Companies in the news

Marathon Petroleum Norge A/S agreed with Statoil, Norsk Hydro and TotalFinaElf to acquire interests in five licenses in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

In Brazil’s third bidding round, Phillips Petroleum Co. finalized an agreement on Blocks BM-ES-11 (in the northern portion of the Greater Campos basin) and BM-PAMA-3 (in the Para Maranhao basin, part of the southern Amazon Fan. Phillips will operate the deepwater blocks. Plans call for seismic acquisition and geological and geophysical evaluations.

Anglo-Norwegian engineering and construction firm Kvaerner agreed to acquire Enercon Engineering, Inc., a Houston-based engineering and project management company.

Kerr-McGee Corp. was granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, in regard to the $1.7 billion acquisition of HS Resources, Inc.

 Amerada Hess Corp. entered into a definitive agreement to commence a cash tender offer for all outstanding ordinary shares of Triton at $45.00 per share for a total value of about $3.2 billion, including the assumption of about $500 million in Triton debt.

BJ Process and Pipeline Services moved its global headquarters of the Pipeline Inspection Services group to a new operations facility in Calgary, Alberta. With a 70,000-sq-ft base, it more than doubles the space in the previous location.

Fugro acquired Marsco Inc., an international geotechnical engineering firm specializing in foundation engineering and site survey services worldwide.

J. M. Huber Corp. acquired Noviant Oy, a specialty chemicals company based in Finland.

Kerr-McGee Corp. acquired 30% interest in four million acres in three blocks lying about 100 mi offshore in Brazil’s Espirito Santo basin. Water depths range from 4,400 to 9,600 ft. The firm, with its partners in the block Esso Brasileira de Petroleo Limitada and Petrobrás were high bidders on Block BM-ES-9 in Brazil’s ANP Bid Round 3.

Sharjah-based Gulf Keystone Petroleum Co. L.L.C. established offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, prior to receiving technical evaluation of Algeria’s Block 126 from Texas Keystone. Gulf Keystone’s Pittsburgh operations center will provide geology, geophysics, engineering, petrophysics, accounting and administrative services.

In a transaction worth $55 million, Saipem acquired Moss Maritime AS, a Norwegian engineering company that designs FPSO systems, LNG carriers and semisubmersible drilling units.

The board of directors of Coflexip recommended that its shareholders accept the offer Technip made to buy the firm.

Panhandle Royalty Co. signed a merger agreement with Wood Oil Co., Tulsa, Oklahoma, which will result in Wood Oil becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Panhandle Royalty Co. Panhandle Royalty is a 75-year-old oil, gas and mineral company, with non-operating working or royalty interests in more than 500 oil and gas wells and 90,000 net fee mineral acres in 15 states. Wood Oil’s properties are located primarily in Texas, with leaseholds in 17 additional states.

Parker Drilling Co. completed its alliance agreement with HRI Oilfield, L.P. of Dallas, Texas. The alliance gives HRI exclusive license to market and manufacture the intellectual property of Parker Technology, L.L.C.

 Compton Petroleum Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiary Compton Petroleum Acquisition Corp. acquired about 92% of the outstanding share of Hornet Energy.

 TotalFinaElf completed its acquisition of 63.9% of the company Central Puerto.

Clough Engineering Ltd. acquired Perth-based Crest Engineers. The new entity is owned 75% by the Clough group.

Moncla Well Service acquired the stock of Petroleum Well Service in Sour Lake, Texas. This addition will add two daylight rigs and one 24-hour rig to the MWS fleet.

The Expro Group opened its Europe region headquarters and world class subsurface facilities in Aberdeen on September 4.

Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. reported second-quarter earnings of $1.53 per diluted share, or $78 million, a 72% increase over prior year earnings of $44.2 million.

Chandler Engineering purchased Ruska Instrument Corp.’s fluid technology group business.

Anadarko has completed its acquisition of 100% of Gulfstream Resources Canada Ltd. 

Devon Energy acquired Mitchell Energy and Development for cash and stock. Mitchell will pay $18 billion and issue 30.2 million shares to Mitchell’s stockholders.

Layne Christensen will acquire from Ausdrill Ltd., the remaining 50% of the stock that it does not currently own in West African Drilling Services.

 Hunt Oil acquired Chieftain International, Inc. Chieftain became a wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary of Hunt.

Swagelok Co. named Michael L. MacKay planning, business and market development VP. Hans J. Goemans was named VP, distributor support services and information systems.

Sven Lundin was appointed president and CEO of Intervect USA. 

Robert B. Toth was appointed president and CEO, replacing the retiring Harry J. Tucci, of C. P. Kelco APS.

 Paul Mitcham resigned as executive VP and director of Mitcham Industries, Inc. 

Oceaneering International, Inc., appointed Susan M. Morgan director of strategic planning.

Ed Patterson has relocated to Den-Con Tools’ newly opened sales and stock location in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in addition to managing the operations of Den-Con Electronics.

Executive VP and COO James W. Linn retired from Parker Drilling Co.