Geologists at the University of Aberdeen have discovered a huge area of the North Sea left unexplored for oil and gas because of so-called ‘phantom’ volcanoes that they have proven they do not exist. The area is known as the Rattray Volcanic Province and covers 7000 sq km. The study raised the prospect of future discoveries in the area, which has been left untouched for more than 50 years of exploration activity.
According to Wood Mackenzie, the outlook for Japan’s offshore wind sector is looking positive as its capacity is expected to reach upwards of 4 GW in 2028. This would be a 62-fold increase from last year. Namely, the medium- to long-term outlook for offshore wind in Japan is promising, especially after TEPCO’s participation in offshore wind, the growing offshore pipeline and new policy measures to support wind development.
Sumitomo Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Development Bank of Japan have established their first fund through Spring Infrastructure Capital, a fund management company jointly established by the three companies. The Fund raises money from Japanese investors and finances and invests in offshore wind power projects overseas.
A total of 33 floating production storage and offloading units (FPSOs) are expected to be sanctioned from 2019 to 2021, as oil and gas activity picks up in the offshore sector, according to data provided by Norwegian oil and gas research firm Rystad Energy.
Total, Ørsted and Elicio issued a joint bid for the Dunkirk offshore wind farm project in France, aiming to a power capacity up to 600 MW, on February 18. The bid is Total’s first official entrance in offshore wind and an additional step to sustainability.
The BSEE issued an investigation report on the fire onboard a Petrobras drillship during pipe handling operations in December 2017, which resulted in one fatality. The report identified poor compliance with procedures and lack of understanding for the drill floor zone areas during operations as key causes of the accident.
Partners in the Total-operated Frontier Exploration Licence (FEL) 2/19, that contains the Avalon prospect offshore Ireland, have licensed multi-client 3D seismic data in an effort to look for possible exploration well locations.
February 15th marks 37 years from the loss of the semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit ‘Ocean Ranger’ off Canada. The platform sank along with its entire 84 crew, claiming the title of one of the worst offshore drilling accidents in North American history. The incident forms another example of how lack of compliance with procedures and inadequate safety culture can have tragic consequences.
The US announced that BOEM will offer 78 million acres for a region-wide lease sale scheduled for March 2019. The sale will include all available unleased areas in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Lease Sale 252 will be the fourth offshore sale under the 2017-2022 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
Lancashire-headquartered Cuadrilla was denied permit to run drilling and fracturing operations at its second shale gas well in Lancashire. Despite the denial, the company stated that although disappointed from the decision, they will examine the details in full before reaching a position.
