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For continuous news & analysis

www.offshore-mag.com

March 2009

World Trends and Technology for Offshore Oil and Gas Operations

Tamar discovery reveals potential

gas-rich play offshore Israel

Port Fourchon thrives

despite the economy

Seismic vessel survey:

Acquisition technology drives changes in industry practice
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to access E : ng/
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You won’t know the difference,

but the sea life will
Jet-Lube® ECF™ Environmental Compound Formulas

When you make up pipe with Jet-Lube RUN-N-SEAL® ECF, you use the same API torque
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Like the original API thread compound,

it sticks to the metal, won’t wash
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As one in a complete line of ECF

products, Jet–Lube proves once
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“E” for the UK and Netherlands.

WWW.JETLUBE.COM
_________________ 800.JET-LUBE
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Alcoa Oil & Gas high-strength,

ultra-lightweight alloys can take you
places you’ve never been before.
We bring advanced aerospace technology down to earth
in the search for oil and gas.
Whether it’s one of our ultra-light drilling technologies, such as drill pipe or an engineered
product forged to your specification — Alcoa’s specialized manufacturing capabilities, experience,
and patented alloys enable you to reach new frontiers.

Drill Deeper, Farther, Faster

Now drill deeper, farther and faster using your existing drilling assets. Offshore or on, Alcoa’s
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you combine our patented metallurgical technology with our expertise in titanium, nickel or
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let us take you places you’ve never been before.

www.alcoaoilandgas.com
888-379-1455

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Mooring and foundations installation / Rig and floating production moves / Active heave compensation / Subsea
hardware installation / Flexible flowline and umbilical laying and retrieval / Deepwater piling and conductor
pre-installation / Subsea well abandonment

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BACK-DECK SERVICES
Acteon companies are at the forefront of the movement to reduce the industry’s
dependence on specialist marine assets. Driven by the need to reduce costs and
improve operational flexibility, we have developed a range of applications that can be
performed from the back deck of less-sophisticated monohull vessels. Talk to us when
you are looking for someone that is prepared to explore a different approach to your
offshore needs.
For more information about how back-deck services can improve your project
economics, visit
www.acteon.com
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International Edition
Volume 69, Number 3
March 2009

CONTENTS
Celebrating Over 50 Years of Trends, Tools, and Technology

GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS

New seismic company, vessel
plans highlight survey ........................ 32
The feature of the 2009 Seismic Vessel Survey
is the entrance of Polarcus onto the list of
companies. That also brings the list of new
vessels for 2009 and beyond to eight – Polar-
cus has three scheduled for delivery this year
and three for delivery in 2010 while West-
ernGeco has two scheduled for this year.

Worldwide seismic
vessel survey ...................................... 36 32
SUBSEA
SPECIAL REPORT:
Subsea boosting, processing sustain momentum .................................................... 46
MEDITERRANEAN Looking at the momentum from a number of recent/current subsea processing installations,
Eastern Mediterranean Tamar development programs and project applications continue to provide the industry with new tech-
discovery reveals potential nical advancements, more opportunities, and some challenges, too.
gas-rich play in Levantine basin........ 42
Test results from a gas discovery in the Levan-
tine basin point to an emerging subsalt play. PORT FOURCHON
The deepwater well on the Tamar structure,
90 km (56 mi) offshore Haifa, Israel, encoun- Port Fourchon thrives despite the economy .............................................................. 50
tered three productive reservoirs with thick LA 1 coalition, levee district trying to get Washington’s attention........................... 54
sands in the Lower Miocene and net pay of
more than 460 ft (140 m). No job shortage in Lafourche Parish ......................................................................... 58
Two new offshore facilities proposed for Port Fourchon .......................................... 60
Halo goes high-tech to optimize safety ..................................................................... 62

54

Offshore (ISSN 0030-0608) is published monthly by PennWell, 1421 S. Sheridan Road, Tulsa, OK 74112. Periodicals class postage paid at Tulsa, OK, and additional offices. Copyright 2009 by
PennWell. (Registered in U.S. Patent Trademark Office.) All rights reserved. Permission, however, is granted for libraries and others registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC),
222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Phone (508) 750-8400, Fax (508) 750-4744 to photocopy articles for a base fee of $1 per copy of the article plus 35¢ per page. Payment should be
sent directly to the CCC. Requests for bulk orders should be addressed to the Editor. Subscription prices: US $101.00 per year, Canada/Mexico $ 132.00 per year, All other countries $167.00
per year (Airmail delivery: $234.00). Worldwide digital subscriptions: $101 per year. Single copy sales: US $10.00 per issue, Canada/Mexico $12.00 per issue, All other countries $14.00 per is-
sue (Airmail delivery: $22.00. Single copy digital sales: $8 worldwide. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: P.O. Box 122, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6S4. Back issues are available upon
request. POSTMASTER send form 3579 to Offshore, P.O. Box 3200, Northbrook, IL 60065-3200. To receive this magazine in digital format, go to www.omeda.com/os. Ride-Along
enclosed, version P3.

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Do more exploring collaborating

project leading technology leading industry leading

subsurface subsea subanywhere smiling geosteering

globe-trekking horizontal drilling ecothinking biking

groundbreaking digital mapping remote sensing

carbon capturing challenging yourself discovering

rock sampling rock climbing relaxing on the weekends

playing creative thinking stress reducing family bonding

mud logging well logging caring for our environment

life balancing parenting softball playing soccer playing

initiative grabbing pushing the envelope

here.
Do more with your career. Do more with your life. Right here in Houston at
largest deepwater operator in the world. Find your dream job at DoMoreHere.com.

© 2009 StatoilHydro. An equal opportunity employer.

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International Edition
Volume 69, Number 3
March 2009

COVER: Atwood Oceanics’ semi-

submersible drilling rig Atwood Hunter
hit gas on the Noble Energy-operated
deepwater Tamar field offshore Israel.
Post-drill analysis and well test data
indicate a potential flow rate of over 150
MMcf/d from the 5-tcf structure. Noble
Energy and its partners have retained
the rig for two more wells offshore Israel,
include a step-out on Tamar. Other acre-
age in the vicinity is expected to hold
considerable resource potential as well.
Read the full story beginning on page 42.
Conference & Exhibition Photo courtesy of Noble Energy.

knowledge is
YOUR EDGE
SWEDEN

February 2–4 Higher capacity, smoother discharge improve supply vessel cargo handling ........ 68
Syntactic foam wrap helps protect casings against HP/HT damage ....................... 70

2010 Mooring group sees signs of recovery ...................................................................... 71

Stabilized antenna expected to improve satellite coverage on seismic vessel....... 72

