Cobalt's Exploration, Appraisal President James Painter Resigns

Cobalt International Energy Inc.’s James H. Painter, president of exploration and appraisal, has resigned, the Houston-based company said in regulatory filings on April 11.

Effective April 13, Tim Nicholson was appointed senior vice president of exploration and appraisal of Cobalt, the company said. Nicholson joined Cobalt in 2005 and has previously served as its vice president of exploration.

“Nicholson has been a key leader within the exploration team for the past decade and has been instrumental in the company’s exploration success in both West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico [GoM],” Cobalt said in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Painter, whose resignation is effective April 30, had held his current position since January. He previously served as Cobalt’s executive vice president of the GoM from the company's inception in 2005.

"The company extends its gratitude to Mr. Painter for his vision, leadership and many contributions and wishes him the best in his future endeavors," Cobalt said in SEC filings.

Painter has more than 35 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, according to Cobalt's website.

Sembcorp Sheds Interest In Shanghai Guofeng Marine

Sembcorp Marine Ltd. has disposed of its 70% equity interest in Shanghai Guofeng Marine Engineering and Technology Co. Ltd. (SGMET) to the other existing shareholder for RMB 5.8 million (US$1.3 million), according to an April 7 stock exchange announcement.

Following completion of the disposal, Sembcorp will no longer have any interest in SGMET, which will cease being a subsidiary of Sembcorp.

SGMET’s principal activity is in R&D of technologies for civil ships and equipment for oceanics industries and the provision of related technical consultation services. Sembcorp said the sale is in line with its strategy to realize investment in non-core business and its commitment to optimize profitability and operations.

Sembcorp said it intends to apply the net proceeds toward its working capital.

Dennis Proctor Retiring As CEO Of Hunting Oilfield Services In 2017

Oilfield services company Hunting Plc said its CEO Dennis Proctor will retire later this year after a successor has been appointed.

Hunting, which provides drilling tools to oil and gas producers, said it has begun the process to identify a successor and is considering both internal and external candidates.

Proctor will remain CEO until the appointment is made, Hunting said on April 7.

Service Provides Global Coverage Of Offshore Projects, Discoveries

Stratas Advisors’ new Global Upstream Project Analytics (GUPA) provides worldwide coverage of offshore projects with a focus on recent and future developments, the company said.

Coverage includes multiple measures of specific project economics throughout the project life cycle, analysis of publicly announced E&P projects and detailed fiscal models by country. The company’s transparent modeling lets operators see the calculations, adjust the assumptions as desired and analyze the results.

GUPA is designed to be a highly valuable resource that will help companies make informed business decisions in the industry’s most challenging, complex and high-cost operating environment.

Aqualis Offshore Opens Office In Taiwan

Aqualis Offshore, a marine and offshore engineering consultancy, has opened an office in Taiwan to support local offshore wind and oil and gas developments, the company said.

“Taiwan has a rapidly growing offshore wind sector as well as certain requirements for offshore engineering and marine survey services,” says Phil Lenox, director of the Asia-Pacific region for Aqualis Offshore. “Aqualis Offshore and Offshore Wind Consultants (OWC) provide senior competence for the offshore sectors, so we believe that our experience can be utilized well in Taiwan.”

In December 2016, OWC was appointed by a Taiwanese renewables company to provide consultancy services related to wind turbine installation vessels and their suitability for different wind turbines and sites offshore Taiwan, Aqualis said.

UH Names Founding Director for Engineering Programs in Katy

Phaneendra Kondapi, the engineering educator who helped develop the first subsea engineering program in the U.S. at the University of Houston (UH), has been named founding director of engineering programs at UH in Katy, Texas, a news release said.

Kondapi is returning to UH after serving as director of subsea engineering at Texas A&M University for the past year. Formerly an adjunct professor of subsea engineering, Kondapi has more than 20 years of experience managing engineering projects at energy industry giants FMC Technologies and KBR.

Kondapi, who taught the UH subsea engineering program’s inaugural course on flow assurance in 2011, will teach a graduate-level subsea course on flow assurance.

Trelleborg Releases Cable, Flowline Protection System

Trelleborg’s offshore operation has released Buoyant Uraduct, a protection system for subsea cables, umbilicals, flowlines and hoses, a press release stated.

Based on the original Uraduct design, Buoyant Uraduct protects cables from abrasion and impact. The protection system reduces the crush risk at crossing locations by reducing the overall weight of a subsea cable. Made from highly buoyant materials, the protection system also minimizes drag and lift, avoiding possible stability issues.

Buoyant Uraduct is a protection system for subsea cables, which can be customized for customer specifications for buoyancy, pipeline diameter and multiple subsea configurations. It is also a suitable alternative to subsea crossing bridges and can be installed on the cable or pipeline before it is laid on the seabed.

Total Taps Aptomar For Environmental Monitoring

Total E&P Norge (Total) has selected Aptomar’s tactical collaboration and management system (TCMS) to digitalize and manage environmental monitoring and oil spill detection at its Martin Linge Field, according to a news release.

The TCMS will combine subsea, topside and aerial oil spill detection sensors into one common operating picture (COP), providing an overview of all available sensor information.

As explained in the release, Total’s main objectives for the system are to:

• Make all oil spill detection elements, remote sensors, cameras and process sensors accessible to its personnel onshore and offshore; and

• Give a quick overview of the current status of the oils spill detection sensors in one interface.

“The oil spill detection COP will enable Total to detect significant acute discharges within the required timeframe, and that satisfactory expertise and methods are available for determining the position, extent, quantity and combatability of unintended discharges,” the release said.

—Staff & Reuters Reports

Offshore