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Vol. 231 No. 3 |
Shell International Exploration & Production BV and Delft University of Technology have begun a joint research project called “The Recovery Factory,” aimed at developing technologies to increase the amount of oil and gas that can be extracted from reservoirs. Staff from both Shell and TU Delft, including eight new PhD students, will be involved in the joint research program, which will initially run for six years. The recovery factor of reservoirs produced to date averages around 35% of oil in place. An increase of hydrocarbon recovery efficiency of 1% would expand conventional oil reserves by 88 billion bbl, or three years of world production at the current rate. The program has two key components—the application of measurement and control techniques (called “Smart Fields” technology), and enhanced oil recovery through the injection of chemicals such as polymers and CO2.
Dresser-Rand Co. has acquired the assets of Leading Edge Turbine Technologies Inc., a private company founded in 2000. Leading Edge is headquartered in Houston, where it operates a service-and-repair facility specializing in the repair of industrial gas turbine combustion, stationary and rotating components for most major gas turbine models and frame sizes, including GE and Siemens technologies. Additionally, Leading Edge offers repair services for large steam turbine equipment. Under the agreement, Dresser-Rand will acquire the Leading Edge assets for an initial consideration of about $35 million.
FMC Technologies Inc. has signed a multi-year frame agreement with Cobalt International Energy to provide subsea systems, including production trees, manifold hardware and distribution systems. Cobalt’s focus of exploration is deep offshore waters of the US Gulf of Mexico and West Africa, with an emphasis on sub-salt and pre-salt exploration, development and production.
Regal Energy LLC announced the formation of Regal Energy Operating LLC (REO). The new company will be in charge of all operations for Regal Energy, including definition of territory and lease operations, with its primary focus on the Barnett Shale in North Texas. REO’s services are also available to other oil and gas companies. REO is a full-service operator, from prospect generation through drilling and production. The company and its affiliates operate more than 100 wells throughout Texas and Kansas.
CRC-Evans/Global Pipelines will provide onshore double jointing of production lines for the EnCana Deep Panuke natural gas field, located about 250 km southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Acergy SA, under contract to EnCana for subsea installation of 14.7 km of natural gas pipeline and 1.6 km of acid disposal lines, awarded Global Pipelines the double-jointing project. In addition, CRC-Evans/Global Pipelines will supply offshore welding services to the Acergy Falcon construction ship for the offshore pipe lay of the 85/8-in.-diameter gas lines, as well as the 3-in. acid disposal lines. The company has set up a custom-built double-jointing facility for the project at its headquarters in Invergordon, Scotland.
Spectraseis, a provider of low-frequency seismic solutions, has completed a low-frequency (LF) seismic survey for Shell Egypt NV in the North East Abu Gharadig Basin, Western Desert, Egypt. The objective was to introduce LF technology in the Western Desert. The project is the largest-ever LF seismic synchronous survey, with 110 data points recorded over four days. The project had the logistical support of Ardiseis, a regional joint venture between CGGVeritas and Taqa, and covered a 60-sq-km area in one week. It also saw the mobilization of 120 recording stations—the largest equipment shipment for a single LF seismic survey by Spectraseis. It featured the company’s Time Reverse Imaging technique, which spatially localizes the source of hydrocarbon microtremors, allowing operators to directly image hydrocarbon reservoirs at depth.
Technip will develop two fields about 50 km off the east coast of Spain for Repsol Investigaciones. The scope includes engineering, supply, installation and pre-commissioning of the 11-km flexible pipeline system that will connect two production wells to the Casablanca platform. This pipeline system will include a riser, flowline and two jumpers. The company will also install a pumping manifold, umbilicals and flying leads provided by the client. Flexible pipelines and umbilicals will be trenched to protect fishing lines in the area. Installation will be carried out in the first half of 2011 using the vessel Deep Constructor.
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