Drilling Systems, a globally renowned provider of cutting-edge drilling simulation technology, and a subsidiary of the 3t Energy Group, a leader in training, technology, and simulation solutions, has introduced an advanced DrillSIM Downhole model designed to facilitate authentic training for geothermal applications.

This innovative model has been successfully integrated for the first time at the Drilling Simulator Celle (DSC), a research facility under Clausthal University of Technology (TUC) located in Germany. Building upon the accomplishments of the DrillSIM simulator in actual operations, this next-generation downhole model is set to elevate the research and development capabilities of both new and existing DrillSIM simulators. It will empower trainees to practice intricate procedures like directional drilling, monitoring pressure changes (kick tracking), and addressing stuck pipe scenarios within an exceptionally lifelike and intricately detailed virtual environment. The enhanced features of this model encompass heightened real-world data integration, an advanced thermal and dynamic design, simulation of drill string vibrations, representation of complex 3D well paths, and a heightened emphasis on replicating the transportation of cuttings typically encountered in deep drilling operations.

Eni has commenced the extraction of oil and gas from the Baleine Field situated in the offshore waters of Côte d’Ivoire. This significant achievement has been realized in under two years since the initial discovery in September 2021, and in less than a year and a half after the Final Investment Decision was made. Notably, this venture represents Africa’s inaugural emissions-free production project for Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Baleine Field presently stands as the largest hydrocarbon find within the Ivorian sedimentary basin.

The accelerated time-to-market was facilitated through Eni’s strategic phased development approach, a hallmark of recent projects, with close collaboration from partner Petroci. In its initial phase, production is being carried out via the Baleine FPSO, a refurbished and enhanced Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit designed to accommodate up to 15,000 bbl/d of oil and roughly 25 Mscf/d of associated gas. The commencement of Phase 2 is anticipated by the conclusion of 2024 and is set to elevate field production to 50,000 bbl/d of oil and around 70 Mscf/d of associated gas. The third developmental phase has aspirations to further raise field production to an impressive 150,000 bbl/d of oil and 200 Mscf/d of gas. In this development stage and those that follow, the complete gas output from the Baleine Field will be transported onshore through a newly constructed pipeline. This strategic infrastructure will empower the nation to fulfill its domestic electricity requirements, enhance energy accessibility, and solidify its position as a regional energy hub for neighboring nations.

Sarawak Shell Berhad (SSB), a Shell plc subsidiary, has made an announcement regarding the commencement of gas production at the Timi platform in Malaysia. This operation falls under the SK318 production sharing contract (PSC).

The Timi platform stands out as Shell’s pioneering wellhead platform in Malaysia, uniquely powered by a hybrid system that combines solar and wind energy. This unmanned platform offers significant cost advantages due to its approximately 60% lower weight compared to conventional tender-assisted drilling wellhead platforms, which rely on traditional oil and gas power sources. Zoe Yujnovich, Shell’s Director of Integrated Gas and Upstream, expressed, “The activation of this project exemplifies our unwavering commitment to performance, precision, and streamlining. It underscores our capacity to introduce innovative solutions and deliver secure, dependable, and eco-friendly ventures that contribute to Malaysia’s balanced energy transition.” Timi’s configuration allows for the potential production of up to 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in gas at its peak operational capacity. The gas will be transported through a newly established 80-kilometer pipeline to the F23 production hub. This initiative is geared towards fostering future expansion in the central Luconia region, located off the shore of Sarawak. Shell takes great pride in its extensive and fruitful track record within Malaysia. Operating under the guidance of Malaysia Petroleum Management, PETRONAS, Shell remains dedicated to bolstering the nation’s economic advancement and facilitating its energy transition endeavors by means of competitive and resilient investments.

Saipem has secured two fresh contracts for offshore Engineering and Construction (E&C) endeavors in Europe, specifically in Romania and Germany. These contracts hold a combined value of approximately 1.8 billion euros. The first contract pertains to the Neptun Deep Gas Developmen Project situated in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania. OMV Petrom completed the award procedure for this project.

