Bhp Billiton Petroleum News

Australian oil and gas company with a global presence  Woodside announced that the Greater Western Flank Phase 2 (GWF-2) Project off the north-west coast of Australia has commenced gas production.A press release from the operator of the North West Shelf (NWS) project quoted its CEO Peter Coleman saying that  the project has been delivered $630 million below the expected cost of approximately $2.0 billion (100% basis) and six months ahead of schedule.“The project team has done an outstanding job executing and delivering GWF-2, which represents the next phase in gas supply to the NWS Goodwyn A platform, extending the life of the Karratha Gas Plant and contributing to Woodside achieving our targeted production of 100 MMboe in 2020…

Fugro has been awarded a contract by BHP Billiton Petroleum Pty Ltd for the Pyrenees Phase 3 Installation Project. The Pyrenees development is located offshore Western Australia, in approximately 200 metres water depth, 45 kilometres northwest of Exmouth, and comprises six separate fields: Stickle, Crosby, Tanglehead, Moondyne, Wild Bull and Ravensworth. The project includes the tie back of the Stickle 9 well to the existing Tanglehead manifold. Fugro’s scope of work includes suspension of existing infrastructure, and installation and pre-commissioning of the new flexibles and flying leads.

The World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia will be the focus of a new marine research partnership between CSIRO and BHP Billiton Petroleum announced today. Ningaloo Reef is the largest fringing reef in the world, extending 300 kilometres along the North West coast of Australia. The five year, jointly funded A$5 million research program will include both deep and shallow reef research, turtle and shark tagging, a PhD scholarship scheme and opportunities to engage the local community, including BHP Billiton Petroleum employees, in Exmouth, WA. Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane, joined CSIRO Executive Director Environment, Dr Andrew Johnson, and BHP Billiton Petroleum General Manager, Doug Handyside to launch the partnership in Perth today.

participants have approved the Persephone Project off the north-west coast of Australia. The Persephone Project is the third major gas development for the NWS Project in the past six years, demonstrating the joint venture’s commitment to maximising the value of Australia’s largest operating oil and gas project. The project will involve a two well, 7km subsea tieback from the Persephone field to the existing North Rankin Complex. The total investment for the project is expected to be approximately A$1.2 billion (Operator’s estimate; 100% cost), with project start-up expected in early 2018. capabilities to unlock undeveloped resources and help maintain offshore supply to the Karratha Gas Plant.

BHP Billiton announced the recipients of the Company’s Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) Awards for its employees at a ceremony in Melbourne. BHP Billiton’s HSEC Awards showcase innovative projects from across the Company that enhance commitment to health, safety, the environment and the communities that host our operations. From a water management program in the Pilbara to an education program in rural Pakistan, this year marked the 15th anniversary of the global internal awards program. This year, the Company received a total of 100 entries across the four Awards categories. The ceremony was attended by 24 awards finalists, BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mackenzie, BHP Billiton’s Group Management Committee, employees and partners.

BHP Billiton and Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) today signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation (MOU) to exchange technical knowledge, information, experiences and practices in activities related to the oil and gas industry. On signing the MOU, BHP Billiton Petroleum and Potash President, Tim Cutt said: “We see considerable opportunity in Mexico following the recent economic reforms, and we are excited about the deepwater and the extension of the Paleogene play into the Perdido play. “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Pemex due to its exceptional capability and experience. We are confident that we are one of the lowest cost and best drillers in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Mermaid Marine Australia Limited (MMA) awarded offshore marine support contract for FPSO operations off NW coast of Australia. The vessel to service the contract, the Mermaid Cove is currently under construction in Singapore, and will commence operations in 2013 in the meantime, Mermaid Supporter will act as lead in vessel until the Mermaid Cove is delivered. The contract, with a value in excess of A$50 million is for an initial period of five years, with contract upside should the two additional one year options be exercised by the Company. The Mermaid Cove is a 53m DP2 Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) and a sister ship to the 53m Mermaid Strait and 50m Mermaid Sound.

