Offshore oil and gas mega projects are increasing in scale and cost. Some 41% of ExxonMobil’s 2015 capital spending for projects under construction in 2015 is likely to be directed to one project alone. Neda Djahansouzi, Energy Researcher…
As development gets deeper, so does pipelay operations. OE asked some of the leaders in the field what they see as the most challenging aspects of deepwater pipelay. EMAS AMC EMAS AMC’s newbuild Lewek Constellation…
Scientific drilling confirmed the presence of natural gas hydrates on the North and Central American continental shelves in late 1970s and early 1980s, but it was only recently that researchers began to seriously assess methane hydrate development…
Aker Solutions, FMC Technologies, and GE Oil & Gas set out where they see the future of subsea technologies going. Aker Solutions A vision for the future: advanced subsea production systems. Photo from Aker Solutions…
A new and exciting chapter has opened in the history of the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Meg Chesshyre reports. Fig. 1: Johan Sverdrup phase 1, comprised of four bridge-linked platforms. Image from Statoil…
A megaproject is one that costs more than US$5 billion to develop. They stretch a company’s capabilities to their limits, especially in the harsh climates like the Arctic or in ultra-deep water. In 2000, oil companies took on seven megaprojects…
Bourbon’s Rodolphe Bouchet explains how the company’s new Explorer 500 series shows its commitment to standardization, which offers time and cost savings. The PSV Bourbon Explorer 504 at sea. Photos from Bourbon…
OE spoke with experts from CGG and Ion Geophysical to ascertain where the next frontiers of future offshore oil and gas exploration will be located. These areas are certain to blossom over the next five years. Here’s how the experts answered…
Late life production optimization is hard, but interesting, according to those tackling the issue. Elaine Maslin provides an overview of recent trends. As natural production rates wane and assets start to age, optimizing production rates offshore becomes a key challenge for operators…
Benchmark Brent crude plunged to a four-year low, below US$73 a barrel, yesterday (27 November) after oil cartel OPEC chose to leave its 30MMbbl/d output target unchanged at its latest meeting in Vienna. The move, led by Saudi Arabia…
Houston-based geosciences company Benthic has been awarded a contract by a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for a deepwater geotechnical investigation in the Golfinho field offshore Mozambique. Benthic’s PROD (Portable Remotely Operated Drill)…
Newly formed Circle Group has acquired Stavanger WellPartner, an equipment and services company servicing the Norwegian subsea, completion and intervention markets. The deal is Circle Group’s first acquisition and the foundation for the Well Service division…
Dutch consortium Pondera Consult and Arcadis says they have been awarded a contract by TenneT to provide an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the first offshore grid connection in the Netherlands. TenneT TSO is responsible in…
Offshore systems supplier MacArtney UK has announced the acquisition of Ellon-based Callidus Subsea. The acquisition supports MacArtney UK’s targets to become a market leader in the design and production of cable assemblies and moldings…
Technip has won a lump sum contract with Statoil for the Gullfaks Rimfaksdalen (GRD) marine operations pipelay and subsea installation project. The project is an option to the Snøhvit CO2 Solution project awarded in 2013. The GRD project…