The project’s scope encompasses the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation (EPCIC) of several components. These include a gas processing platform located at a water depth of around 100 meters, three subsea developments situated at different water depths (about 1000 meters in the Domino field and around 100 meters in the Pelican field), a 30” gas pipeline stretching approximately 160 km, and a corresponding fiber optic cable connecting the shallow water platform to the Romanian coast. The fabrication of the gas processing platform will take place in Saipem’s facilities in Italy and Indonesia. The offshore operations will be conducted using the Saipem 7000 and JSD 6000 vessels. Technological tests and material analyses for the project will be carried out in Romania through Saipem’s local entity in Ploiesti. The second contract awarded to Saipem comes from GASCADE Gastransport GmbH and involves executing the pipelaying for the “Ostsee Anbindungsleitung” in the Pomeranian Bay, located in northeastern Germany. Saipem’s responsibilities include the transportation and installation of a 48” gas pipeline spanning around 50 km. This pipeline will run from the Lubmin site in northern Germany, situated on the Baltic Sea, to the Mukran port along the east coast of Rügen island. Saipem will also be constructing landfalls as part of this project, utilizing their pipelay barge known as Castoro 10. The “Ostsee Anbindungsleitung” project is scheduled for commissioning in early 2024.

ExxonMobil, the prominent US energy corporation headquartered in Spring, Texas, has recently unveiled its forward–looking estimates. These projections entail a delivery of around 600,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) by the year 2023, with an ambitious target of achieving a significant milestone of one million boed by 2027. Notably, Exxon has demonstrated notable growth in specific regions, marking a 20 percent rise in production compared to the preceding year. In the prolific Permian Basin, their production soared to a remarkable 620,000 boed, while a similar milestone was achieved in Guyana during the second quarter of 2023. Expressing his contentment with the company’s achievements in the Permian region, Darren Woods, the Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, highlighted that the strategic initiatives they set in motion in 2019 have translated into unparalleled production levels during this quarter. Moreover, Woods underscored that their overall production growth for the current year is anticipated to hover around 10 percent. However, he acknowledged the non–linear nature of their growth trajectory due to the intricate balance required to optimize capital efficiency, resource recovery, and production rates. Ultimately, Woods emphasized that ExxonMobil’s primary emphasis remains on driving value, rather than singularly fixating on volume expansion.

A significant milestone has been reached as the campaign to set up the initial of 277 turbines at the largest offshore wind farm globally gains momentum. This achievement not only marks a substantial leap in the industry but also accelerates the transition towards a more environmentally sustainable and secure energy system. The towering turbines, standing at a remarkable height of 260 meters – nearly twice as tall as the London Eye – are being erected approximately 80 miles off the Yorkshire coastline. This monumental task is carried out using a specialized vessel known as the ‘Voltaire,’ boasting an impressive lifting capacity of 3,200 tonnes, making it the largest of its kind globally.
The scale of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm is awe–inspiring, spanning an area almost equivalent to Greater London and occupying a seabed that once served as a land bridge connecting the UK and Europe. Upon its full completion, this wind farm will possess an installed capacity of 3.6GW of renewable electricity – more than two and a half times larger than the next largest offshore wind farm. Its clean energy output will be substantial, generating enough power to supply approximately 6 million homes annually. The commencement of the campaign to install GE Renewable Energy’s 13MW Haliade–X turbines, among the largest and most potent globally, stands as a pivotal moment for this groundbreaking project. Spearheaded by UK developer SSE Renewables in collaboration with Norway’s Equinor and Vårgrønn (a joint venture between Eni Plenitude and Hitec Vision), this project is shaping up to be a significant achievement. Notably, the installation vessel, named the Voltaire and belonging to Jan de Nul, holds the distinction of being the largest offshore jack–up installation vessel ever constructed. It’s worth highlighting that the Voltaire also claims the title of being the first ultra–low emission ship of its kind, underscoring the commitment to environmentally friendly practices.

This week, the European Commission has signed some legislative proposals to decarbonise the EU gas market by facilitating the uptake of renewable and low carbon gases, including hydrogen, and to ensure energy security for all citizens in Europe. The Commission is also following up on the EU Methane Strategy and its international commitments with proposals to reduce methane emissions in the energy sector in Europe and in our global supply chain.