Houston, Texas USA

Supply vessel specialist building expertise in ice operations .................................. 73
Micro-seismics technique sheds light on fracturing operations ............................. 74
George R. Brown Convention Center

72
Register today at
www.dotinternational.net

Owned & Produced by:

Flagship Media Sponsors:

D E P A R T M E N T S
®

Comment ............................................... 8 Vessels, Rigs & Surface Systems ....... 26

Supporting Organization:
Data ..................................................... 10 Drilling & Production .......................... 28
Global E&P .......................................... 12 Geosciences ........................................ 30
Offshore Europe .................................. 18 Business Briefs ................................... 76
Conference Proceedings Sponsor:
Gulf of Mexico ..................................... 20 Advertisers’ Index............................... 79
Subsea Systems ................................. 22 Beyond the Horizon ............................ 80

6 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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Do more exploring collaborating

project leading technology leading industry leading

subsurface subsea subanywhere smiling geosteering

creative thinking stress reducing family bonding

globe-trekking horizontal drilling biking ecothinking

team building carbon capturing pushing the envelope

groundbreaking digital mapping remote sensing

rock sampling rock climbing relaxing on the weekends

mud logging well logging caring for our environment

life balancing parenting softball playing soccer playing

initiative grabbing challenging yourself

here.
Do more with your career. Do more with your life. Right here in Houston at one energy
company that believes we should be able to play as hard as we work. ___________
DoMoreHere.com

© 2009 StatoilHydro. An equal opportunity employer.

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COMMENT Eldon Ball • Houston

PennWell
1455 West Loop South, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77027 U.S.A.
Tel: (01) 713 621-9720 • Fax: (01) 713 963-6296
New company, techniques
VICE PRESIDENT and
GROUP PUBLISHER
highlight seismic survey
John Royall This year’s annual Seismic Vessel Survey includes the entrance of a new company
[email protected]
-- Polarcus -- and brings the list of new vessels for 2009 and beyond to eight, according to
the survey by Gene Kliewer, Technology Editor, Subsea & Seismic.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR
Eldon R. Ball David Paganie
Polarcus has three new vessels scheduled for delivery this year and
[email protected] [email protected] three for 2010, while WesternGeco has two scheduled for this year. Addi-
EDITOR-EUROPE TECHNOLOGY EDITOR, tions and deletions of vessels to the list bring the total to 173, compared
Jeremy Beckman SUBSEA & SEISMIC with 169 for 2008.
[email protected] Gene Kliewer
[email protected] The nature of the surveys undertaken today is changing. New acquisi-
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Priti Ubhayakar TECHNOLOGY EDITOR, tion geometries such as wide-azimuth, multi-azimuth, rich-azimuth, and Coil Kliewer
[email protected] DRILLING & PRODUCTION Shooting single-vessel full azimuth acquisition increase illumination of the
John Waggoner subsurface from a wider range of angles and azimuths. These techniques enhance the ac-
PRESENTATION EDITOR [email protected]
Josh Troutman curacy of the inversion of seismic data for Earth properties. In addition, increasing the fre-
[email protected]
quency bandwidth by lowering the minimum frequency of seismic sources has improved
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
steep-dip imaging and overall resolution. Kliewer’s full report begins on page 32.
Nick Terdre (Norway)
David Shields (Mexico) Subsea processing alive, well and growing
Peter Howard Wertheim (Brazil)
Gurdip Singh (Singapore) Operators continue to initiate and to fund studies into subsea boosting, separation,
compression, and power delivery and distribution when developing new fields, as our
SALES report from Michael Padilla of INTECSEA in this month’s issue reflects.
WORLDWIDE SALES MANAGER In an attempt to capture the full value of subsea processing’s technical and eco-
HOUSTON AREA SALES nomic advantages, operators address these options early in field development, Padilla
David Davis [email protected] Tel: (713) 963-6206
Bailey Simpson [email protected]
reports. An increase in overall confidence toward subsea processing packages is the
CUSTOM PUBLISHING
result of ongoing development and the success of current systems. See Padilla’s in-
Roy Markum [email protected] depth report beginning on page 46. And don’t miss the bound-in wall-size poster on
Tel: (713) 963-6220 Subsea Processing.
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Rae Lynn Cooper [email protected]
Tel: (918) 831-9143 • Fax: (918) 831-9415
Port Fourchon thrives despite the economy
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Buoyed by deepwater activity that shows no sign of drying up anytime soon, Port
Tommie Grigg [email protected] Fourchon is sidestepping the economic malaise gripping most of the nation and is not
Tel: (918) 832-9207 • Fax: (918) 831-9482 just coping, but flourishing, as Contributing Editor Jim Redden reports this month.
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES While cash-strapped independents operating on the shelf have pulled back apprecia-
Contact subscriber services for address changes
Tel: (847) 559-7501 • Fax: (847) 291-4816
bly, the bread and butter for Port Fourchon is the deepwater, where it functions as the
Email: [email protected] primary support base for more than 90% of existing projects, Redden notes. “According
to a recent Minerals Management Service (MMS) study, that bread and butter is in no
PETROLEUM EVENTS
Eldon Ball (Houston) [email protected]
danger of going off the shelves in the foreseeable future,” he reports. “In early 2009, the
Niki Vrettos (London) [email protected] federal agency listed 59 “pending” deepwater projects in the Gulf of Mexico, which is in
Frances Webb (London) [email protected] addition to the 33 wells currently being drilled in deep and ultra deepwater. Factoring in
Gail Killough (Houston) [email protected]
the 135 deepwater fields already developed, there are nearly 230 deepwater projects in
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD need of products and services flowing from the port.”
Luke R. Corbett, Anadarko Read his full report on Port Fourchon beginning on page 50.
David J. Greer, Shell International E&P
Jack B. Moore, Cameron Corp.
Hugh O’Donnell, Saipem Gas find off Israel spurs renewed interest
Bruce Crager, J. Ray McDermott Test results from a gas discovery in the Levantine basin point to an
James K. Wicklund, Spinnerhawk Capital Management
emerging subsalt play offshore Israel. The deepwater well on the Tamar
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS structure, 90 km (56 mi) offshore Haifa, encountered three productive
PennWell; 1421 S. Sheridan Rd., Tulsa, OK 74112 reservoirs with thick sands in the Lower Miocene and net pay of more
Member than 460 ft (140 m). Offshore’s Jeremy Beckman, Editor-Europe, gives a
All Rights reserved
Offshore ISSN-0030-0608 full report on activity there in this month’s issue.
Printed in the U.S.A. GST No. 126813153 Gas flowed at a constrained rate of 30 MMcf/d over a limited section of Beckman
CHAIRMAN:
Frank T. Lauinger the lowest reservoir, and operator Noble Energy believes a production rate
of over 150 MMcf/d could be feasible. Noble and its partners are set to retain the rig, the
PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER:
Robert F. Biolchini Atwood Hunter, for two more wells. Beckman’s article begins on page 42.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER:
Mark C. Wilmoth

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40052420

GST No. 126813153 To respond to articles in Offshore, or to offer articles for publication, contact the editor by email (eldonb@
pennwell.com) or fax (1-713-963-6296).

