Tag: oil and gas industry

To promote liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel within the maritime and offshore industry a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between DNV GL and Qatar’s shipyard Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM). The signing ceremony took place during DNV GL’s 150th anniversary celebrations in Dubai, at which N-KOM’s CEO Chandru Rajwani and Dr Henrik Madsen, DNV GL’s Group President and Chief Executive Officer, signed the memorandum. The MOU will further strengthen the position of N-KOM, which is a joint-venture between Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) and Keppel Offshore & Marine, in the areas of LNG-fuelled vessel conversions and construction of related floating assets. N-KOM will capitalize on DNV GL’s deep competence and long-standing experience in LNG, working with shipyards, ship owners and other key stakeholders on a global basis to develop synergies related to the promotion of LNG as fuel within the maritime and offshore industry. “Qatar is the single largest producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas in the world and has become a leading cluster for gas related activities. Therefore, we look forward to establishing a valuable partnership with N-KOM which further cements our strong market position on LNG as fuel in this region and benefits the environment ...

In the 2014 World Energy Outlook the International Energy Agency (IEA) presents “New Policies” as the main scenario. In this scenario global energy demand rises by 37% in the period to 2040. By 2040, the world’s energy supply mix divides into four almost-equal parts: oil, gas, coal and low-carbon sources. No matter which direction environmental policies and measures take, an enormous amount of oil and gas investment will still be needed in the years ahead to secure energy supply, according to the IEA. A full USD 18.5 trillion will be needed in oil and gas investment from 2014-2035 in order to meet the supply needed for the IEA’s “450 Scenario”, which sets out an energy pathway consistent with the goal of limiting the global increase in temperature to 2°C. “The challenge is formidable. Even in the IEA’s two-degree scenario, the industry must replace four times Saudi Arabia’s production of oil and 10 times Norway’s production of gas just to fight natural decline,” says Sætre. EU climate targets The European Union recently announced their target of cutting carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, which is also line with Statoil’s recommendations. “While the agreement is an important step in the right direction, ...

Chevron Corporation announced that the Hess Corporation-operated Tubular Bells deepwater project, located in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, has started crude oil and natural gas production. The field is located 135 miles (217 km) southeast of New Orleans, in approximately 4,300 feet (1,310 m) of water in the Mississippi Canyon area. The discovery well was drilled in 2003, and project construction began in October 2011. Tubular Bells is expected to deliver total production of approximately 50,000 barrels of oil- equivalent per day producing from three wells. "The deepwater Gulf of Mexico plays a significant part in our earnings and production growth. Achieving first oil at Tubular Bells is an important step towards Chevron achieving its production goal of 3.1 million barrels per day by 2017", said George Kirkland, vice chairman and executive vice president, Upstream, Chevron Corporation.   "Tubular Bells and the Chevron-operated Jack/St. Malo project further strengthens Chevron's deepwater portfolio," said Jay Johnson, senior vice president, Upstream, Chevron Corporation. Jack/St. Malo, a large lower Tertiary development, is scheduled to be brought online later this year.   "This project's success is the result of our strong business relationship with Hess, reinforcing our commitment to achieve results with excellence, and enabling new ...

According to the Natural Resources Development Council (NRDC), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected a Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. and Shell Offshore Inc. lawsuit that attempted to prevent environmental groups from challenging its oil drilling plans in the Arctic.  The appeals court dismissed the case on the grounds that it violated the U.S. Constitution.  Shell’s suit against NRDC and other groups asked the court to preemptively validate the federal Bureau of Environmental Safety and Enforcement’s approval of the company’s Arctic oil spill plans against any future legal challenge.  However, the court held that Shell does not have legal standing to block legal complaints against the plan, in part because it is not a federal agency. Any lawsuit challenging the plan would have to be filed against the agency, and not against Shell. Following is a statement from Chuck Clusen, NRDC Director of National Parks and Alaska Projects: “Shell was attempting to quash dissent and circumvent due process.  It didn’t work – our legal system prevailed.   “As multiple accidents have already shown, Shell’s drilling plans in the Arctic are severely flawed.  Shell is not equipped to handle offshore drilling in some of the world’s most treacherous ...

