Companies in the news

Concho Resources has entered into an agreement with Reliance Energy to acquire approximately 40,000 net acres in the core of the Midland basin. The $1.625-billion acquisition will enhance the company’s drilling inventory, with more than 530 long-lateral drilling locations targeting the Middle Spraberry, Lower Spraberry and Wolfcamp B. Estimated proved reserves attributable to the acquisition total approximately 45 MMboe. Proved developed reserves represent about 69% of the total proved reserves. 

InterMoordo Brasil has completed its involvement in the decommissioning operations of the OSX-1 FPSO. The company was responsible for the disconnection of the STP to allow the vessel to navigate to its final destination. Engineering and survey services were provided, in addition to risk and equipment management, as well as the provision of offshore qualified personnel. The OSX-1 was the first FPSO to be decommissioned in Brazilian waters. The operation took place in a water depth of 417 ft, at Tubarão Azul field. Photo: Intermoor.

Fugro has completed a 33-month period of metocean data acquisition for Hess Ghana Exploration Limited. Measurements were made at three locations in an area offshore western Ghana, in the deepwater Tano/Cape Three Points Block, in water depths of approximately 2,400 m. The data will be used by Hess in support of its operations in Ghana. It will be utilized for engineering activities, including riser and facilities design, fatigue calculations and operability calculations, as well as assisting decisions for physical construction at the field. 

Ashtead Technology has completed a subsea integrity management project to support BP’s Quad 204 redevelopment of Schiehallion and Loyal fields, West of Shetland. Ashtead deployed its new Deflection Monitoring System (DMS) to capture data required to safely deploy and install two subsea manifolds at water depths of 400 m. The system monitors deflection, heading, pitch, roll and depth, among other parameters of subsea structures, in real time. The project—which was controlled remotely via radio frequency and acoustic data links—was completed on time, and allowed the subsea manifolds to be installed within 24 hr of the DMS being deployed.

Schlumberger, WesternGeco and ION Geophysical Corp. have collaborated on a new, 3D multi-client re-imaging broadband program, offshore Mexico. The program is comprised of three survey areas, covering approximately 82,000 km², in Campeche Bay. It will see the use of broadband pre-processing, coupled with high-resolution, steep dip, reverse time migration and Kirchhoff imaging algorithms that will produce data ideal for prospect identification and exploration.

Quest Offshore Resources has announced the sale of its data and subscriptions business to Verisk Analytics. The business will become part of Wood Mackenzie, complementing the company’s existing upstream analysis capabilities. The sale is expected to improve the company’s investment decisions through access to an enhanced understanding of availability, capability and price in key offshore equipment and service markets.

GMC Limited has successfully completed installation of a seawater caisson in the North Sea, eight days ahead of schedule. This was the company’s first installation in the North Sea, with two additional fabricated caissons completed and ready for installation later this year. The caisson was installed in nine sections, using eight sets of GMC’s high fatigue, non-rotational caisson connectors. The company provided sufficient handling tools to ensure continuous operations were maintained throughout, thereby eliminating delays normally associated with caisson operations. 

Sparrows Group has formed a partnership with SapuraKencana Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of SapuraKencana Petroleum Berhad. The partnership will see both entities collaborating on the provision of offshore and onshore crane services, including manufacturing, supply, operations, maintenance and overhaul of offshore and onshore cranes in Malaysia. Presently, Sparrows Group is working with numerous drilling firms in Malaysia; however, this new alliance will see the company’s activity with operators in the Asia-Pacific region grow substantially.

Danos’ fabrication facility in Amelia, La., has been certified as an official port facility by the U.S. Coast Guard. The designation allows both foreign and U.S. vessels to access the facility. Situated on 175 acres along Bayou Boeuf, the facility’s 5,000 ft of bulkhead and 18-ft water depth can accommodate large-scale, custom fabrication projects of more than 1,000 t.

As part of Maersk Supply Service’s divestment plan, the company has sold Maersk Puncher and Maersk Provider, leaving the company’s fleet at 54 vessels. The company is reducing its fleet by up to 20 vessels, overall. Both anchor handling vessels were delivered to their new owners, Karadeniz Energy Group in Istanbul, in August. They are expected to be modified by the new owners and will no longer compete in the OSV segment.

Faroe Petroleum has acquired interests in five Norwegian producing assets from DONG E&P Norge AS. The acquisition includes  a 20% interest in Ula field in the North Sea’s southern region, as well as associated production hub infrastructure. The 30-day pre-emption period, under which the partner in Ula field could have acquired the interest, has expired. Accordingly, Faroe will now proceed with the acquisition, as planned.

Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration have agreed to the sell 100% of their holdings in Karish and Tanin natural gas fields, off the coast of Israel, to Energean Oil & Gas. The deal is valued at $148 million, which reflects return of the company’s investment and future royalties from the expected sales of gas and condensate from the reservoirs. Congruently, Energean has agreed to submit a development plan to the Israeli government within six months of the transaction’s closing.

CGG has partnered with GNPC Operating Services Co. (GOSCO) to form a JV dedicated to conducting 2D, 3D and 4D marine seismic acquisition, and related services, offshore the Republic of Ghana. The JV—known as GOSCO Geoscience Limited—is aiming to make seismic vessels and marine seismic acquisition technologies and services available to oil and gas operators in Ghana. Based in Accra, the JV will support knowledge transfer and capacity-building in the Ghanaian E&P industry.