8 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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better subsea production.

Build

With an open system from Open up your subsea network. Weatherford’s production control and
Weatherford, adding or communication systems work with trees from all major manufacturers,
retrofitting equipment
enabling you to easily combine previously incompatible systems. Because
becomes far simpler because
you can mix and match devices on the sea floor, you increase your options
you are no longer tied to
a single manufacturer’s for expanding subsea fields or for retrofitting new designs while delivering
communication protocol, state-of-the-art monitoring, control and data management. Who would
pricing or delivery schedule.
have thought you could simplify subsea operations while increasing
And you can use your existing
speed, flexibility and performance? Weatherford did. For more information
power lines for high-speed
communications. on opening your existing subsea system for state-of-the-art control,

communications and data management, visit weatherford.com.

Weatherford helped StatoilHydro upgrade

subsea communications and increased the
number of downhole gauges from the Visund
platform. The operator can now monitor
performance in wells with more complex
reservoir structures and increase the overall
speed and reliability of communications.

The open database

structure allows the
dissemination of data
from all subsea devices
to real-time operational
and historic databases.
Drilling Evaluation Completion Production Intervention

© 2009 Weatherford International Ltd. All rights reserved. Incorporates proprietary and patented Weatherford technology.

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G L O B A L D ATA

Worldwide day rates

Active rig fleet, February 2009
Year/Month Minimum Average Maximum
Floaters Drillship
Jackups 2008 Feb $43,000 $273,300 $520,000
2008 March $43,000 $273,248 $520,000
Far East
6 (-3) 2008 April $43,000 $273,099 $520,000
22 (+1) 2008 May $43,000 $277,800 $520,000
2008 June $43,000 $279,368 $520,000
North Sea
40 (0) 2008 July $43,000 $292,031 $520,000
35 (+1) 2008 Aug $43,000 $304,291 $525,000
East 2008 Sept $43,000 $316,768 $525,000
Atlantic 2008 Oct $43,000 $323,260 $556,000
2 (0)
2008 Nov $43,000 $327,818 $556,000
0 (0)
US GoM 2008 Dec $43,000 $329,366 $556,000
32 (0) L. America SE Asia 2009 Jan $115,000 $345,318 $558,000
65 (-5) 49 (+2)
14 (+2) Jackup
14 (0)
50 (+2) 2008 Feb $41,000 $134,929 $306,000
Mex GoM 2008 March $41,440 $134,420 $306,000
5 (0) M. East 2008 April $41,440 $134,686 $330,000
33 (+2) 1 (0)
S. Asia 2008 May $41,440 $135,705 $330,000
110 (+3)
W. Africa 10 (0)
32 (+1) 34 (11) 2008 June $41,440 $137,225 $330,000
25 (+1) 2008 July $41,440 $138,033 $330,000
Source: Rigzone.com 2008 Aug $40,000 $140,897 $330,000
2008 Sept $40,000 $142,181 $330,000
2008 Oct $41,440 $144,165 $330,000
GoM drilling permits issued 2008 Nov $35,000 $145,586 $330,000
2008 Dec $35,000 $144,876 $330,000
100 2009 Jan $35,000 $147,131 $330,000
90 Semi
2008 Feb $65,000 $280,308 $500,000
80
70 2008 March $65,000 $283,955 $525,000
Drilling permits

70 2008 April $65,000 $292,031 $525,000

60 2008 May $80,000 $298,607 $525,000
50 49 57 2008 June $80,000 $301,791 $525,000
43 45
39 2008 July $80,000 $307,116 $525,000
40
2008 Aug $80,000 $299,544 $525,000
30 2008 Sept $80,000 $304,872 $525,000
20 25 2008 Oct $80,000 $305,023 $525,000
10 2008 Nov $80,000 $313,713 $580,000
2008 Dec $80,000 $323,835 $637,000
0
July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. 2009 Jan $80,000 $328,177 $637,000
Source: Rigzone.com
Source: US Minerals Management Service

Middle East rig utilization Worldwide rig utilization

90 92
89 90
88 88
87
86
86
Percent

Percent

84
85
82
84
83 80
Jackup Drillship
82 78 Semisub
80 76 Jackup
80 74
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009
Month Month
Source: Rigzone Source: Rigzone

10 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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___________________________

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GLOBAL E&P Jeremy Beckman • London

Deepwater investment continues to rise, and should exceed

$35 billion annually by 2013, according to a report from ana-
lysts Douglas-Westwood. ‘The World Deepwater Market Report
2009-2013’ also forecasts total spending over the coming five
years of $162 billion.
Africa, Brazil, and the Gulf of Mexico will account for 75%
of the global deepwater spend, with Asia also on the rise. One
of the main drivers will be the opening up of reserves farther
from the coast and the incorporation of satellite fields into
deepwater hubs. These activities, and drilling and completion
of subsea development wells, should together account for
almost 70% of total expenditure, according to analyst Thom
Payne.

Americas
Petrobras has unveiled its latest five-year business plan, covering
the period 2009-13. The $174.4 billion program will include for the
first time development projects in the pre-salt area of the Santos and
Espirito Santos basins. Most of the investments will be directed at
Brazil, with the remainder ($16.8 billion) focussed on exploration
and production mainly in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, and else-
where in Latin America.
Four developments are planned for the pre-salt layer of the Santos
basin: the Tupi Pilot, scheduled to start producing in 2010, followed
by Tupi 1 and Guara 1 in 2012, and Iara 1 in 2013. Over the longer
term, the company targets oil production from its interests in Brazil
of 2.68 MMb/d in 2013, 3.34 MMb/d in 2015, and 3.92 MMb/d in
2020. Gas output should also grow, lifting overall domestic produc-
tion from 3.31 MMboe/d in 2013 to 5.1 MMboe/d in 2020.

