Eldon Ball - Houston
The Middle East and North Africa – grouped as a region, referred to as MENA – present a huge growth scenario over the next five years. Which is one of the reasons that the Middle East is the focus of this month’s special report.
As to the growth forecasts, for full details, see the report byJohn Westwood, chairman of energy analysts Douglas-Westwood, beginning on page 32 of this month’s issue.
But just to set the level of expectations, consider this. If you include both onshore and offshore activity, Westwood says that the combined MENA oilfield services (OFS) market over the 2008-2012 period, will grow to$53 billion, with onshore spend increasing from $13 billion to $28 billion and offshore spending rising from $12 billion to $25 billion.
As Westwood points out, “the sector represents a major opportunity for both indigenous and appropriately-positioned international players able to capture the projected growth in the market.”
Following on the theme of growth in the Middle East,Technology Editor Tracy Dullethis month looked at the rapid expansion of fabricator Maritime Industrial Services Co. Ltd. (MIS). In an exclusive interview with MIS Managing Director Jerry Smith, Dulle follows the founding and growth of the fabrication yard, located in Sharjah, and traces the strategic planning that fostered its success.
As she puts it, “The Middle East is a hot spot when it comes to proven oil and gas reserves, making it a ‘natural choice’ for oil and gas fabrication specialists Maritime Industrial Services Co. Ltd. (MIS) to establish its business in the region. Based in the United Arab Emirates, a known hub for global business, MIS is strategically placed to cover the entire world.”
Don’t miss her report, beginning onpage 38.
Speaking of growth in the Middle East, the first annual Offshore Middle East Conference and Exhibition (OME) opens in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 28.
OME will address key technology and development issues for the Middle Eastern offshore oil and gas arena, with a comprehensive technology program and three-day exhibition.
OME brings new focus to technological challenges and solutions surrounding offshore Middle East exploration and development. Topics at OME include field development, management, risers and riser technology, subsea technology, fixed/gravity-based platforms, mobile offshore drilling units, data collection/communication, flow assurance, flowlines and pipelines, mooring and station-keeping, drilling operations, completions, well construction, and tubulars.
In addition, the conference will provide a valuable networking opportunity for attendees to discuss issues with the best and brightest offshore industry professionals worldwide who gather for the conference.Full conference details are available beginning on page 48.
Petrobras applies deepwater expertise to GoM
Petrobras, the state-owned oil company of Brazil, is deploying proven technology plus its wealth of experience into the unproven Lower Tertiary trend in ultra deepwater US Gulf of Mexico.
This trend, with an estimated recovery volume of 3-15 Bbbl of producible hydrocarbons, has been one of the most discussed oil plays in the industry since 2002, when Chevron reported its well test on the Jack discovery “sustained a flow rate of more that 6,000 b/d of crude oil with the test representing approximately 40% of the total net pay measured in the Jack No. 2 well.”
This month,Managing Editor David Paganie talks to Cesar Palagi, Walker Ridge production asset manager for Petrobras America Inc.in an exclusive interview for Offshore.
The first to use an FPSO in the US GoM, “Petrobras by far is the major oil company with the most experience in floating production and oil offloading operations,” says Palagi. “In the Campos basin offshore Brazil, with an FPSO portfolio of almost 30 units (in operation or under construction), Petrobras conducts more than 600 oil offloading events every year with no significant accidents or spills. Based on this, we can say the development of ultra deepwater reserves is within the comfort zone of Petrobras.” Read more, beginning onpage 94.
