftwich (DD 984) and USS Nicholas (FFG 47) recapture the first Kuwaiti territory from Iraqi forces.
WW II Junior Officer Receives Navy Cross
In the Makassar Strait off what is now Indonesia, the USS Billfish (SS-286) was in imminent danger of succumbing to a relentless depth-charge attack at the hands of Japanese destroyers on November 11, 1943. The boat's chief engineer, then-Lieutenant Charlie Rush, describes the circumstances surrounding the attack in an exclusive interview featured in the June 2002 issue of the Naval Institute's PROCEEDINGS magazine. "He had us cold, and he let go six depth charges. That did a lot of material damage and it also damaged the psyche of the captain and the third officer. The captain was in the conning tower, and I was in the control room. The sonarman reported that he was worthless. 'He's out of it,' the sonarman said." "Who was out of it?" PROCEEDINGS asked. "The captain," said Rush.