•••

Pemex has contracted J. Ray McDermott to transport and install

two new drilling platforms to the Bay of Campeche. The Ixtal-B plat-
form comprises a four-leg jacket with 2,205 tons (2,000 metric tons)
of piles, supporting a 2,205-ton topsides load.
The larger Maloob-C platform will feature an eight-leg jacket
fixed by 3,307 tons (3,000 metric tons) of piles and 2,646 tons (2,400 Australia Worldwide Exploration’s working interests’ offshore New Zealand.
metric tons) of conductors, and topsides weighing 2,535 tons (2,299
metric tons). J. Ray’s construction vessel DB50 will mobilize to the Australian Worldwide Exploration has secured the semisubmers-
Mexican sector shortly to perform both sets of installations. ible Kari Tan IV on behalf of a consortium of Australian companies.
The rig has been lined up to drill four exploratory wells off New
••• Zealand – likely targets include the large Hoki oil prospect in permit
PEP 38401, and two other potentially oil-bearing structures close to
Ecopetrol is set to increase its interests in the Fuerte Norte and the producing Tui field.
Fuerte Sur blocks in the Caribbean sector offshore Colombia. Sub- Offshore Taranaki, New Zealand Oil & Gas has won a new explo-
ject to approval by Colombia’s licensing agency ANH, EcoPetrol will ration permit, PEP 51311, covering 3,000 sq km (1,158 sq mi) west
become a 50% license partner in both blocks, currently operated by and south of the Kupe development.
BHP Billiton. The company hopes to secure the seismic vessel Pacific Titan to
acquire 500 km (311 mi) of 2D seismic as part of its work commit-
Australia/New Zealand ment. Regional analysis suggests prospects for oil or wet gas dis-
Nexus Energy has been offered production license AC/L9 in the coveries.
Browse basin off Western Australia, encompassing an area includ-
ing the Crux field and the Auriga and Caelum structures. It is the Europe
final stage of regulatory approval allowing the Crux liquids project In the Norwegian North Sea, Talisman Energy Norge has brought
to go forward. onstream its gas-condensate accumulation Rev via two subsea wells
Recently, Nexus entered negotiations with SBM concerning the connected to a 9-km (5.6-mi) multiphase pipeline to BG’s Armada
supply and operation of an FPSO for the project. It also has finalized platform in UK waters. Modifications to the platform included a new
a settlement with Viking Oil and Gas International and Viking Ship- 450-ton (408-metric ton) separation module built by Burntisland
ping concerning termination of a previous agreement for an FPSO Fabrications, and installation of new subsea control and hypochlo-
for Crux, signed in 2007. rite injection systems. A third well should be added later this year.

••• •••

12 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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GLOBAL E&P

Iceland’s National Energy Authority West Africa

has unveiled the country’s first offshore Petrosen has approved Australian
licensing round, on the Dreki area in the company FAR to assume operatorship
Atlantic Ocean. The region on offer cov- of the Rufisque, Sangoma, and Sango-
ers more than 42,700 sq km (16,487 sq mar Deep blocks offshore Senegal.
mi) on the Jan Mayen Ridge, between The two co-venturers already have
northeast Iceland and the island of Jan acquired over 2,000 sq km (772 sq m)
Mayen. Water depths range from 3,280 of 3D seismic, and identified several
to 6,562 ft (1,000 to 2,000 m). exploration plays.
License applications may cover one
or more blocks or part-blocks, up to a •••
maximum of 800 sq km (309 sq mi).
Available data includes a speculative Noble Energy has discovered oil in
survey acquired in 2001, and an Icelan- the Carmen prospect on block O off-
dic-Norwegian governmental survey shore Equatorial Guinea. The well, in
conducted during 1985-88. 150 ft (46 m) of water, encountered 26
ft (7.9 m) of net oil pay and 13 ft (4 m)
Russia of net gas pay while testing a Lower
Gazprom’s management committee Miocene reservoir. Noble claims the
has drawn up a six-point plan designed oil sourcing extends from block I
to progress development of major oil, to the south, where it has two sepa-
gas, and condensate fields in the Rus- rate discoveries. It is aiming for first
sian Arctic Sea. It aims to bring on- production in 2012 from a combined
stream the Prirazlomonye field in 2011, development which could also tie in
Shtokman in 2013, and Kirinskoye in Carmen.
2014. The committee also proposed
submitting an amended program for Caspian Sea
Gazprom’s activities aimed at pursuing The Kazakhstan Authority and its
hydrocarbon resources development seven co-venturers in the Kashagan
on the Russian shelf through 2030. Noble Energy’s prospects offshore Equatorial Guinea. project have appointed a new joint

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GLOBAL E&P

operating company for the North Caspian Sea Production Shar- India
ing Agreement. North Caspian Operating Co. (NCOC) assumes ONGC has approved the second phase of the Mumbai High
all responsibilities previously held by Agip KCO, including project North redevelopment project, designed to improve recovery from
planning and coordination, reservoir modeling, conceptual stud- the field. Under the program, the company will drill 73 new wells
ies, appraisal and early development planning, and interfaces with and side track 38 low-performance existing producers. It also will
the Kazakh government. integrate development of the small L-I and L-II reservoirs with the
main L-III reservoir to lift overall oil output.
Middle East
BP/RWE Dea have discovered gas with a deepwater well in the Asia-Pacific
West Nile Delta off Egypt. The Ruby-3 well, in 920 m (3,018 ft) of CNOOC has earmarked $6.76 billion for upstream capital expendi-
water, penetrated gas-bearing sandstones in the Pliocene interval. ture this year, an increase of 19%, with $4.38 billion budgeted for devel-
Evaluation of the results is continuing, but the partners plan to ap- opment, $1.11 billion for exploration, and $1.12 billion for production.
praise other gas finds in the area before resuming exploration of The company expects to have over 20 development projects under
this structure. construction in 2009, with 10 projects scheduled to come onstream,
Also in the Nile Delta region, Dana Gas has achieved its second including eight offshore China. It also plans to drill more than 80 wells
gas discovery in quick succession this year in its West Manzala con- and acquire a total of 39,200 sq km (22,196 sq mi) of 2D and 3D seis-
cession. The West Manzala-2 (Haggag prospect) encountered a pos- mic off China and elsewhere.
sible 20 bcf of dry gas within two zones in the Pliocene Kafr El Shikh
formation. The location is a few hundred meters from the pipeline •••
connected to the company’s South Manzala gas processing facility.
American Technologies Inc. Petroleum (ATIP) is back to work on its
••• Yen-Tu 1X well, reportedly North Vietnam’s first oil discovery. The well
was spudded in 2004, encountering hydrocarbon-bearing formations in
Fabrication of four offshore platforms is under way at the new Lower Miocene and carbonate basement intervals. It was then plugged
STAR yard in Dammam. This is Saudi Arabia’s first in-kingdom off- and abandoned pending further appraisal.
shore construction facility. It was developed to service a long-term ATIP recently re-opened the well for testing, following another success-
agreement contract awarded to a consortium of Snamprogetti Saudi ful program on last summer’s nearby Ham Rong discovery in the Song
Arabia, Saipem, and TAQA. The yard covers an area of 300,000 sq m Hong basin. Ham Rong 1X was drilled to 3,700 m (12,139 ft) TD after again
(74 acres), and is capable of fabricating 14,000 metric tons (15,432 finding hydrocarbons in carbonate basement. According to ATIP, drillstem
tons) per year of structural steel. testing revealed open flow production at a commercial rate. 

