Redevelopment of tiny Ororo field shows extent of worldwide depletion
October 18, 2011
Sirius aiming to develop marginal Nigeria field | www.offshore-mag.com
Redevelopment of oil fields on land began over 20 years ago. It began on large fields and small fields soon followed. More recently, redevelopment of offshore fields has become routine. The redevelopment of giant but depleted Forties field in the North Sea was started by Apache after taking over the field from BP in 2003. It has been a success. Today Sirius plans to redevelop the much smaller Ororo field offshore Nigeria.
BP's strategy for the next five years is becoming clear
October 17, 2011
BP and Partners Investing ?10 Billion in UK Oil and Gas Projects | www.bp.com
After the Deepwater Horizon spill in April 2010, it has taken Bob Dudley, the new CEO, some months to determine the company’s path back to success. With the announcement of October 13, it seems clear that BP will concentrate capital and exploratory expenditure in the North Sea, West Africa and the Middle East.
Kitimat LNG export license a shot in the arm for Canadian gas prices
October 17, 2011
Kitimat LNG partners announce export license approved by National Energy Board | investor.apachecorp.com
In 2006, Apache, EOG and Encana first agreed to build a natural gas liquefaction plant on Canada’s west coast. The deal came with the expectation of transporting British Columbia gas to international markets where prices are much higher than in North America. Several provincial and federal permits were necessary and it was also necessary to gain control of a pipeline. By December of 2010, the permits were in hand to support the filing of an operating agreement to support the Canadian Federal Export License. On October 13, the 20-year license was approved.
Natural gas gets transportation traction in Pennsylvania
October 12, 2011
We have all have witnessed the extraordinary development of shale-derived natural gas in the U.S., and in particular on the East Coast where the Marcellus field stretches from Pennsylvania up to the Canadian border. Our national shale gas resources are now estimated at over 100 trillion standard cubic feet. It’s a real game changer for the energy market.
PetroFrontier swings for the fences with Australia's Arthur Creek "Hot Shale"
October 12, 2011
PetroFrontier Drills AU's 1st HZ Well in "Hot Shale" Formation | www.rigzone.com
PetroFrontier, a small Canadian oil and gas exploration company, has staked its fortune on a shale oil play in the Georgina Basin in Australia’s Northern Territory. The company just drilled the Baldwin-2Hst1 well into the Lower Arthur Creek “Hot Shale” and reported 40 meters of potential petroliferous pay. The “Hot Shale” is slightly radioactive and thus easily identified by gamma ray-neutron logs. PetroFrontier considers the “Hot shale” analogous to the Bakken formation in North Dakota. With 13.6 million gross acres under control, commercial development of the “Hot Shale” would be a bonanza.
The logic behind France's cancellation of shale gas leases
October 11, 2011
France Cancels Shale Gas Exploration Permits on Non-Fracturing Commitment | www.rigzone.com
Despite potential problems with nuclear reactors, French citizens appear comfortable with atomic power. If large deposits of shale gas do exist in France, they are not going away. With its grid of nuclear reactors meeting most of the country's needs and two huge French natural gas companies developing resources worldwide, the nation has few -- if any -- worries about domestic energy. Thus the logic is clear: Let technology develop until problems with water pollution vanish. Then revisit the value of shale gas to the economy.
Russian oil consortium to begin Venezuela Tar Belt production in May 2012
October 10, 2011
Venezuela, Russia Joint Oil Venture Seen Producing by May | www.rigzone.com
Under President Hugo Chavez, Petroleos de Venezuela has been wooing Russian oil companies. Chavez equates stronger ties with Russia as a bulwark against his ideological enemy, the U.S. Now it appears that he will be successful at least in the Tar Belt. The Russian consortium includes Rosneft, Surgurneftgaz, TNK-BP, Lukoil and Gazprom. The Junin 6 bloc is set to produce 50,000 bbl/day by May of 2012.
Financial crisis drives Greece to offer offshore permits for oil exploration
October 10, 2011
Greece to Invite Oil Exploration in January | www.rigzone.com
Greece officially has 10 million barrels of reserves located in Prinos and Prinos North fields. In 2010, production was about 2,300 bbl/day. At one time the government had plans to pursue a joint venture exploration with Egypt but nothing came of it. The Grecian offshore is lightly explored, however, and the Gulf of Patras could easily have a potential of 200 million barrels. Now, with the nation in duress, a decision has been made to open exploration to international oil and gas companies.
Another continental drift play at Jan Mayen Ridge, northeast of Iceland
October 10, 2011
Iceland opens up Dreki Area to Exploration | www.offshore-mag.com
This is the second round of exploration offers from the National Energy Authority (NEA) of Iceland. To date, Iceland doesn’t have oil production or reserves but the continental shelf is prospective. Seismic surveys indicate the presence of structures. TGS-NOPEC has a prospecting license for part of the area. The deadline for bids is in April.
Chevron Puts the Sun to Work Getting Oil from Ancient Coalinga Field
October 7, 2011
BrightSource Lends Solar Thermal Technology to Chevron's EOR Project | www.oilvoice.com
Chevron, a leader in enhanced recovery technology, has large leaseholds throughout California. Chevron Technology Ventures is demonstrating a technique to use solar energy to produce oil. The Coalinga oil field, discovered in 1887, has produced almost 900 million barrels from several heavy crude zones over its long career. Chevron expects to recover even more oil in the largest such project in the world.
Chesapeake Energy bites the natural gas bullet
January 25, 2012
Flurry of newbuild drilling rig deliveries in 2012 may dampen rig rates
January 20, 2012
Talisman joins the ranks of cautious E&P companies
January 12, 2012
Early signs of caution begin to cloud frontier exploration and production
January 4, 2012
It's too early in the game to write off Shtokman
December 8, 2011