Hart Energy Publishing
Offshore Features
Operators develop two of a kind in Angola

FMC plans and provides subsea equipment for BP’s Greater Plutonio and Total’s Pazflor projects.

Innovation continues to transform subsea systems

Technologies applied on the Norwegian Continental Shelf will soon enter the Gulf of Mexico.

Thwarting pirates – Securing Asia-Pacific infrastructure

Leading companies in the oil and gas industry will meet soon to discuss security issues in the Asia-Pacific region and how to protect oil and gas reserves.

Bending the learning curve in deep water

While more and more operators are moving to the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM), some are finding that there is a steep learning curve for executing projects in the area. 

Advanced insulation maintains thermal integrity of subsea systems

Silicone-based resin combined with glass microspheres is one of the newest subsea insulation materials.

Riserless system makes cost-effective subsea well intervention a reality

There are approximately 4,000 oil and gas producing subsea wells across the globe, and this number is increasing. With many now more than a decade old, intervention is crucial to extracting all possible recoverable oil.

New technology makes a safe connection

A partnership between Trelleborg and First Subsea has produced a bend stiffener connector that can be installed using an ROV.

LNG facilities move offshore

The increased focus on natural gas has been a catalyst for interest in FLNG, a business sector that is expected to see US $23 billion invested between 2010 and 2016.

Petrobras, Statoil, BP still sinking billions into deep water

Production from deep water will remain steady though 2020, but new projects will need to be developed in the longer term.

Common sense for uncommon plays

Since starting Common Resources LLC two years ago, Roger Jarvis has made a splash in North America’s unconventional plays.

Offshore project delays impact

For an industry with little tolerance for missed deadlines, a recent spike in delayed offshore newbuild projects has frustrated yards, suppliers, owners, and customers alike.

Industry sees windfarm market breakthrough

An innovative approach in subsea construction provides a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to offshore cable installation.

Multiphase twin-screw boosting technology improves production

System flexibility extends the limits of successful subsea boosting.

New stimulation vessel takes on ultra-deep GoM

High-pressure capabilities and large crew accommodations will enable the Blue Dolphin to offer nonstop operations in multiple well locations.

Torpedo pile anchors enter the GoM

Innovative mooring anchors developed by Petrobras will soon be installed in a new region.

Innovations allow safer, smoother mooring operations

Advances in mooring techniques are simplifying floatover installations.

Tiber is exciting, but don’t hold your breath for first oil

New find will take everything the industry can throw at it.

Integrated services aid in platform decommissioning

Despite some rather inclement weather, a platform is successfully removed from the GoM.

Oil Industry plan to educate public

Someone needs to educate people on the truths of the oil and gas industry.

New salary survey restores hope to the E&P industry

A recent report shows industry salaries remain fairly flat, but that geologists, geophysicists and geological/geophysical technicians will see the biggest jump in compensation in the near term.

Norway’s mature North Sea still attractive after more than 40 years

It is exactly 43 years since the first exploration well was spudded on the NCS. The well, located in the North Sea, was dry, but it paved the way for the successes to come, amounting to proven reserves of more than 60 Bboe throughout the NCS.

2009 UK budget offers fiscal incentives for challenging fields

Recently rolled out government incentives, attempting to attract investment in the more challenging new UK fields, are a positive sign of government and stakeholder engagement.

Presalt draws international investors

Brazil’s massive presalt reserves and the need for development open opportunities for services providers.

Offshore fixed platforms market shifts to the east

According to a report released in late July by Infield Systems Ltd., Asia is leading the world in growth in new fixed platform installation.

Integrated services yield efficiency in development

Success in Brazil will depend on a perspective that takes advantage of every step in the E&P process.

Gen-Y finds home in O&G industry

The oil and gas industry became known as an inhospitable employment sector following the talent bloodbath that took place throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s. So, the findings of a recent Deloitte Consulting LLP survey suggesting that oil and gas companies are effectively managing their Generation Y are pleasantly surprising.

Size matters, but bigger is not always better

A newly introduced drillship concept delivers ultra-deepwater capabilities with a smaller footprint.

Things are not what they seem in Indonesia

A new prospectivity study puts old doubts to rest.

Floatover innovation offers new options

When it comes to offshore construction projects, success often comes from thinking differently, focusing expertise, respecting lessons learned, and being able to look at something familiar from a new perspective.

Construction, Installation advances extend capabilities

Innovative solutions are pushing the limits of offshore construction and installation. Enhanced vessels are allowing heavier lifts at greater depths, while new approaches adapt current technologies.

