Hydro contracts riserless mud system
Norsk Hydro ASA has awarded a NOK 4.5 million ($750,000) contract to AGR Group ASA for riserless mud recovery equipment and services covering one well in the Fram field of the North Sea. This would be the second Norwegian continental shelf well drilled using riserless mud handling equipment.
Alve PDO approved
Statoil has received ministerial approval of its plan for development and operation of the Alve gas/condensate field in the Norwegian Sea. For the first time, Statoil had submitted a simplified PDO.
Development plan for Alve in Norwegian Sea approved.
The plan calls for Alve drilling to begin in August with first production in December 2008. Total investment is estimated at NOK 2.4 billion ($392 million). Alve will tieback to Statoil’s Norne field and will be developed with one subsea template holding four drilling slots.
The Alve field lies in production license 159B, 16 km (10 mi) southwest of Norne in 390 m (1,280 ft) of water. It comprises the Garn, Not, Ile, and Tilje formations, with proven reserves in Garn and Not. Recoverable reserves are estimated at 6.78 bcm (239 bcf) of gas and 8.3 MMbbl of condensate.
Statoil holds 75%, Danish Oil and Natural Gas (Dong) 15%, and Hydro 10%.
Maersk Oil Qatar awards pipeline contract
Maersk Oil Qatar AS has awarded the National Petroleum Construction Co. of Abu Dhabi the pipeline contract for block 5 development at Al Shaheen field.
Scope of work includes design, engineering, procurement, fabrication, offshore installation, and testing of 260 km (162 mi) of submarine pipelines ranging in diameters from 152 mm (6 in) to 610 mm (24 in), in addition to 60 km (37 mi) of submarine power and communication cables, and associated works. Water depths range from 52 m (171 ft) to 70 m (230 ft).
The first work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2007 and the remainder by mid-2009.
Subsea 7 lands ROV contracts
Subsea 7’s i-Tech division has won two ROV contracts. One is from Shell Brasil Ltd. for $12 million covering two ROVs for a semisubmersible drilling rig and an anchor-handling tug working for the BC10 project in Campos basin. The contract begins in mid-year and runs for three years. Water depths are 1,700 m to 2,000 m (5,577 ft to 6,562 ft).
These are the first Centurion QX ROVs to be deployed in Brazil and both systems have been modified to meet project specific requirements including the provision of garages instead of tether management systems. In addition, an extensive suite of tooling is required including the design and build of anchor suction skids.
The second contract, for $5 million, is from Apache Energy Ltd. for ROVs on two semis drilling offshore Exmouth, Australia. The first drilling rig, using a Warrior ROV system, started in February for a duration of five months. The second project, using a newbuild Centurion QX began in March for a duration of approximately 18 months.
Both rigs are in 500 m (1,640 ft) water depths.
Statoil developing deepwater pipeline repair robot
A pipeline repair robot for 1,000 m (3,281 ft) water depths is under development by Statoil. The remotely operated welder is scheduled for testing and emergency response deployment this year.
Statoil pipeline welding robot being developed.
Measuring about 4 m (13 ft) long by 2 m (6 1/2 ft) high, the new welding machine has been developed by Statoil and built in cooperation with external suppliers.
The robot cuts out the damaged pipe section before welding in a new piece inside an enclosed habitat. Systems are provided for preheating and controlling the habitat atmosphere.
Work on the new device is taking place in Haugesund north of Stavanger, where Statoil’s pipeline repair system pool is located.
The robot will join other remotely operated tools used in deepwater operations, including tie-in of new pipelines in water depths beyond the reach of divers.
Petrobras awards subsea manifolds to FMC
Petrobras has awarded $52-million contract for two subsea gas gathering manifolds for the offshore Brazil Plangas project to FMC Technologies Inc.
Each of the two manifolds will have eight 10-in (254-mm) inlets and two 16-in (406 mm) outlets operated by multiplexed subsea control systems. Once installed, the manifolds will permit gas exports from Roncador, Albacora East, and other Campos basin fields starting in 2008, Petrobras says.
CPCC wants deepwater technology introductions
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. will be pushing its foreign partners and prospective partners for more introductions to deepwater technological solutions for exploration and production, according to Sinopec’s assistant chief engineer.
Ge Weimin reportedly told Asian reporters that “We (Sinopec) hope that in all cooperation with foreign oil firms we get more deepwater technological and management knowledge.”
He stopped short of saying that cutting-edge technological learning opportunities would be an essential part of any contracts.