For those of you keeping track, today the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) approved a drilling permit for the fifteenth deepwater well to comply with rigorous new safety standards implemented in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill. This includes satisfying the requirement to demonstrate the capacity to contain a subsea blowout. The approved permit is for BHP Billiton Petroleum (GOM) Inc. to drill a new development well in Green Canyon Block 653 in 4…

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) on May 6 announced that public comment is invited with respect to an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Revised Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) submitted by BHP Billiton Petroleum (GOM) Inc. This Revised DOCD involves deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico and will be completed in accordance with new safety and environmental standards implemented since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. The Revised DOCD includes one proposed development well in approximately 4,230 feet water depth, approximately 120 miles offshore Louisiana. Consistent with federal regulations, a DOCD is deemed “submitted” once all supporting materials and documentation has been provided.

On April 22, BOEMRE called for public comment to inform new deepwater environmental assessment. Statoil, Inc. and BHP Billiton Petroleum Americas have provided amendments to their exploration plans (EP). The amended plans have been deemed submitted on April 28, and the 30-day review of the proposed activities has re-started.   There are currently four deepwater EPs that have been deemed submitted. Shell Offshore, Inc.'s supplemental EP was amended and deemed submitted on April 12, 2011. Hess Corporation's supplemental EP is still available for public comment at: http://www.boemre.gov/PublicComment.htm

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today announced that public comment is invited with respect to an Environmental Assessment (EA) for an Exploration Plan (EP). This EP involves deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico and was completed in accordance with new safety and environmental standards implemented since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. BOEMRE received from BHP Billiton Petroleum Americas, Inc. an Initial EP which proposes one exploratory well in approximately 4,468 feet water depth approximately 124 miles offshore Louisiana. Consistent with federal regulations, an EP is deemed “submitted” once all supporting materials and documentation has been provided.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) notified 13 companies whose deepwater drilling activities were suspended by last year’s deepwater drilling moratorium that they may be able to resume those previously-approved activities without the need to submit revised exploration or development plans for supplemental National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. Before resuming those activities without additional NEPA review, however, the companies must comply with BOEMRE’s new policies and regulations. “Going forward, we are substantially enhancing our environmental reviews and analysis under NEPA,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich.

This contract signifies the first time that a major LNG operator has committed itself to a long-term longevity program to extend its vessels’ future trading life when the vessels progressively reach their 20th year in service. The contract, signed in by Mr. John Charles, Commercial Manager of North West Shelf Shipping Service Company Pty Ltd (NWSSSC) on behalf of IGTC, and Ms Wong Lee-Lin, Executive Director of Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd, is the first such contract of IGTC’s Longevity Project, which involves the life extension of 6 LNG carriers over a period of 6 years. Sembawang Shipyard is a subsidiary shipyard in the Sembcorp Marine Group.

ChevronTexaco Shipping Co. LLC announced one of its affiliates will serve as the operator of the North West Shelf Venture (Venture) Gas Project's newest vessel, the Northwest Swan. The vessel is currently planned to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the project's Western Australian operations to customers in Japan, Korea and China, as well as provide opportunities to deliver into the LNG spot market. Mike Carthew, president of ChevronTexaco Shipping Co. LLC, said, "We are proud that ChevronTexaco has been chosen by the Venture participants to serve as operator of the Northwest Swan, the ninth and largest vessel in their fleet.

Houston-based BHP Billiton Petroleum reported two company-operated drilling vessels set new benchmarks for deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico recently. While working on a development well on the Shenzi oil and gas field, the GSF C.R. Luigs achieved a record low average of 1.52 days per 1,000 feet from spud to total depth. The well was drilled to a total depth of about 29,600 feet in only 33 days, while operating in water depths of nearly 4,300 feet in Green Canyon Block 654. The achievement matches a similar milestone earlier in the year in the Neptune development, when the GSF Development Driller I averaged 1.5 days per 1,000 feet for a new hole drilled.

McDermott International subsidiary J. Ray McDermott, S.A. won a $77 million contract by Woodside Energy Ltd., operator of the North West Shelf Venture's LNG Phase V Expansion project in Australia. Under the contract, J. Ray will undertake construction engineering, procurement, fabrication, assembly and erection of 75 pre-assembled module and pipe rack units totaling nearly 22,000 short tons. Completed modules and pipe racks will be shipped from J. Ray's Batam Island, Indonesian fabrication facility to Western Australia, and transported to the Venture's LNG facilities on the Barrup Peninsula where the new LNG "Train V" is being constructed.