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OFFSHORE EUROPE Jeremy Beckman • London

Sevan bid clinches Goliat

Eni Norge has chosen Sevan’s cylinder-shaped FPSO for its Goliat
development in the Barents Sea. Sevan was one of two contractors vy-
ing in a front-end engineering design (FEED) competition, the other
being Aker Solutions with its concrete-hulled Condeep MonoFloater.
Sevan is now working on post-FEED engineering under a separate,
NOK150 million ($21.76 million) contract. The proposed concept, the
Sevan 1000, will be the largest of the buoy-type floaters designed by
the company to date, capable of producing oil at 100,000 b/d, gas at 3.9
MMcm/d (138 MMcf/d), and with oil storage capacity of 1 MMbbl.
Goliat, now expected on stream in 2013, will be the first oilfield
project in the Barents Sea. Various measures will be adopted to quell
environmental concerns, including supply of electrical power direct
from the shore in an attempt to limit CO2 emissions; and use of bal- Sonsub recently completed its operations on Total’s Frigg sea lines
last tanks in the sides and bottom area of the steel hull to limit leaks decommissioning project in the North Sea. The scope of work included
from the oil containment system. The entire process plant will be preparation, removal and disposal of all infield pipelines within a
enclosed to protect both equipment and crew during winter. designated 500-m (1,640-ft) zone, plus power cables, umbilicals, com-
munication lines, grout and sand bags, and concrete mattresses. The
Aker Solutions remains in the running for the engineering, pro-
program required the services of two vessels, the Normand Cutter and
curement and construction contract. All previous Sevan FPSOs have the multipurpose support vessel Far Sovereign. The latter recovered all
been built in the Far East, followed by outfitting in Rotterdam. infield flexible and small diameter rigid lines using a reverse reeling
method, a first for Sonsub.
Investor gloom dents UK activity
Exploration drilling on the UK shelf remained strong last year, encountered a substantial hydrocarbons column in Mid-Triassic to
according to the latest survey from Oil & Gas UK. The association Triassic-age reservoirs.
identified 109 exploratory and appraisal well spuds, including side- In the same region, Houston-based Endeavour managed a suc-
tracks, but activity started to dip in the final quarter. cessful up-dip appraisal of the undeveloped Rochelle find in block
The picture looks gloomier going forward, with operator mem- 15/27, which the company acquired in 2006. The well intersected 77
bers revealing plans for only 34 firm E&A wells in UK waters this ft (23.5 m) of net gas-condensate pay in Lower Cretaceous Kopervik
year, plus another 33 “non-firm” wells. In 2010, the survey identifies sandstone: recoverable reserves could be over 30 MMboe, better
only 10 firm E&A wells at present. than pre-drill estimates.
Investor confidence is largely to blame, with capital increasingly Endeavour’s partner, Nexen, made an oil discovery of its own
hard to come by. Lower oil and gas prices are also impacting devel- with the Hobby well in central block 20/1N, 1.5 km (0.94 mi) west
opment, according to the survey with many planned projects barely of its recent Golden Eagle find. It plans to drill multiple sidetracks to
economic at even $50/bbl. Cost inflation is another issue: in recent delineate the extent of both structures.
years the UK industry has had to spend more to extract fewer bar- High-performance development drilling last year also helped
rels. If trends continue, investments in new and existing UK fields Nexen prove a further 29 MMboe of reserves at its central North
could slide from $7.17 billion in 2008 to $3.58 billion in 2010. Sea Buzzard complex. Later this year, Nexen expects to install the
jacket for a fourth platform with production-sweetening facilities to
Hot spots emerge in Moray Firth treat high levels of hydrogen sulfide.
Despite the tail-off in exploration, wells in the UK North Sea con-
tinue to deliver. In the Moray Firth, Maersk discovered gas and con- Noreco in mood to merge
densate in the Culzean structure in block 22/25a, south of the Atlan- Stavanger-based Norwegian Energy Co. (Noreco) has proposed a
tic and Cromarty fields. The high-pressure/high-temperature well merger with Det norske oljeselskap, which would create the largest
E&P independent on the Oslo stock exchange. The combined group
would have interests in various discoveries and 100 exploration li-
censes in Norway, Denmark, and the UK, and production totaling
18,000 boe/d.
It would also have a market capitalization exceeding NOK4 bil-
lion ($580 million), with no need for additional equity funding for
its investment programs, according to Noreco. The proposed share
exchange ratio would favor shareholders in Det norske, giving them
a 52.5% ownership in the new entity.
Det norske, however, has its own views on the way forward, hav-
ing appointed a new board and chairman, Diderik Schnittler, the lat-
ter a former managing director of Saga Petroleum. It also has been
talking with what it terms “a foreign actor” concerning a potential
strategic and financial cooperation.
Offshore Norway, the company operates 27 licenses, and this
year plans to participate in 15 exploration wells. Its targets include
the 10-80 MMboe Grevling prospect in production license 038 in the
North Sea – here it recently increased its acreage position following
a swap of license interests with Talisman Energy Norge. If a well
here is successful, the company might opt for development through
Map locates Maersk Oil’s Culzean discovery in the Moray Firth. Talisman’s Varg floater, 20 km (12.5 mi) to the south. 

