Offshore Report

Different technologies are used in floatover installations; the choice depends on the job requirements. Halliburton's Kellogg Brown & Root describe the techniques used in successfully mating large integrated decks onto fixed substructures in open waters. The Wandoo and Malampaya floatover installations illustrate the concepts. (Production/construction oriented)

Western Geco's Q-marine system comprises a unique complement of acquisition systems, such as individually digitized hydrophones and steerable streamers. Better signal fidelity and preservation of wider bandwidth should result in improved subsurface images. Three oil companies: BP, Kerr-McGee and Statoil share their unbiased opinions of its results in the North Sea fields of Magnus, Murchison, Heidrun and Norne, including comparative images. (Exploration oriented)

Cost-effective drilling on Norway's subsea field, Glitne. Statoil and Schluumberger describe drilling/completing of four subsea horizontal wells, plus an injection well to economically develop the small field with a right-sized FPSO. (Drilling/development oriented)

Oil Country Tubular Goods

Drill stem manual revision. In the first of a three-part series, T H Hill Associates opens discussion of its revised standard DS-1 Drill Stem Design and Inspection, Third Edition, which fills gaps in API specs 5D and 7.

Tubing/Casing repair with plastic liners. George King, BP, overviews the important and growing technology of plastic tubular lining for repair or production enhancement.

Joint industry project. Principal author Mike Payne, BP, discusses progress and testing for DA 130 and parallel API/ISO standards efforts, plus progress of 5 7/8-in. drill pipe into the marketplace and rig fleet.

Offshore Northern Seas

A preview of the biannual ONS exhibition and conference in Stavanger, Norway.

Regional Report

West Africa focus. Local correspondents will detail the busy upstream picture in this key region, where discoveries abound. Opportunities continue to multiply, as governments loosen terms, and additional players enter the market. This comprehensive report looks at exploration results, potential new field developments, ongoing field projects and resultant production levels.