Offshore Articles, April 2009

Table of Contents

Departments

Comment

No slow-down in new technology

As we swing into that time of year again for the annual Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, it’s clear that the offshore industry has cut back on some activity and spending.

Global data

GLOBAL DATA

GLOBAL DATA

Global E&P Briefs

GLOBAL E&P

The FPSO BW Cidade de Sao Vicente left Singapore last month and should be nearing the Tupi field off Brazil.

Offshore Europe

OFFSHORE EUROPE

Exploration on the Norwegian shelf last year led to 25 discoveries, including four in the Barents Sea, according to the latest survey by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD).

Gulf of Mexico

GULF OF MEXICO

Chevron has initiated front-end engineering and design of a new hub to develop the Jack and nearby St. Malo discoveries in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, George Kirkland, executive VP of Upstream and Gas, said at the company’s annual meeting with financial analysts.

Subsea/Surface Systems

SUBSEA SYSTEMS

BMT Scientific Marine Services has contracted Sonardyne International Ltd. to supply an integrated acoustic positioning and telemetry system for use at Petrobras America’s Cascade/Chinook field in the Gulf of Mexico.

Vessels, Rigs,Upgrade

VESSELS, RIGS, & SURFACE SYSTEMS

Good news for deepwater drillers and equipment suppliers – the market for your services is expected to remain strong.

Drilling/Production

DRILLING & PRODUCTION

Halliburton has developed a new downhole power unit (DPU) series with real-time monitoring for exploration of unconventional assets.

Geosciences

GEOSCIENCES

CGGVeritas plans to acquire two 2D seismic surveys offshore Gabon and to have the data before the 10th Gabonese License Round scheduled between June and December 2010.

Business Briefs

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Cairn India has appointed Edward Story as a non-executive director. Story, who has more than 40 years experience in the international oil and gas industry, is the founder, president, and CEO of Soco International.

Beyond the Horizon

In tough times, test to be sure

What is the ancient carpenter’s mantra? “Measure twice, cut once!” This is good advice that has stood the test of time worldwide for centuries.

Drilling Technology Report

Shell’s North field SIMOPS at forefront of innovation

Simultaneous operations save time and money in Qatar

Real-time formation pressure testing extends ‘while-drilling’ capabilities

The growing complexity of drilling applications makes real-time formation pressure data acquisition increasingly vital to successful reservoir development.

20,000 psi completion coming to GoM

The first subsea system qualified at 20,000 psi (138 MPa) system is scheduled for installation by Anadarko Petroleum Co. in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Indian Ocean

Regional activity revives interest in Africa’s final frontier

Seychelles, Madagscar lead way in licensing

Bangladesh looks to deepwater for gas

$8 billion in investments required

OTC Preview

OTC .09 – Celebrating 40 years

Panel on energy outlook kicks off technical program

Geology & Geophysics

Subsalt overpressure detection with wave equation depth imaging can save time, cost

Subsalt oil deposits likely represent the most significant remaining conventional oil resource base for the US.

Leasing under way off Iceland and Jan Mayen, Norway

The announcement by Iceland last year that it would hold a petroleum license round undoubtedly surprised a number of people, geologists among them, who thought that the area, bisected as it is by the Atlantic Mid Oceanic Ridge and its associated volcanic outpourings, was completely non-productive as far as hydrocarbons were concerned.

Drilling & Completion

2009 Annual Rotary Steerable System Directory

Rotary steerable system (RSS) technology for the offshore market continues to advance amid a pull-back in oil prices.

RSS case study: Steerability in the GoM subsalt

Applied science for challenging transition zones

Subsurface waste injection taking quantum technical leap

Today, cuttings injection has advanced from a simple pumping operation to a scientifically engineered technology that, when designed and monitored correctly, represents a permanent and liability-proof waste disposal option.

Micro-emulsion wash technique suited to all offshore environments

The application of micro-emulsion technology to the problem of oil-contaminated waste may solve the problem in many instances.

Engineer, Construction & Install

Skidbeam/cribbing design simplifies shipment of Opti-Ex hull

In 2008, Exmar contracted Dockwise to transport the 7,500-metric ton (8,267-ton) hull of its Opti-EX 6000 platform from Korea to the Gulf of Mexico.

Production Operations

New remote concept improves subsea control, long-distance stepouts

The Virtual Control Buoy (VCB) is a new concept for the control of remote subsea gas wells.

Using optical fibers for integrity monitoring in risers, flowlines

Multiple field retrofits simplify stress screening

Managing sand and erosive solids to optimize safety and production

Coordinated data gathering aids risk assessment

Subsea

Autonomous vehicle offers greater flexibility for deepwater inspections

As offshore oil and gas exploration and production has evolved, more and more infrastructure of increasing complexity in deeper water and of increased criticality to successful operations is being installed on the seabed.

Construction vehicles engineered for fast deployment in heavy seas

The newly developed Innovator Leviathan is Sonsub’s most powerful heavy work class ROV to date, providing high levels of power and control for deepwater operations.

Flowlines & Pipeline

Understanding hydrate, corrosion issues through flowfield investigation

CFD analysis critical to safeguard system integrity

Norway

HiLoad system to stabilize drillship in Arctic waters

As Remora’s first HiLoad unit prepares for sea trials, the contractor already is planning a second under an EPC contract awarded by Stena Drilling last year.

Frigg jacket removed to shore via novel re-float method

Buoyancy tanks guide heavy structure to Stord

Innovation Park to showcase Norwegian technologies

For the first time, Norway’s presence at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston May 4-7 will feature an Innovation Park, where 11 companies plan to display novel products and services for the oil and gas industry.

ROV winches with AHC engineered for harsh environments

Rapp Hydema has introduced ROV winches with active heave compensation (AHC) for extreme conditions such as ultra deepwater and arctic areas.

High-capacity pumps boost Gjøa fire protection capability

Bergen-based Frank Mohn is supplying StatoilHydro’s Gjøa platform in the North Sea with what it says are the world’s largest firewater pumps.

Multipurpose ‘lift boat’ suited to heavy topsides, subsea deployments

Master Marine is due to bring a new-concept multipurpose offshore vessel into service in 2010.

Norwegian company profiles

Bennex supplies special components, systems and services to the international subsea sector and general ocean research activities.

This Issue

Volume 69
Issue 4
April 2009