18 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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GULF OF MEXICO David Paganie • Houston

Minimizing uncertainty
key to Lower Tertiary
development
Minimizing uncertainty is one of six keys to
commercially develop Lower Tertiary fields
in the US Gulf of Mexico, suggested Richard
D’Souza, Granherne Americas/KBR, in his
presentation at the Deep Offshore Technol-
ogy International Conference & Exhibition in
New Orleans, Louisiana.
D’Souza talked about the technical and Garden Banks 463
economic challenges in developing Lower Bushwood
Green Canyon 643
Friesian
Tertiary fields. Some of the characteristics Green Canyon 859
Heidelberg
of the trend are low rock permeabilty, high Walker Ridge 52
Shenandoah
pressure and temperature, deep reservoirs
in deepwater, high viscosity/low GOR flu-
Keathley Canyon 872
ids, large salt canopies (7,000 ft [2,134 m] to Buckskin

>20,000 ft [6,096 m]), all remote from exist-

ing infrastructure. Success rate continues the second half of this year.
Drilling and completion dominate the devel- Drilling success in the Lower Tertiary con- Mariner Energy has made a gas discovery at
opment cost of a Lower Tertiary well, D’Souza tinues with the Buckskin and Shenandoah the Bushwood prospect in Garden Banks block
said. This is about 50-60% of the overall field discoveries. The Chevron-operated Buckskin 463. The Bushwood No. 1 (formerly Geauxpher
development cost. A typical well could take oil discovery is in Keathley Canyon block 872 No. 3) discovery well, drilled in 2,700 ft (823 m)
200-250 days to drill at $150-$250 million. about 44 mi (71 km) west of the company’s of water to 25,300 ft (7,711 m) deep, logged more
Lower Tertiary drilling has had a success Jack discovery. than 260 ft (79 m) TVT of net gas pay in multiple
rate of about 60% since the first discovery on The Buckskin No. 1 well, drilled in 6,920 ft sands, with more than 150 ft (46 m) TVT of net
Great White in 2002, but there is a high level (2,109 m) of water to 29,404 ft (8,962 m) deep, gas pay found in the deeper exploratory section.
of uncertainty in reservoir performance with encountered more than 300 ft (91 m) of net pay.
no production analogs to date. MMS estimates More tests are being conducted on data Friesian offset draws
3-15 Bboe are recoverable in the trend. gathered from the discovery well, and addi- parallel to Tahiti
The combination of minimizing uncer- tional work on the field is needed to deter- Plains Exploration & Production Co. says
tainty in reservoir performance and well pro- mine the extent and commercial viability of data from its Friesian No. 2 discovery well show
ductivity is one of six keys to commercially the discovery, Chevron says. a strong correlation, both geologic and pres-
develop Lower Tertiary reserves, D’Souza The Anadarko-operated Shenandoah dis- sure, to the initial Miocene pay sands at Tahiti.
explained. He pointed to three strategies covery is in Walker Ridge block 52. The dis- The PXP-operated well, in Green Canyon
to reduce uncertainty: Drillstem test (up to covery well, drilled in 5,750 ft (1,753 m) of wa- block 643 approximately 3,300 ft (1,006 m)
60 days), extended or long-term test (6-24 ter to 30,000 ft (9,144 m) deep, encountered due south of the initial discovery well, was
months), and early production or phase de- more than 300 ft (91 m) of net oil pay. drilled to a TD of 28,989 ft (8,836 m). It en-
velopment (more than three years). Ideally, Anadarko and partners are evaluating the countered approximately 389 ft (119 m) of net
the operator needs to flow a well at least 12 well results and the next steps toward future oil in Miocene-age sands.
months to increase confidence in well rates appraisal activity. These pay sands are the uppermost field
and recovery, he said. “Initial data indicate the Shenandoah dis- pays at the Tahiti field approximately eight
A drillstem test was carried out on Chev- covery has reservoir properties that appear mi (13 km) to the west across the basin syn-
ron’s Jack discovery, an extended well test to be of much higher quality than industry cline, the company says.
has not yet been done in the GoM, and has seen previously in the emerging Lower PXP and its partner have opted to deepen the
Petrobras is using a phase development ap- Tertiary play,” says Bob Daniels, Anadarko Friesian No.2 well by an additional 3,500 ft (1,067
proach for its Cascade-Chinook project. senior VP of worldwide exploration. m) to 32,500 ft (9,906 m) true vertical depth to
In the production phase, some form of ar- Anadarko also made a deepwater oil dis- test the main field equivalent sands such as the
tificial lift is required to enhance recovery covery at the Heidelberg prospect in Green M15, M18, M21A, and M21B at Tahiti. Several of
from Lower Tertiary wells, D’Souza said. Canyon block 859. The discovery well, drilled these Tahiti pay sands have flow tested in excess
Downhole (ESP) or mudline pumps are in 5,000 ft (1,524 m) of water to 28,500 ft (8,687 of 25,000 b/d of oil, according to PXP.
most effective to maintain reservoir pres- m) deep, encountered more than 200 ft (61 Diamond Offshore’s semisubmersible drill-
sure, but water injection and gas lift also are m) of net oil pay in several Miocene sands. ing rig Ocean Monarch was scheduled to arrive
viable. Subsea boosting and processing are “The Heidelberg discovery further vali- on site in early March to begin deepening the
possibilities, but a step-change in the tech- dates our geologic understanding of the sub- well. First production is targeted in 2012.
nology is needed to meet the technical chal- salt Miocene trend,” Daniels says. “The well In other deepwater news, Nexen says it
lenges in the Lower Tertiary, he said. encountered the same age sands and reser- expects first production from its Sargent dis-
Shell is using subsea processing for its Per- voir characteristics similar to the previously covery to come in 2010. Development plans
dido development, slated for first production in announced Caesar/Tonga discoveries.” are for a single-well tieback from the discov-
late 2009/early 2010. The technologies devel- Heidelberg’s proximity to Anadarko’s ery well in Garden Banks block 339 to exist-
oped for Perdido and Petrobras’ Cascade-Chi- 100%-owned Constitution spar enhances the ing infrastructure in the area. The company
nook, scheduled for first production in 2010, company’s flexibility to consider a variety of also says a feasibility study is under way for
“will be enablers for the many Lower Tertiary development options after further appraisal, development of the Shell-operated Vicksburg
discoveries in the queue,” D’Souza said. which Anadarko says it intends to conduct in discovery in DeSoto Canyon block 353. 

20 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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SUBSEA SYSTEMS Gene Kliewer • Houston

