TOPICS OF INTEREST
FACILITIES PLANNING AND MAINTENANCE
Johan Sverdrup Phase 1 Nearly Complete, Startup on Target
Lundin reports that the hookup and commissioning of installed facilities at the large North Sea field is progressing as planned. Phase 1 startup is still scheduled for November.
Is Optical Gas Imaging the New Solution for Methane Detection?
Thermal imaging helps operators maintain regulatory compliance on methane-emissions requirements. Optical gas imaging technology may be an answer in allowing for faster, more efficient inspections, but there are hurdles to its adoption. How can its widespread use become a reality?
Freeport LNG Train 1 Enters Final Commissioning Stage
The introduction of feed gas into Train 1 of the natural gas liquefaction and LNG export facility marks the transition from construction to startup. Upon startup, Freeport LNG will become the first world-scale electric LNG liquefaction plant in North America.
Restoration of Oil and Gas Production Continues in Gulf of Mexico
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reported about 14% of oil production and about 14% of natural gas production remains shut in following Tropical Storm Barry.
Static Equipment: Understanding Heat Exchangers
Take a closer look at heat exchangers, including the various types and designs available, applications, and selection considerations. This article helps the project engineer, who is not an equipment specialist, to check that economical choices are made across all involved disciplines.
ABS To Classify New Monocolumn Platform Designed for Offshore Malaysia
ABS will classify a new self-elevating platform with a unique triangular monocolumn design from Calm Oceans Pte Ltd.
Xodus Group To Acquire Green Light Environmental
The acquisition will add to the group’s offerings aimed at environmental impact assessments and project approvals.
Personnel Begin Reboarding Platforms After TS Barry
Offshore personnel are reboarding Gulf of Mexico platforms, oil and gas production begins recovery.
Slight Uptick in GOM Shut-Ins as TS Barry Continues Onshore
All 20 dynamically positioned rigs have returned to pre-storm locations. Operators' reports of evacuated personnel remain unchanged from yesterday.
70% Oil, 56% Gas Production Shut In as Barry Makes Landfall as Tropical Storm
The Gulf of Mexico disturbance, Barry, made landfall today near Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and weakened to a tropical storm.
GOM Operators Begin Evacuations as Tropical Storm Advances
As a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico continues to develop, about 32% of the oil production and 18% of the natural gas production in the GOM has been shut in.
Neptune Gets Green Light for Pair of North Sea Tiebacks
Norwegian authorities approved development plans for Duva and Gjøa P1, both of which are expected to produce first oil in late 2020. The fields will each tie back to the Gjøa platform on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Operators Build the Business Case for Drones
Drones are becoming an important tool for energy companies looking to improve on-site safety and operational efficiencies, and the industry is looking for the best way to maximize their value. What are some the challenges in getting these programs off the ground?
BHGE Launches Multimodal Facility Expansion in Angola
The facility will serve as a hub to support customers and projects in the Angola and Southern Africa region.
Can Robots Improve Above-Water Riser Inspections?
The criticality of above-water riser hull piping requires frequent inspections. Traditional manual inspection methods present safety and efficiency concerns, but work is being done to see if robotic technologies—such as drones and crawlers—can do the job as good as, or even better than, humans.
API Releases Guide for Drones in Oil and Gas
As drones become a more significant part of energy projects, the guide outlines the steps operators should take in assessing their capabilities to run a drone program and the elements such programs should consider, including safety and regulatory concerns.
Weld Overlay Joins the Party as Corrosion-Resistant Pipe Undercapacity Threatens Project Scheduling
It is rare that businesses selling equipment to the oil and gas sector can benefit from lower oil prices. But that is the case for CRA pipe manufacturers, which are comfortably outperforming 2014 levels.
Freeport LNG Authorized for Additional Exports
The US Department of Energy authorized the export from the terminal’s fourth liquefaction train to countries that have no free trade agreement with the US.
BP Approves Thunder Horse South Expansion Phase 2
The deepwater Gulf of Mexico project is expected to add 50,000 B/D of oil production through the construction of two new subsea production units and production wells.
Lessons Learned From the Big Foot Mooring Incident
After suffering major setbacks, Chevron’s massive Big Foot project finally achieved first oil last November in the US Gulf of Mexico. With the setbacks in the rear-view mirror, project personnel spoke about the challenges.
How To Design an Unmanned Minimal Floating Platform
Unmanned minimum facility platforms are a reliable alternative to traditional wellhead platforms or subsea installations, and the technologies enabling simpler designs have evolved.
