Statoil has been given the green light to drill a well on the Mim prospect in the Norwegian Sea using the Deepsea Bergen drilling facility. Map of well 6507/3-12 A, from the NPD. Well…
2016 was a year of huge challenges for the offshore drilling rig sector as the low oil price environment and reduced E&P spending continued to bite. Stephen Gordon, of Clarksons Research, charts the state of the market, which is arguably facing some of its toughest times since the 1980s…
Over enthusiasm in the recent floating rig building cycle has led to an ultra deepwater “hangover” that will take several years of recovery, says Liz Tysall and Oddmund Føre, of Rystad Energy. Transocean…
Fernando C. Hernandez, of SECC Oil & Gas, and Efrain Rodriguez, of IMP, discuss efforts to research rigless production solutions for Mexican deepwater operations. Figure 1: SECC’s connector installed on a manifold…
Ronnie Bains, of Emerson Process Management, explains how the use of dynamic simulations and operator training systems can support engineering and workforce training to help bring offshore assets online quicker. Glen Lyon sets sail from South Korea…
Artificial neural networks are being used to help design floating production system hulls in the concept and front-end engineering phases. Elaine Maslin reports. Libra and her possible smaller…
Leslie Cook, of Wood Mackenzie, examines falling dayrates in the floating rigs sector, and the view out to 2020. Graph sources: Wood Mackenzie As the cyclical downturn in the deepwater market continues to drag out…
Farstad Shipping has been awarded six global charter and extension contracts with several companies. The anchor handling tug supply vessel Far Sigma has been awarded a one well contract by Lundin Norway to support their drilling program…
Sparrows Group has secured a five-year contract to deliver hydraulic, lifting and rigging services for Maersk Oil’s UK floating assets. The agreement will see Sparrows support the operator in strengthening its lifting operations for the…
Ocean Rig has reached a US$25 million settlement agreement with Premier Oil and Noble Energy over disputed invoices for the Eirik Raude semisubmersible. Image of the Eirik Raude, from Ocean Rig…
SeaBird Exploration has signed an agreement to provide a 2D seismic vessel for an upcoming survey in the Caribbean. The project is anticipated to commence in the second half of March and will have a duration of approximately one month. SeaBird will be using the Harrier Explorer for the project…
Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has issued an order after identifying several regulation breaches at Statoil’s Troll field, stemming from an investigation of an “out of control” incident that occurred last year. The Songa Endurance…
Fugro has been awarded a contract by Shell/BG Kenya for the execution of a seabed survey to detect natural leakages of hydrocarbons. The seeps survey complements a seismic exploration program that was completed recently offshore Kenya. Image…
McDermott International acquired the newly built pipelay and construction vessel Amazon designed for its ultra deepwater and SURF projects. Image of the Amazon, from McDermott. McDermott…
Dana Petroleum's long delayed Western Isles cylindical floating production unit (FPSO) is finally set to start its journey to Europe in coming days, says designer Sevan Marine. The unit is being built at COSCO's yard in China and will…