Africa Rigs/Vessels News

Cathelco is renewing the impressed current cathodic protection system on the hull of the FPSO Xikomba, which is being redeployed on Eni’s block 15/06 West hub development off Angola.

Fairstar Heavy Transport N.V. has signed a contract with Aveon Offshore Ltd. to provide marine transportation services for the Chevron OAGM project in Nigeria.

Exmar’s offshore division will deliver the work barge Kissama to Total Gabon at the end of March for a six-month firm contract, with optional extensions.

The Gulmar Condor now is on hire to Subsea7 for construction work offshore Nigeria on the MPN Satellite Project.

Total must wait a while longer for the drilling rig Songa Eclipse to start a program off Angola.

Pacific Drilling’s Pacific Scirocco ultra-deepwater drillship has started work offshore Nigeria for Total under a one-year contract.

Globestar has contracted Springmarine, a joint venture between Exmar and Springview, to supply an accommodation barge for operations in the Gulf of Guinea.

Chevron Nigeria Ltd. is learning more details behind the K.S. Endeavor jackup drilling rig fire.

In its latest report, Chevron Nigeria Ltd. continues work to contain a fire on the K.S. Endeavor drilling rig offshore Nigeria. The rig is operated by FODE Drilling Nigeria Ltd.

DNV reports the Dockwise Vanguard heavy-lift vessel will be the first such semisubmersible vessel built under DNV's new class rules for this type of ship.

Vessels are a crucial part of the offshore oil and gas industry and provide a means for delivering vital services such as IRM (inspection, repair, and maintenance).

Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) has signed a letter of intent with Astilleros Armon, in Vigo, northern Spain, for construction of two new anchor handling tugs.

EMAS say that its Lewek EMAS FPSO has received first oil from the Chim Sáo project offshore Vietnam.

D2M is transferring its experience in the design of large ships and marine structures to floating liquid natural gas (FLNG) units.

The need to discover new hydrocarbon reserves is pushing frontier exploration into the world's more remote and challenging regions.

Oando Energy Services has contracted Fairstar Heavy Transport to deliver the drilling rig Respect from Lagos, Nigeria to Galveston, Texas under a $3.05-million contract.

Dolphin Group ASA has agreed with Sanco Shipping on a five-year charter on the Sanco Swift 16-streamer seismic vessel under construction at Kleven Maritime.

Reports from Tanzania say the pirates that attacked the Ocean Rig Poseidon drillship are under arrest.

Following the Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico and the subsequent new regulations in both the US and international arenas, the oil and gas industry has responded with a full spectrum of new equipment and capabilities for handling offshore spills or blowouts. A number of new well control/well containment groups have been formed, and they have been busy advancing their plans, technologies and services for the consideration of offshore operators and developers. Some of the key groups are described below.

Surestream Petroleum has contracted WGP Exploration to convert a vessel for 2D acquisition on Lake Tanganyika in Burundi, Africa.

The supply of ultra deepwater rigs (up to 7,500 ft, or 2,286 m, water depth) continues to grow, according to Seadrill, with the number of newbuild orders placed since last October increasing to 37.

Songa Drilling’s fleet is fully occupied on programs in the Far East, North Sea, and West Africa, according to the company’s latest update.