Subsea market
target of studies FPSO
Two market data research companies recently addressed the
condition of the subsea market. Douglas-Westwood examined
the world’s deepwater market and Infield Energy Analysts took a FPSO mooring tether
look at the global subsea market.
water depth
Deepwater: The World Deepwater Market Report 2009-
Riser base 290 m
2013 forecasts oil and gas spending over that time will total
Flowline and umbilical riser
$162 billion. Trees
“Overall, despite more moderate levels of expenditure during
2009 and 2010 relative to 2008, the deepwater sector is forecast to
Mooring
continue its growth trend, with annual expenditure reaching over base
$35 billion by 2013,” says Steve Robertson, Douglas-Westwood’s Jumpers
Oil & Gas manager. Horizontal wells
“The ‘golden triangle’ of deepwater, namely Africa, the Gulf
of Mexico and Brazil, will account for nearly 75% of global ex-
penditure,” concludes analyst Thom Payne. “For Africa, a large
According to Galoc Production Co, operator of Galoc field, repairs to mooring
number of world-class developments are under way or planned and risers are under way at the field in SC 14C off the west coast of Palawan in
for the forecast period and valued at $60 billion. North America, the Philippines. At the time of the report, all necessary equipment for repairs
which in deepwater terms means the US Gulf of Mexico, is set was at the field along with a saturation diving team and two support vessels, the
for substantial spend with $29.3 billion forecast for the 2009- AHV Sea Sovereign and the Rubicon Maverick. The work was scheduled to be
2013 period. Latin American activity (also $29 billion) is domi- completed by publication date.
nated by Brazil and, given the potential of the country’s presalt
reserves, this is likely to remain the case for some time. The emer- in the next five years. The biggest players are expected to be Petrobras
gence of Asia as a significant region should not be overlooked, with ex- (374), Shell (244), Total (237), Chevron (236), BP (229), ExxonMobil
penditure over the 2009-2013 period increasing by 90% when compared (215), and StatoilHydro (194).
to 2004-2008 and accounting for 9% of forecast global spend.” Now with limited access to financing and a lower price outlook
Global subsea: From 2009 to 2013, total global subsea equipment, there are questions regarding the viability of future projects. It is
and drilling and completion spending will exceed $80 billion, estimates smaller single-well tiebacks that can have sanction rates up to $65/
Infield Energy Analysts. Some 3,222 trees are expected for startup with- bbl whereas larger floating projects can be sanctioned at as little as

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__________________________________

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SUBSEA SYSTEMS

$23/bbl. The smaller projects in Europe and Program (UDW).

in Southeast Asia are most at risk and could Subsea Boosting The project will report on and establish a
see potential delays and cancellations, says & Processing Poster characterization database of deepwater and
the report. This issue of Offshore contains the ultra deepwater assets in the Gulf of Mexico
Latin America: Petrobras is going all-electric second-ever collection of subsea boost- focused on incentives, needs assessment analy-
at its Roncador Module III project. It has award- ing and processing equipment and proj- ses, and concepts identification for the applica-
ed a $75-million contract to FMC Technologies ects from around the world. The poster tion of improved recovery techniques (IOR/
to engineer and manufacture four subsea mani- is updated from last year and contains EOR) in deepwater. The project will be directed
folds and controls for the project incorporating new features along with the new data. by Knowledge Reservoir, with primary project
FMC’s all-electric technology. FMC’s scope of participants Louisiana State University and An-
supply consists of two, six-slot subsea manifolds Asia/Pacific: Trident Australia has award- adarko Petroleum.
to distribute gas lift injection to 12 wells. These ed CTC Marine a contract through August The project aims to identify improved re-
manifolds also are to contain 12 subsea control for diving support, installation, trenching, covery opportunities in the early stages of
modules to provide electro-hydraulic functions burial, and riser installation services at Long- field development planning so facility and
to operate the manifolds and subsea trees. The tom. This covers installation and trenching of well designs can be optimized to take imple-
company also will supply two additional mani- more than 20 km (12 mi) of umbilicals. ment those opportunities.
folds for water injection using All-Electric actua- Africa: BP has signed an $80-million con- The project will include characterization
tors for the operation of the chokes. The equip- tract with FMC Technologies for manufacture of deepwater and ultra deepwater reservoir
ment will be engineered and manufactured at and supply of subsea equipment for ongoing assets, and will compile and categorize key
FMC Technologies’ facility in Rio de Janeiro projects offshore Angola. Under the agree- causes of trapped and remaining hydrocar-
with deliveries expected to start in 2010. ment, FMC would supply six subsea trees, bons in such reservoirs. The prioritization of
Europe: StatoilHydro has contracted Trico control systems, wellheads, tubing hangars, technology gaps in improved recovery meth-
Marine Services Inc.’s DeepOcean AS to con- well jumpers, and flow bases for delivery this ods will also be addressed as relates to deep-
duct inspections of production platforms in year from its facilities in Kongsberg, Norway, water and ultra deepwater reservoirs, with the
the North Sea using Edda Fonn. StatoilHydro and Dunfermline, Scotland. aim to identify leading concepts for future re-
will use the vessel for a scheduled four-months Gulf of Mexico: Knowledge Reservoir has search, investment, development, testing, and
starting in April for survey work. The same ves- contracted to provide project direction and deployment/application. A thorough and com-
sel is scheduled to conduct surveys for Enagas technical services for a project awarded un- prehensive review of IOR/EOR techniques,
off Gibraltar. DeepOcean will perform a survey der the Research Partnership to Secure En- experience and best practices, both on- and
of gas pipelines from Spain to Morroco. ergy for America (RPSEA) Ultra-Deepwater offshore, will be conducted. 

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31 March - 2 April 2009

IMPACT Exhibition & Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
 Incorporating Subsea Technology Asia  www.offshoreasiaevent.com

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𰁴𰀁𰀣𰁆𰁏𰁆𰁭𰁕𰀁𰁇𰁓𰁐𰁎𰀁𰁏𰁆𰁕𰁘𰁐𰁓𰁌𰁊𰁏𰁈𰀁𰁃𰁚𰀁𰁔𰁉𰁂𰁓𰁊𰁏𰁈𰀁𰁊𰁏𰁇𰁐𰁓𰁎𰁂𰁕𰁊𰁐𰁏
𰁴𰀁𰀥𰁊𰁔𰁄𰁐𰁗𰁆𰁓𰀁𰁂𰁏𰁅𰀁𰁆𰁗𰁂𰁍𰁖𰁂𰁕𰁆𰀁𰁑𰁓𰁐𰁅𰁖𰁄𰁕𰁔𰀁𰁂𰁏𰁅𰀁𰁔𰁆𰁓𰁗𰁊𰁄𰁆𰁔
𰁴𰀁𰀦𰁙𰁂𰁎𰁊𰁏𰁆𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁆𰀁𰁍𰁂𰁕𰁆𰁔𰁕𰀁𰁑𰁓𰁐𰁅𰁖𰁄𰁕𰁔𰀍𰀁𰁎𰁆𰁆𰁕𰀁𰁘𰁊𰁕𰁉𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁆𰀁𰁎𰁂𰁏𰁖𰁇𰁂𰁄𰁕𰁖𰁓𰁆𰁓𰁔𰀁𰁕𰁐𰀁𰁍𰁆𰁂𰁓𰁏𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁆𰀁𰁃𰁆𰁏𰁆𰁭𰁕𰁔𰀁𰁚𰁐𰁖𰀁𰁘𰁊𰁍𰁍𰀁𰁈𰁆𰁕𰀁𰁇𰁓𰁐𰁎𰀁𰀁
𰀁𰀁𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁆𰁊𰁓𰀁𰁖𰁔𰁆
𰁴𰀁𰀵𰁂𰁌𰁆𰀁𰁂𰁅𰁗𰁂𰁏𰁕𰁂𰁈𰁆𰀁𰁐𰁇𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁆𰀁𰁌𰁏𰁐𰁘𰁍𰁆𰁅𰁈𰁆𰀁𰁕𰁓𰁂𰁏𰁔𰁇𰁆𰁓𰀁𰁘𰁊𰁕𰁉𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁆𰀁𰁃𰁆𰁔𰁕𰀁𰁂𰁏𰁅𰀁𰁃𰁓𰁊𰁈𰁉𰁕𰁆𰁔𰁕𰀁𰁊𰁏𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁆𰀁𰁐𰁇𰁇𰁔𰁉𰁐𰁓𰁆𰀁𰁊𰁏𰁅𰁖𰁔𰁕𰁓𰁚
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VESSELS, RIGS, & SURFACE SYSTEMS David Paganie • Houston

