Confirmation of new Tortue western field

A new well, drilled to 3,550 m TD, is confirmed in the Tortue western area. BW Offshore confirmed this with a recent survey, discovering additional hydrocarbon pay in the Dentale D2B and Dentale D6 reservoirs.
The new DTM-3 well followed completion of the DTM-2H horizontal production well targeting the Dentale D6 reservoir in April. Additional development will also bring life to DTM-3H, which will target the Gamba sandstone in the central part of the field. Production is to start in the second half of the year.

US-Iran sanctions first effects in the North Sea

The North Sea Rhum gas field will be impacted by the US sanctions against Iran. This is due to Iranian Oil Co. (IOC) UK’s 50% interest in the field.
In November 2017, Serica agreed to acquire BP’s controlling shares in the producing Bruce, Keith and Rhum (BKR fields), which account for up to 5% of the UK’s indigenous gas production.
The deal should have been finalized this summer, but the deferral could probably be the first in a series, because of the new deal in US diplomacy.

Aker BP formed alliance with contractor trio

Aker BP has formed an “Asset Integrity Alliance” with Kaefer, Prezioso Linjebygg, and Force Technology with the aim to jointly provide integrity management and platform services for Aker BP’s operated fields offshore Norway.
The objective of the integrity alliance is to work as a single, efficient teamwork member. Working together as an integrated team reduces costs and remove low value activities, adding to the best integration of all parties.

Revival of the Norwegian oil wells

Three new development wells on the Fram field in the Norwegian North Sea had the green light, with the aim of doubling recovery of remaining reserves.
The wells should extract a further 70 MMboe of oil and gas, courtesy of the new NOK1-billion ($123-million) module of the Troll C platform. This should enter service during the fall of 2019.
Previously, recovery of resources in the Fram area, had been limited by the Troll C gas processing capacity.
Fram, discovered in 1990, came onstream in 2003. It was originally due to remain in production until 2023, with the license set to expire in 2024.
However, the new wells should extend field to 2030 or longer, supported by further potential development of the area.

Robots inspectors for energy industry

The energy world is quickly changing many habits due to the impact of IT, IoT and AI.
A spin off from this is the Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) on the off-shore installation, a true revolution. The first components to be interested by this revolution are the pressure vessels, among the most critical elements in a plant due to the vital role they play. Performing an inspection with traditional methods, till now implies shutting the equipment down with huge economical losses.
Using robotics can avoid long and expensive outages adding the benefit of taking humans out of unsafe environments. On the plus side, UK offshore industry only could save up to £242 million per year. On the minus side there are implications on the employment that had to be faced up and solved, but the age of robots is near.

Greenstream: Libyan gas comes back in Italy

Italian oil & gas company ENI completed the activities to make operational the SABRATHA offshore platform and the Melitha on shore plants. Also, the Bahr Essalam gas well comes back in production with an estimated output of 1 billion BSCFD (28 MSCMD). This gas flow will come in Italy through the Greenstream gas pipeline and at full regime there will be 10 new gas wells, all operational within September 2018. The BES well is the biggest gas well in Libyan territory and is operated by Mellitah Oil & Gas, a 50/50 company between ENI and NOC.

The new oil prices jump up

The recent exacerbation in US- Iran relations immediately reverberated in the oil markets. Brent crude prices climbed more than $2 bbl on the London market with the contract for July rising above $77/bbl.
Main cause is the uncertainty about how much the impact of the new US sanctions will curb Iran’s oil exports. Analysts forecast a revised policy of the production-cut targets too, with new attitudes by OPEC and other producers like Russia.

NEW APPROACH FOR NEW VALVES

The new, challenging requirements for Oil & Gas valves involve new design philosophies, innovative ideas for production, advanced equipment for check and test and an effective cooperation network between the OEMs and sub suppliers.
This encompasses a new world of improved material and coating, advanced welding capabilities with stricter process control and innovative manufacturing processes – HIPPING, laser deposition welding, CVD and PVD coatings, HVOF with nano-powders and innovative or revolutionary seals.
Furthermore valve producers will have to integrate all these parts into an harmonized whole and in a global perspective.

THE QUEST FOR HI TECH VALVES

The quick evolving requirements of the oil & gas industry are driving the valve world. New solutions are now available to cope with more challenging requirements, from larger sizes to more severe service conditions, longer expected life and eco-friendliness.
All these requirements are satisfied with strict integration between the different design engineering disciplines (FEA, FMECA, CFD) and the manufacturing engineering. QC/QA has indeed another crucial role, both in developing new NDE and testing techniques and advanced quality systems too.
Moreover, the material engineering is the key to develop hi-tech valves only superficially resembling old type, but totally different “under the skin”.

ENI strengthens in UAE

ABU DHABI, UAE 
ENI signed Long Term agreements with ADNOC on concessions offshore the UAE coasts.
These cover a 5% stake in the Lower Zakum offshore oil field, while the other is for a 10% share in the offshore oil, condensate and gas fields of Umm Shaif and Nasr.
The contract covers 40 years of concessions for which the Italian oil company is paying $875 million. Combined production is over 900,000 b/d in a 50/50 split and ADNOC operates with a 60% stake. This will increase ENI’s market share in the crucial Middle East market with a low risk project that will assure a healthy stream of cash and a strategic partnership with an important Middle East player.