Companies in the news

Equinor has, together with its partners Petoro, ExxonMobil and Total, proven gas and condensate in the Norwegian Sea Ragnfrid North (6406/2-9 S) exploration well, located ~12.43 mi (20 km) south of the Kristin platform in the Norwegian Sea. Exploration drilling began Oct. 3, 2018, and the well was drilled by the West Phoenix rig (pictured) in Production License 199. The discovery will help clarify the resource base in the area for the next few years. Recoverable resources are estimated between 6 MMboe to 25 MMboe. West Phoenix is now being moved to the UKCS to drill the Equinor-operated Bigfoot prospect. Photo: Equinor.

Two of Rowan’s N-Class, ultra-harsh environment jackup rigs have been awarded contracts in Norway, and one R-Class ultra-deepwater drillship has received a contract in Mexico. Rowan Norway has been awarded a contract by ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS for seven months. Rowan Viking has been awarded a seven-well program by Lundin Norway AS. Rowan Renaissance has been awarded a one-well contract by Petronas.  

Fugro is set to commence its first project using multi-purpose ROV support vessel, Edda Sun. The vessel can accommodate up to 72 personnel and is equipped with a Sikorsky S 92-compatible helideck.In addition, the vessel has two crane-deployed inspection-class ROV systems and one hangar-deployed FCV 3000 work-class ROV system permanently installed. Photo: Fugro.

Two former directors of Scopus Engineering, which was sold to AMEC in 2014, have launched a new specialist surveying company, Survey 3D International Ltd. Headquartered in Aberdeen, the company offers a completely independent dimensional control and laser scan surveying service to the industry.

Petrotechnics, solutions provider for hazardous industries, has been acquired by Sphera, global provider of integrated risk management software. The new endeavor will expand its operations-risk base solutions through applications digitizing and visualizing risks at the operational level, with real-time data from industrial internet-of-things devices.

The National Decommissioning Centre (NDC), a global technology R&D hub, has been opened in Newburgh, in North-East Scotland’s Energetica Corridor. Combining industry expertise with academic excellence, the center aims to work in partnership with companies to transform the traditional approach to decommissioning.

BP signed a cooperation contract with Tenaris to provide high quality-OCTG products and accessories with Rig Direct service, to support drilling activities in Indonesia’s Tangguh region. The integration and supply of pipes and accessories from the mill to the rig, operating under a single QHSE management system, will help focus the process and create operational efficiency.

Subsea Integration Alliance has been awarded EPCIC contracts by Esso Australia Pty Ltd, representing the first integrated subsea project for the alliance in Australia. The work scope includes installation of two production wells, that are in a water depth of approximately 148 ft (45 m), and will be tied back to the Longford onshore gas plants. Project management and engineering will be provided by OneSubsea and Subsea 7. Offshore installation activities are scheduled for 2020.

Vryhof subsidiary Deep Sea Mooring has secured contracts with Saipem Indonesia, Odfjell Drilling and Noble Drilling for the supply of mooring-related services in offshore Indonesia, the North Sea and Myanmar, as well as a large-scale contract offshore Australia. In addition, Vryhof Anchors has been awarded a contract in Malaysia with SOFEC, and connector specialist Moorlink has won several niche contracts in the drilling sector. These contracts, and others, total about $75 million.

PermianChain Technologies has launched the prototype of its platform for trading potential industry reserves that have yet to be developed. The platform takes a blockchain-based approach, using the PermianToken (XPR) to put a value on potential oil and gas reserves, and a market where these tokens can be traded securely and transparently.  

4Subsea and Ashtead Technology have entered a strategic partnership for global distribution of sensor technology. Under the deal, 4Subsea’s autonomous, retrofittable sensors will be available via Ashtead Technology. Additionally, 4Subsea will explore Ashtead’s acoustic sensors, and Ashtead will further enhance its inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) services by adding 4Subsea’s sensors to its portfolio.

BP and Eni have signed a heads of agreement with Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas to work jointly toward a significant new exploration opportunity in Oman. Under the HoA, the two companies will work with the government toward the award of a new exploration and production sharing agreement for Block 77 in Central Oman. Photo: BP.

McDermott International, Inc. has been awarded a contract by BP Trinidad & Tobago, LLC for EPC of the Cassia Compression Platform, 35 mi (57 km) southeast of the coast of Trinidad. In addition, the company will provide hook-up and commissioning of the 8,928-ton topsides, a 3,747-ton jacket and a 793-ton bridge to link the platform with the existing Cassia B platform.

Wild Well Control, a Superior Energy Services company, has expanded its Montrose Port facility at South Ferryden, UK. Housed there and ready for emergency response services is the company’s WELLCONTAINED subsea containment system, including full subsea well intervention systems, a subsea capping stack, debris removal shears, and hardware kits for the subsea application of dispersant and inhibition fluids. Photo: Wild Well Control.

Proserv has moved a major portion of its field technology services business unit to Aberdeen, closer to its head office. The company intends to utilize its new site to focus on growing its Intervention Workover Control Systems (IWOCS) division, its marine technology business and its subsea equipment maintenance and testing services.  

Penspen, engineering, asset integrity and project management services provider, has recently opened a new office in Bogota, Colombia. The project office will initially employ 10 people, and will provide an integral service of structural analysis for assessment and inspection of the hydrocarbon transport infrastructure. 

Polarcus Limited has been awarded two 3D marine seismic acquisition projects. Its West Africa project will commence first-quarter 2019, with an approximate duration of six weeks. In addition, its offshore Mexico project will take place over 45 days and is scheduled to begin in second-quarter 2019.