Asian governments must reform their natural gas markets if the region is to see an expansion in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply to meet its rapidly growing demand, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) published. The report specifies that limited flexibility and pricing issues are the main challenges to overcome in the development of a more efficient market. The IEA has previously highlighted the need for more transparent and efficient markets in Asia, where gas prices are four times those in North America – and can be as high as five times in winter – but the issue is becoming more acute as the region’s gas demand rises and as the LNG market becomes increasingly globalised. Some 150 billion cubic metres (bcm) in new LNG supplies, led by several projects in Australia, are expected to become available between now and 2020. In that same period, Asian gas demand is forecast to grow by around 250 bcm. “The advent of new LNG supplies represents a golden opportunity for Asia, but first the region’s governments must address the rigid and illiquid markets that undermine affordability and accessibility for consumers,” said IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven ...

In response to a federal court order, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193. BOEM prepared the draft SEIS using the best available science, and working in close consultation with Alaska Native tribes, federal partner agencies, state and local governments, stakeholders and the public. “After a robust and thorough process, BOEM has prepared a Draft Supplemental EIS that addresses the issues identified by the court regarding the Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193,”said BOEM Acting Director Walter Cruickshank. “In the analysis released, BOEM used a new exploration and development scenario to evaluate the potential environmental effects of oil and gas activities associated with Lease Sale 193. We look forward to receiving additional public input as we continue to take a balanced approach to the safe and responsible energy development in the region.” BOEM prepared the revised analysis in accordance with the April 24, 2014, remand order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. The original EIS for Lease Sale 193 was published in 2007 and the sale was conducted in 2008. Subsequent legal challenges and federal court decisions ...

The naming ceremony for four semi-submersible rigs, Hull No. 3031, 3032, 3034, 3035, ordered by the Norwegian based Songa Offshore Company

Kongsberg Maritime Embient, with KONGSBERG partner company Contros Systems and Solutions, has been selected to develop and deliver technologies and strategies for environmental monitoring during Gas Hydrate exploration and production as part of the EU ‘SUGAR' (Submarine Gas Hydrate Reservoirs) project. Germany's Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology started the 3rd phase of the more than €10 million joint project SUGAR at the beginning of October 2014. The project is a ground-breaking initiative in Gas Hydrate exploration, production and monitoring. The third phase will last three years and will lead into a European venture with world-wide impact for Gas Hydrates as a new energy source. Kongsberg Maritime Embient is the main contractor (together with Contros) in sub-project 4 of SUGAR, having been awarded the task of developing solutions for detecting and quantifying gas bubbles in the water column and creating leakage alarms autonomously. As part of this work, Kongsberg Maritime Embient will create a generic algorithm to collect and interpret data from ship-based sonars for easy leakage control of wide areas. In the second step, an autonomous seabed monitoring system (Lander), based on the Kongsberg Maritime developed Modular Subsea Monitoring (MSM) network concept, will be developed in close cooperation with ...

The Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) formally launched at the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) on 15 October 2014. SGMF, which exists to promote safety and industry best practice in the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel will take part in SIBCON with the aim of reaching out to the global marine bunkering community. "It’s an exciting time for us. We were established in September 2013 and already we are pleased to have 70 members on board. We are looking to speak with more members who work in this exciting industry to join us and get involved in the valuable work that we are doing for this industry" explains Brand, Marketing and Membership Manager, John Saunders. Formed as a membership based non-governmental organisation (NGO), SGMF encourages the safe and responsible operations of vessels using gas as fuel and all marine activities relating to the supply of gas used for fuel. SGMF publishes studies and produce information papers and works of reference to promote best practice for safe and responsible operations for both LNG-fuelled vessels and LNG bunker supply logistics. "We have two categories of membership: Full Membership and Associate Membership. Both categories ...

The structures collapsed at the faulty platform #441 of the Narimanov OGPD during the repair works and a wagon-house fell into the sea