The US needs an energy agenda

Talk in Washington about energy security has focused on renewable energy resources, but a successful agenda will have to include the entire energy spectrum.

Senate candidate speaks out for oil, gas

The pursuit of a policy for energy independence in Washington has an admirable goal, but experts caution that the route to energy security cannot bypass oil and gas.

O&G companies invest for the long term

The industry made some painful adjustments following a reversal of fortunes in 2008, but as oil and gas markets pick up in the second half of this year, a large number of forward looking companies are investing for growth.

Helix Producer I arrives in GoM

A new concept for developing marginal deepwater fields has arrived in the GoM and is scheduled to begin operations early next year.

Light weight solutions for safer working environment

A simple technology advances rig safety and provides cleaner working environments

Recession, energy prices depress rig demand

While the long-term outlook for deepwater drilling rigs remains more optimistic, jackup markets continue to soften as operators delay or cancel drilling programs to wait out the recession.

Look at offshore Labrador

Fields on the Grand Banks offshore Newfoundland produce 360,000 b/d of oil, and companies have found oil in wells on the Flemish Pass and Orphan Basin.

Technology takes on risers

The task of designing an optimal riser system for a given application is complicated because no two developments present identical logistical parameters. Some of the best minds in the industry are looking for solutions.

Noble finds more gas offshore Israel

A new deepwater discovery in the Levantine basin has the potential to add significant volume to Noble’s production offshore Israel.

Tech Watch: From seabed to desktop via digital video

How an innovative use of technology has brought the seabed to the Shell engineers’ desktops, enabling them to upload video clips from offshore within hours of identifying critical subsea defects.

Study will identify maximum upside potential in the deepwater GoM

The goal is to identify technologies needed to effect improved oil recovery.

Riser technology pushes limits

Deepwater and harsh-environment developments are driving riser technology in new directions, and companies that are investing in R&D are leading the charge.

New approach helps serial number one into the field

A new methodology is helping to test, qualify, and develop ideas to promote echnological breakthroughs, innovative solutions, and substantial savings.

Green machine cuts operating costs, reduces environmental impact

Electrical power generation technology that has been in use in other industries is now making its debut in the oil and gas arena.

2009 Hurricane season likely bad news for oil companies

Another hurricane season is about to begin, and there is a 90% chance that a tropical storm or hurricane will impact GoM operations.

DC Tree joins other deepsea enablers

A winner of Hart’s E&P’s Meritorious Awards for Engineering Innovation, Cameron’s all-electric subsea production system sets another industry first.

ABS unveils new FPSO requirements

With the expectation that 150 FPSOs will be in service or on order by 2010, ABS has established requirements for conversions and plans to announce newbuild requirements soon

PEO technology takes on subsea

An advanced surface treatment process improves corrosion and wear resistance of aluminum alloys for use in subsea applications.

OTC 2009: Shell discusses deepwater challenges

Company continues to push water depth boundaries.

OTC 2009: 40 and perfect!

As OTC celebrates its 40th year, Oil States Industries Inc. is proud of its perfect attendance at the event.

OTC 2009: Clamp-on ActiveSONAR expands scope of flow measurement technology

Accurate, reliable, clamp-on measurement of wet gas flow has been a long-standing challenge for the upstream oil and gas industry. Sonar-based technology could be the answer.

OTC 2009: MCS works to set standards for flexible pipe technology

Risk-based integrity management is ensuring flexible pipe technology remains a competitive and safe enabling solution for harsh and deepwater offshore environments.

Lukoil takes its place on the world stage

In an exclusive interview, Andrei Gaidamaka, Lukoil’s director of strategic development, discusses the company’s role as an independent Russian oil company and explains how Lukoil is carving out a place for itself in the global marketplace.

New ultra-deepwater horizons

Enhanced Enterprise-class drillships are in a class of their own.

Transit-on-wire: A cost-effective alternative to MODU completions

As operators seek innovative solutions to manage the cost of developing deepwater subsea fields, the use of TOW installation methods is demonstrating that significant system installation cost reductions can be accomplished.

Floating production capex to exceed $85 billion 2009-2013

In the current circumstances of global financial instability and turbulent oil prices it is not surprising that people are questioning what the potential impact on the offshore oil and gas industry will be. This forecast examines the expected impact on the floating production systems market.

Floating gas liquefaction: Competing technologies make progress

Offshore LNG has different process requirements from LPG or traditional on-land, base-load liquefication plants. Three generic technology options are being put forward to satisfy key LNG requirements for remote, offshore environments.