Santos P'nyang Farm-In Advances PNG LNG Expansion
Santos signed a binding letter of intent to acquire a 14.3% interest in Petroleum Retention License 3, which contains the P’nyang natural gas field in Papua New Guinea.
Johan Sverdrup Phase 2 Plan Approved
Construction for the field’s second processing platform begins on the same day the Norwegian authorities approved the plan for development and operation for the biggest field development on the Norwegian continental shelf.
BP and Partners Sanction $6-Billion Platform for Giant Deepwater ACG Field in Caspian
BP and partners have sanctioned the Azeri Central East project, the next stage of development of the giant Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli oilfield complex in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
Shell Deploys AR Headsets To Facilities in 12 Countries
This digital deal is helping to make augmented reality a new reality for oil and gas operations.
Equinor To Install Underwater Drone at Asgard Field
Called Eelume, the underwater drone will perform subsea inspection, maintenance, and repair work.
McDermott and Zamil Offshore Sign JV To Serve MMO Market in Saudi Arabia
McDermott will work exclusively with Zamil Offshore to provide Saudi Aramco with maintenance, modifications and operations services.
JIP Aims for Life Extension Road Map for Top Tension Risers
A newly launched JIP aims to bridge the BSEE and API frameworks and achieve industry consensus on the analysis and inspection data required to assess the feasibility of an extended service life.
How To Find the Right Data System for Equipment Inspections
Inspection data management system software can help companies bolster their mechanical integrity programs, but choosing the wrong software can have a lasting impact on a company’s operations. So, what goes into finding the right software for your needs?
Trendsetter Completes Delivery of Production Equipment for Leviathan Project
Trendsetter Engineering completed its 2-year design and build work for Noble Energy’s Leviathan project.
Saipem, Shell Work To Advance Subsea Autonomous Vehicle
Saipem is taking the lead in advancing the capabilities of FlatFish, an autonomous underwater vehicle being developed by Shell for commercial application by 2020.
Saudi Aramco Awards EPCI Contracts for Pair of Major Projects
The new deal covers production deck manifolds and subsea pipelines for Zuluf and Berri, two large fields undergoing expansion projects.
Dawn of the Drone: A New Method for Delivering IRM Services Subsea
Subsea inspection/repair/maintenance services have traditionally relied on vessel-based, ROV, or diver operations. In the longer term, identifying significant incremental savings in these operations is not sustainable and an innovative approach deploying digital technologies is being investigated.
Static Equipment: A Look Inside the ‘How and Why’ of Specification
The specification and selection of equipment is the responsibility of the static equipment engineer, based on requirements specified by other disciplines, including process, materials, and plant layout. These guidelines contain cost-effective recommendations for design, materials, and fabrication.
BP Sanctions Gas Projects in Trinidad and Tobago
First gas from the Cassia C platform, which will help maintain production rates to the Atlantic LNG terminal, is expected in 2021. The Matapal project, which will tie back to the Juniper platform, will come on stream in 2022.
Kiewit Wins EPIC Contract for Calcasieu Pass LNG Export Project
Venture Global LNG awarded the EPIC contract for its Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility to Kiewit. FID is expected in 2019, completion in 2022.
US To Become Third-Largest LNG Exporter in 2019
The US EIA projects LNG export capacity will rise to 8.9 Bcf/D by the end of next year, making the US the third-largest exporting country in the world behind Australia and Qatar.
API Releases New Edition of Valve Standard
API released an updated valve standard for wellhead and tree equipment, which includes new automatic closure requirements.
Supervised Autonomy Bridges the Gap in ROV Inspections
ROVs dominate the world of subsea inspections, maintenance, and repair, but as operators work in a post-downturn economy, autonomous systems have become more in demand. Autonomous inspections are possible today, but how can they help with light and heavy intervention?
Condition-Based Maintenance Helps Develop a North Sea Low-Manned Platform
Remote condition monitoring of offshore platform equipment tracks performance data, watching for deviations from baseline benchmarks. Unexpected variances can be investigated and serviced by technicians dispatched to target the root causes—an approach called condition-based maintenance.
Equinor Announces Cost Increase, Delayed Startup for Martin Linge
The North Sea field, which holds an estimated 300 million BOE in recoverable resources, is now scheduled to start production in early 2020. Operator Equinor said the timeline was based on its assessment of the remaining scope of work on the project.
C-Innovation Opens New Dock Facility for Subsea Work
The Port Fourchon, Louisiana, facility will serve as the base for the company’s operations in the area. Its subsea services group has performed multiple hydrate remediation projects in the US Gulf of Mexico since its formation.
