Geology & Geophysics Shell moves to protect marine mammals offshore Alaska Development in the Alaskan arctic offshore requires meeting technical challenges as well as managing special environmental sensitivities related to cold regions with lots of biological diversity.
Drilling & Completion 2008 Environmental Drilling & Completion Fluids Directory The 2008 Environmental Drilling and Completions Fluids Directory appearing on the following pages is a listing of industry fluid manufacturers and their individual products.
The Thunder Horse challenge: Optimize perforating performance in an HP/HT deepwater well The Thunder Horse field in 6,000 ft (1,829 m) of water in the Gulf of Mexico, has stacked consolidated sandstone reservoirs at 20,000 to 30,000 ft (6,096-9,144 m) subsea with pressures of 14,000 to 18,000 psi (96.5-124 MPa), temperatures of 190 to 270° F (88-132° C), and mean rock strengths of 4,000 psi.
Finding optimal balance in rotary steerable systems The selection of optimum gauge geometry for a rotary steerable system (RSS) varies considerably and depends on the RSS driving mechanism, application, and rock type.
Field Development ConocoPhillips gives all-clear for Ekofisk removal program The final chapter of the Ekofisk I cessation program in Norway is about to begin following the award of a contract for the removal of nine platforms, with options, to Heerema Marine Contractors.
Subsea Lazy-S risers offer advantages in the ultra deep In ultra deepwater -- beyond 1,500 m (5,000 ft) deep -- riser plus umbilical weight off a floating production vessel (FPV) can total many thousands of tons.
End of an era in the North Sea For those of us who remember the announcement of Ekofisk as the first oil discovery in the North Sea, watching the ongoing removal of the Ekofisk complex holds more than a touch of nostalgia.
GLOBAL E&P Block BM-S-11, in ultra deep Santos basin waters, has proved the existence of another light oil field, with specific gravity around 30º API, in the pre-salt reservoirs, according to Petrobras.
Offshore Europe
OFFSHORE EUROPE Norwegian gas distributor Gassco has contracted IKM for studies for a proposed trans-Scandinavian offshore/onshore pipeline system.
Gulf of Mexico
GULF OF MEXICO In a move to ease pressures at the gas pump, President Bush has lifted the executive moratorium held on exploration in specific areas of the US outer continental shelf.
Subsea/Surface Systems
SUBSEA SYSTEMS Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola (Sonangol) has approved BP’s plan to develop a series of deepwater oil discoveries in offshore Angola’s block 31.
Vessels & Surface Systems
VESSELS & SURFACE SYSTEMS Tullow Ghana has awarded MODEC a contract to provide and to operate the first FPSO to be installed on the Jubilee field offshore Ghana.
Drilling/Production
DRILLING & PRODUCTION Baker Oil Tools reports installation of more than 2 million ft (609,600 m) of inflow control completion systems that achieved successful production rates in horizontal wells in more than 20 oil and gas fields around the world.
Geosciences
GEOSCIENCES Kosmos Energy and Tullow have contracted Rock Solid Images to provide rock physics-driven, reservoir property inversion services for an appraisal and development drilling campaign in Jubilee field offshore the Republic of Ghana.
Business Briefs
BUSINESS BRIEFS Central Petroleum has appointed Bernard Crawford as CFO and company secretary.