Sidetracking technology addresses steel drillpipe extension strain

Optimizing production in active fields has become one of the focus areas of oil and gas industry development. In Western Siberia, optimization is being achieved not only through extensive application of new advanced oil recovery technologies, but also through revival of traditional methods.

Joint industry research addresses arctic challenges

With current demand for hydrocarbons, the undeveloped resources in arctic regions will undoubtedly become an increasingly economic and profitable development opportunity. However, the extreme conditions force risk based management and unified approaches for operation and transport.

Shtokman semisubmersibles raise integration, alignment challenges

Transporting and installing the Shtokman semisubmersibles will break new ground in the arctic.

IT risk management helps integrate complex software

A new approach is needed for managing the increasingly complex software embedded as part of safety and business-critical systems.

Russia ships first Sakhalin LNG

The Sakhalin II project in Russia is one of the largest integrated oil projects in the world, and the LNG plant is at the heart of the development.

VPC has deep commitment to energy industry

Hurricanes in 2005 destroyed many of the ports that service the GoM, but judicious reinvestment has brought services at the Venice Port Complex to a new level.

E&P Interview: Pekka Paasivaara talks about merger of Noble Denton and Germanischer Lloyd

Pekka Paasivaara, member of the executive board for the Germanischer Lloyd Group talks to Judy Maksoud, Executive Editor, E&P about the recent merger between Noble Denton and Germanischer Lloyd. The companies have joined forces to form a fully integrated technical assurance and consulting company, and unlike many other mergers that are taking place in a time of financial crisis, this joining of forces is one that is expected to lead to expansion.

Politics and energy don’t mix

As the US works to define its energy policy, ideology is the biggest impediment to success.

Improved production using subsea separation boosting

Subsea gas-liquid separation coupled with liquid boosting can be an effective means of oil reservoir exploitation. Examples from several recent projects — including Pazflor, BC-10, and Perdido — demonstrate that recovery can be improved considerably more than with just boosting alone, while adding only limited incremental costs.

Crushable foam wrap mitigates subsea casing failures

A dual pressure/temperature trigger APB solution tackles extreme conditions in wells drilled in water depths greater than 1,600 ft.

Landing string technology moves safety

Deepwater E&P is the focal point for many operators in the global oil and gas industry today, and increased development of deepwater prospects is presenting fresh technology challenges.

Turbulence hits deepwater

With the global economy in the grip of a potentially lengthy downturn, it is a good time to consider some of the challenges facing deepwater players in the months and years ahead.

UOE technology takes pipelines to new depths

Deepwater E&P activity has long been a focal point for the global oil and gas industry. With fewer onshore and shallow-water reserves available, companies have to consider opportunities in ever increasing water depths.

North Sea finds multiple uses for hydraulically expandable tubular systems

Hydraulically expandable tubular systems are delivering real improvements in well design and integrity, providing more flexibility for North Sea operators. The range of possibilities for new expandable solutions applies to deep, slimhole wells and extended reach horizontal wells in workover or repair stages.

Offshore Notebook: April 1st

New FPSOs for Brazil, Subsea 7 lands Brazil contracts, World first for AGR.



New mooring winch brakes add strength, security to offshore platforms

On an offshore oil platform, the brakes that hold the mooring winches do not get a lot of attention — that is until they are called on to provide the demanding tension control for critical operations.

Medicine joins the ranks of remote services

Remote service extends access to medical resources for offshore platforms.

Global oil demand may peak, forcing oil out as a fuel source

Never mind arguments about peak oil, the theory that global oil supply will decline. Management consultancy Arthur D. Little is questioning the energy industry’s conventional wisdom that oil demand will rise ever higher, driven in particular by the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).

Investing for the upturn

StatoilHydro has taken stock of world financial crisis, and though the company has decided to postpone some of its projects, it is continuing to invest in technology.

NCS Moratorium limits E&P initiatives

Ola Morten Aanestad, vice president for media relations at StatoilHydro, talks to E&P about drilling restrictions on the Norway Continental Shelf (NCS).

Making up the shortfall: Re-evaluating off limit drilling areas

The demand for oil and gas is going up as production from some of the world’s largest fields is starting to decline. The time is ripe for re-evaluating drilling in areas previously designated as off limits.

Offshore Notebook: March 5th

Keppel adds to global fleet; Dropping rig count good news for CFPA; Investment continues in deepwater