Machine Learning and AI Streamline Automated Maintenance Reviews
Machine learning and artificial intelligence technology offer offshore operators the chance to automate high-cost, error-prone tasks to avoid the effects of inconsistency and errors in analysis, improving efficiencies and safety.
Driftwood LNG Terminal Construction Scheduled for 2019
Tellurian remains on track to receive all regulatory approvals and begin work on the export terminal in Louisiana, with an eye on a 2023 startup.
Equinor Submits Phase 2 Plan for Johan Sverdrup to Norway Regulator
Equinor submitted the development plan for Phase 2 of the Johan Sverdrup project on 27 August with an increased resource estimate and a cut of NOK 6 billion in investment costs.
Case Study: Design of Injection Facilities for CO2 Recovery
A pilot project demonstrates that facilities design plays an important role in providing sources of CO2 for the gas-handling process for injection into a carbonate formation as a tertiary recovery mechanism.
The Effect of CO2 Injection on Corrosion and Integrity of Facilities
The paper discusses the main factors affecting CO2 corrosion, provides an assessment of what to look for in major equipment, and details recommended material of construction and corrosion mitigation/control methods.
Aqualis Offshore Secures Deal for Total's Egina FPSO
The company will manage the position-keeping for the deepwater project offshore Nigeria, which is scheduled to start production later this year.
Trafigura Submits Permit for First US Deepwater Oil Port
If approved by the US Department of Transportation, the port facility would allow VLCCs and other tankers to directly load cargo, potentially removing a major hurdle for US crude oil exports.
Gas Flowing From Ichthys LNG Project
The long-awaited Ichthys LNG Project off Western Australia has finally started gas production. LNG liquefaction is expected in a few weeks.
Bureau Veritas Issues FSU, FSRU Conversion Guidelines
With interest in FSRUs and FSUs picking up, the conversion of LNG carriers offers a fast route to operational availability.
Congestion Relief: Enterprise To Develop Offshore Texas Crude Oil Export Terminal
The offshore export terminal, capable of accommodating very large crude carriers, could provide access to international markets in Asia and Europe—and higher prices—for Permian, Cushing, and Eagle Ford crude oil.
Development Plan for Rovuma LNG Phase 1 Submitted to Mozambique Government
Mozambique Rovuma Venture submitted the development plan for the first phase of the project, which will produce, liquefy, and market natural gas from the Mamba fields located in the Area 4 block offshore Mozambique. An FID is scheduled next year, with production expected to begin in 2024.
ExxonMobil Awards Second Liza FPSO Contract to SBM Offshore
Scheduled for startup in 2022, the FPSO is expected to produce up to 220,000 BOPD on the development offshore Guyana. Liza is one of eight discoveries ExxonMobil has made in area.
AUVs Surface as Next-Gen Data Gathering Platforms
As operators look for cost-efficient ways to address the challenges in facility maintenance and deepwater exploration, autonomous underwater vehicles are being developed for complex data gathering and advanced tasks.
Alaska LNG Project Seeks Investors
The Alaska Gasline Development Corp., a state-owned corporation, is preparing an equity offering for this summer for its $43-billion LNG project. BP agreed to sell natural gas from Prudhoe Bay for export to Asia-Pacific.
Shell Awards Contracts to GATE Energy, Subsea 7 for Vito
GATE will provide facility commissioning and Subsea 7 will provide a pair of infield production flowlines and the umbilical system for Shell’s recently sanctioned deepwater GOM development.
New Regulations To Fast-Track Brazil FPSO Deployment, Boost Presalt Oil Production
New local content regulations could speed up the pace of presalt oil production by more than 21 billion bbl by the mid-2020s. Karoon and Parnaíba Gás Natural are the first companies to apply to change their contract terms. Petrobras, Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Petrogal, and Anadarko are also interested.
Cheniere Seeks Permit To Feed Gas To Corpus Christi LNG Train
Cheniere Energy requested issuance of the feedstock permit from FERC by 29 June. The FID for Train 3, estimated at approximately $3 billion, was announced last month. Bechtel got the green light to proceed with EPC work, subcontracting with BHGE for the gas turbines to drive compressors.
Siemens and Bentley Systems Collaborate on Process Industries Academy Initiative
The goal is to support the development and sharing of best-practice approaches for project delivery and asset operations using cloud services and digital workflows in engineering and operations.
Baker Hughes Opens Center for Inspection Technologies
BHGE opened its largest Customer Solutions Center globally for its inspection technologies business.
