Companies in the news
On Oct. 19, 2016, during its quarterly Wildcatters event at the Petroleum Club of Houston, the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers presented a “Certificate of Achievement” to World Oil magazine and its parent, Gulf Publishing Company. The certificate recognizes the magazine and company on their 100th Anniversary year. On hand to accept the award from the Alliance were (bottom row, left to right) Emily Querubin, News Editor; Kurt Abraham, Editor/Chief Forecaster; Andy McDowell, Publisher; Don DePugh, District Manager; and Craig Fleming, Technical Editor. Also on-hand (top row, left to right) from the Alliance were President Alex Mills; V.P. for Development Sandi Simon; and Chairman of the Board Robert “Bob” Osborne.
Wood Group has obtained a five-year contract for engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services at the Hibernia platform, offshore Newfoundland. Hibernia Management and Development Company awarded the contract, which will be executed by Wood Group’s Eastern Canada operations in St. John’s. According to the firm, the contract has the potential for two additional five-year extensions.
The Instituto Nacional de Petroleo (INP) has awarded an extensive multi-client program to CGG, to acquire seismic data offshore Mozambique. The proposed program is designed to develop insight into the region’s geology, and provide oil and gas companies with an increased understanding of the country’s prospectivity. It consists of a 2D survey of more than 6,550 km in the Rovuma basin (including Blocks R5-A, R5-B and R5-C) and a large 3D survey over the Beira High in the Zambezi Delta, which is expected to be up to 40,000 km2. Additionally, CGG was awarded an onshore airborne gravity and magnetic survey in the Southern Mozambique basin.
The University of Oklahoma’s Attribute Assisted Seismic Processing & Interpretation (AASPI) consortium and Geophysical Insights have agreed to an initiative that will make AASPI research results available to more oil and gas industry interpreters. The agreement will see Geophysical Insights license AASPI seismic analysis software technology and integrate it into the commercial Paradise software platform. Additionally, Geophysical Insights will afford maintenance and support services for commercial products that are built and use the AASPI technology.
Schlumberger has opened a new reservoir and rock analysis laboratory in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The laboratory will support customers in the Middle East and Asia. It features core processing and analysis services, in conjunction with advanced digital rock modeling and fluid inclusion technology. Additionally, it is the first Schlumberger lab outside of the U.S. to offer FIS fluid inclusion stratigraphy analysis. This service evaluates hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon species trapped in inclusions, cuttings or core samples.
Maersk Supply Service has sold Maersk Feeder and Maersk Fighter, as part of the company’s divestment plans. The platform supply vessels were delivered to their new owners in late October. Each will be modified by the new owners, and will no longer compete in the offshore supply vessel segment. According to Maersk, the company will reduce its fleet by up to 20 vessels over the next 18 months. Thus far, Maersk Finder, Maersk Puncher, Maersk Provider, Maersk Forwarder, Maersk Feeder and Maersk Fighter have been sold, which leaves the company’s fleet at 51 vessels.
Automated Ships Ltd. and Kongsberg Maritime have signed a memorandum of understanding to build the first unmanned and fully-automated vessel for offshore operations. In January 2017, Automated Ships reportedly will contract the Hrönn, which will be designed and constructed in cooperation with Kongsberg. Following the construction, sea trials are expected to take place in Norway’s newly-designated test bed for automated vessels, situated in the Trondheim fjord. They will be conducted with the support of DNV GL and the Norwegian Maritime Authority. A light-duty, offshore utility ship, Hrönn will function initially as a remotely piloted ship, but will transition to fully automated.
Aker Solutions has secured two, five-year framework agreements for the potential delivery of subsea production systems and lifecycle services at BP-operated fields worldwide. The first contract includes engineering, procurement and construction of subsea production systems for new and maturing developments. A five-year servicing agreement, coinciding with the first contract, also was agreed upon. This agreement pertains to equipment delivered under the first contract, as well as to the support of previously installed subsea hardware. Both agreements began in August, and allow Aker Solutions to bid for work as one of four preferred suppliers for BP’s development portfolio.
NEL’s Elevated Pressure and Temperature (EPAT) test facility has been awarded ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, making it the first and only HPHT facility in the UK to receive the internationally recognized certification. The test facility performs meter calibrations that are comparable to real in-field service conditions, reducing operator expenditure.
IOS InterMoor, an Acteon company, has opened a new mooring base in Fensfjord, Norway. Positioned on the Wergeland Base in Sløvågen, the new facility will provide mooring equipment storage, supply, inspection and maintenance for IOS InterMoor and its customers. Ideally located to serve major North Sea fields, including Troll, Statfjord, Gullfaks and Johan Sverdrup, the base includes office space, a large conference room and a 2,000-m2 warehouse. Additionally, it includes 25,000 m2 of outdoor storage space. Wergeland Group reportedly finished the facility ahead of schedule and within budget.
Royal IHC has secured a contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of a tandem mooring and offloading system for an FSO vessel. The offloading system reportedly will be placed on the FSO, on behalf of Sembcorp Integrated Yard in Singapore. It will consist of an offloading hose-reel assembly, a mooring hawser reel assembly, a control cabin, an auxiliary pull-in winch, an actuated emergency shutdown valve and a hydraulic power unit. The vessel will be owned and operated by Maersk, and is designated for Culzean field, on the UKCS. The offloading system is scheduled for delivery near the end of 2017.