The European Union needs to decarbonise the energy it consumes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and become climate-neutral by 2050, and these proposals will help to deliver that goal. According to Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson: “We are creating the conditions for the green transition in our gas sector, boosting the use of clean gases. A key element of this transition is establishing a competitive hydrogen market with dedicated infrastructure. We want Europe to lead the way and be the first in the world to lay down the market rules for this important source of energy and storage. We are also proposing strict rules on methane emissions from gas, oil and coal, to reduce emissions in these sectors by 80% by 2030 and to trigger action on methane outside the EU. Our proposals also strengthen the security of gas supply and enhance solidarity between Member States, to counteract price shocks and make our energy system more resilient. As requested by Member States, we improve the EU’s gas storage coordination and create the option for voluntary joint purchase of gas reserves”.

Enagás (Spain), Snam (Italy) and Grtgaz (France) have decided to explore opportunities for collaboration in the hydrogen sector, which will be crucial in the energy transition and have signed an agreement to launch joint investment initiatives aimed at boosting the clean hydrogen market.

This new initiative underlines the crucial role that European gas Tsos can play in the development of the European hydrogen ecosystem, sharing their experiences in the management of strategic infrastructures. As a first joint action, Enagás, Snam and Grtgaz will each invest € 33 million in the Clean H2 Infra Fund, with an anchor role, for a total of approximately € 100 million. Clean H2 Infra Fund is an impact fund managed by Hy24, a joint venture between Ardian and Fivet Hydrogen, which aims to support the development of clean hydrogen infrastructure with a budget of 1,500-1,800
million euros, in partnership with industrial and financial investors. It is the largest global investment platform in clean hydrogen infrastructure. Hy24 combines Ardian’s experience in infrastructure management and asset management and Fivet’s know-how in the hydrogen value chain, along with the role and experience of the three Tsos in energy grid management and hydrogen technologies.

By investing in the Clean H2 Infra Fund, the three companies aim to promote the clean hydrogen industry with a positive impact on the use and development of transmission networks.

Chinese oil&gas giant CNOOC Limited has a huge discovery on the Kenli 10-2 oilfield in Bohai Bay (China). According to CNOOC, the main oil-bearing formation of Kenli 10-2 oilfield is in the lower member of Neogene Minghuazhen Formation and the oil properties are conventional heavy oil. The discovery well Kenli 10-2-4 was drilled and completed at a depth of nearly 5,000 feet. The appraisal well was tested to produce approximately 569 barrels of oil per day. “The successful discovery of the Kenli 10-2 oil field marked the breakthrough in the discovery of lithological oilfield with reserve of 100 million tons in the shallow depression zone of the Bohai oilfields, demonstrated the broad prospects for exploration of lithological structures in the Bohai, and has great significance as a guide for exploration in similar basins,” General Manager of Exploration Department of CNOOC Xu Changgui said.

Energy group Saipem has signed an agreement with Saudi Aramco to examine setting up a company to do engineering, procurement and construction work in Saudi Arabia. The project is part of the Saudi Aramco’s industrial investment program (Namaat Aramco) for the economic growth and diversification in the country. The Program includes 22 memoranda of understanding in sectors such as energy and the chemicals supply chain with a series of companies including: Solvay (development of advanced non-metallic materials and the localization of the complex value chain), DHL Supply Chain Company (to assess the feasibility of setting up an industrial supply and logistics center serving the Kingdom and the Middle East), Veolia (to ascertain the commercial viability of creating a worldclass integrated waste management company, along with a strategic entity in the Kingdom), Air Liquide, Halliburton and the Public Investment Fund, Baker Hughes and the Public Investment Fund, Lind and Schlumberger and the Public Investment Fund – 3 separate, non-binding MOUs to evaluate CCS opportunities and potential partnerships. In a statement on Tuesday Saipem said any new company, set up with local partners, would work in energy and infrastructure with the aim of creating an “EPC national champion”.