The Benefits of Flying Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles at Scale for Asset Managers
Ground sensors on assets over a broad area have limited returns on investment if the asset life cycle is less than 10 years, and obsolescence of the technology if it exceeds 10 years. Complementing sensors with aerial remote sensing at scale may help to mitigate these issues.
A Model for Evaluating Inlet Systems to Gas/Liquid Separators
Learn about the guidelines for early stages of projects and a method for evaluating the effect of inlet piping and devices on gas/liquid separator performance and useful tools to evaluate the adequacy of a proposed design. [Note: Updated on 22 May, the article contains a number of corrections.]
Kreuz Subsea Mobilizes New-Built Vessel, Enters Into JV in Brunei
Kreuz Subsea mobilized the Kreuz Challenger, a diving support vessel, as part of its 7-year contract with Brunei Shell Petroleum Company. The contract runs until 2022 and includes inspection, repair, and maintenance services to be carried out on offshore oil and gas structures.
Video: Early-Stage AUVs Set To Launch in North Sea Facilities Inspection Trials
Advanced AUVs with early-stage technologies for live streaming, ultrasonic testing, and 3D laser scanning are set to enter inspection trials on North Sea facilities. The aim is to reduce facilities inspection costs by 50%.
Canadian Firm Agrees to Acquire BiFab Yards
An agreement with DF Barnes is expected to provide financial security for the Scottish fabrication company, which had been on the verge of closure.
Toward the Economical Use of Corrosion-Resistant Alloys for Water Injection Tubing
With the huge amount of water injection in the industry, the need is paramount for a more scientific approach to materials selection for tubing, especially CRAs. Software-based predictors similar to those developed for CO2 corrosion would improve the economical choice of CRAs.
Pioneer Shuts In West Panhandle Field Following Compression Station Fire
Pioneer shut in 8,000 BOE/D production in its West Panhandle field in Texas on 6 March due to a compression station fire. No injuries occurred. Planning to use idle compressors, production is expected to restart later this month or in early April.
McDermott, BHGE Appointed for Joint FEED Studies on Tortue/Ahmeyim Field
The two companies will collaborate to define the technology and equipment scope for an initial four-well development phase for BP’s major West African offshore gas project.
Delayed Project Sanctions in 2017 More Than Double the 2015–16 Count
Delayed final investment decisions during the final quarter of 2017 led to more than double the combined count in 2015 and 2016.
Additive Manufacturing Makes Waves in Industry
Gas turbine blades and large-scale printing machines highlight new advancements in additive manufacturing that are likely to affect the supply chain in the not-so-distant future.
Siemens, GE Partner With Open-Source Innovation Community
Siemens and GE are among the companies discovering the power of an open-source innovation community to offer solutions for significant oil and gas industry challenges, such as improved corrosion monitoring.
SNC-Lavalin Wins Award for Fast-Tracking of Cardon IV Facilities Project
SNC-Lavalin was recognized by the Rice Global Engineering & Construction Forum’s Award of Excellence for the fast-track installation of a 150 MMcf/D natural gas processing plant for production from the offshore Venezuela Perla field.
GATE Energy Joins Ranks of Contract Awardees for Noble’s Leviathan Project
GATE Energy is the most recent contract awardee for Noble Energy’s Leviathan project offshore Israel. It will provide the commissioning of the production platform for the megaproject.
The Journey to an Autonomous Marine Ecosystem
With only about 3% of data from industrial assets used for decision making or meaningful purpose, vessel, rig, and fleet owners are looking at ways to connect existing networks and assets to achieve optimized operational performance.
Reliance Awards McDermott Contract for KG-D6 Subsea Development
McDermott announced a letter of award for a contract from Reliance Industries for the deepwater KG-D6 subsea field development in the Krishna Godavari Basin.
Getting Ahead of the Curve—Front-End Loading HSE in Major Projects
A proactive approach with EPC contract bidders to front-end load HSE strategies will pay dividends. This paper discusses the HSE management strategy for the Lake Charles Liquefied Natural Gas project.
Statoil Christens NY Offshore Wind Project
Statoil selected the name “Empire Wind” for its offshore wind site located off the southern coast of Long Island, New York. The company also recently stepped into solar power in Brazil.
SUEZ Breaks Ground on Upstream, Downstream Research Facility
After finalizing the acquisition of GE Water and Process Technologies in September, the French resource management company, SUEZ Water Technologies and Solutions, will move to a new laboratory that facilitates increased work on digital applications for upstream and downstream.
New IOGP Standard Aims To Improve Fabrication Site Safety
A recently published standard addresses the need for a comprehensive set of common requirements for operators and contracting companies at fabrication yards.
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