Keppel delivers Construction of its sister rig Deepsea Sta-

semi, jackup, FDPSO vanger is under way, with delivery scheduled
Keppel FELS has delivered the semisub- for 2Q 2010. In addition, Odfjell Drilling in
mersible Development Driller III to Trans- cooperation with Metrostar has two drill-
ocean, the jackup Mærsk Resolve to Mærsk ships under construction in South Korea for
Drilling, and the world’s first FDPSO Azur- delivery in 2011.
ite to Prosafe Production.
The semisubmersible drilling rig is Sea Dragon, Vantage
built to Keppel’s proprietary DSS 51 de- enter rig management
sign, with Transocean’s dual-activity drill- agreement
ing technology. It can drill wells in up to Sea Dragon Offshore has issued Van-
2,286 m (7,500 ft) of water, upgradable to tage Drilling Co. a management agree-
3,048 m (10,000 ft), to 11,430 (37,500 ft) ment for one of its two deepwater semi-
deep, upgradable to 12,192 m (40,000 ft). submersible drilling rigs, with an option
The jackup drilling rig is the third of to include the second unit. The rigs are
four to be delivered to Mærsk. It can drill designed to drill in up to 10,000 ft (3,048
high-pressure/high-temperature wells in m) of water to 30,000 ft (9,144 m) deep.
up to 350 ft (107 m) of water to 30,000 ft Pursuant to the management agree-
(9,144 m) deep. ment, Vantage will receive fees during
The FDPSO will be deployed off the the construction phase of the project plus
Republic of Congo at the Murphy-operat- performance-based completion incentives.
ed Azurite development in the Mer Pro- During the operations phase, Vantage will
fonde Sud block. receive fixed and variable daily fees. Analyt-
The vessel is equipped with a modular ics firm Pritchard Capital Partners expects
drilling package that can be removed and the arrangement could amount to about $5
reused elsewhere when the production million/rig/year to Vantage.
wells have been drilled. It has storage Mosvold Drilling and Hercules Off-
capacity of 1.4 MMbbl of oil and process shore have entered into a similar arrange-
capacity of 60,000 b/d of fluid and 40,000 ment, according to a Raymond James re-
b/d of oil, and will be spread-moored in search report. Mosvold has two newbuild
Transocean’s semi Development Driller III is scheduled to
1,400 m (4,593 ft) of water. jackups and will pay Hercules a marketing
work first for BP in the US Gulf of Mexico. Photo courtesy
of Transocean and Ken Childress. fee once it secures contracts, as well as
PETRORIG I set to sail management fees to run the rigs once they
Sembcorp Marine’s Jurong Shipyard has completed turnkey con- have been delivered, the report says.
struction of PETRORIG I, the first of four semisubmersible drilling James projects Hercules could gross at least $4 million in 2010 from
rigs for Larsen Oil & Gas. The rig was scheduled to be delivered in these fees.
March for a five-year charter with Petro-
bras America in the US Gulf of Mexico. Superior Energy
The semi is a sixth-generation Friede adds to fleet
& Goldman Ex-D Millennium Class de- Superior Energy Services has taken
sign equipped with capacity to drill in delivery of derrick barge Superior Pride.
up to 10,000 ft (3,048 m) of water in DP The vessel is 400 ft (122 m) long, 100
mode to 37,500 ft (11,430 m) total depth. ft (30 m) wide, and 32 ft (9.8 m) deep,
Larsen’s PETRORIG II and PETRO- and features an 880-metric ton (970-ton)
RIG III have secured five-year charters Huisman crane, full galley, and accom-
as well, with Petrobras for work offshore modations for 360 people.
Brazil and with Pemex for deployment The barge was delivered to Superior in
offshore Mexico, respectively. Xiamen, China, where it was loaded onto
the Dockwise submersible ship Trustee
Deepsea Atlantic for a 30-day voyage to West Africa where
moves to Norway it will be employed under a long-term
The semisubmersible drilling rig Deep- contract.
sea Atlantic has been handed over to Od-
fjell Invest. The rig will undergo sea trials Mitsubishi, Petrobras
in Norway before it begins its four-year to build drillship
contract with StatoilHydro in May. Mitsubishi and Petrobras have formed
a 50/50 joint venture company that will
own a 10,000-ft (3,048-m) rated drillship.
DSME shipyard in South Korea delivered The $830-million vessel is scheduled for
the semi Deepsea Atlantic to Odfjell follow- delivery in June 2010 to an affiliate of
ing a 20-month construction period. Photo Schahin Engenharia for work in Brazil
courtesy of Odfjell. and overseas. 

26 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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DRILLING & PRODUCTION John Waggoner • Houston

Brazil’s OGX launches drilling debut once the rigs are delivered in September.
Brazil’s largest independent oil and gas company in terms of off- “Upon completion of the first two wells operated by OGX, we ex-
shore acreage has launched its initial exploratory campaign. pect to begin drilling two additional prospects in the Campos basin
Startup operator OGX raised $4.1 billion in last year’s initial public which will most likely begin towards the end of 2009 and continue
offering despite the fact it has yet to produce any oil. The record- into early 2010. Our sixth well scheduled for 2009 will be in the San-
setting IPO set the stage for the first serious local contender to com- tos basin and should start in November after we receive our third
pete with heavyweights such as national oil company Petrobras. rig,” says Landim. 
During Brazil’s ninth oil and gas licensing
round, OGX acquired concession blocks cover-
ing approximately 7,000 sq km (1.7 million acres).
Hoping to pursue additional growth opportuni-
ties, the company also has a farm-in agreement
for a 50% participating interest in an exploration
block in the Santos basin, totaling 6,800 square
km (1.68 million acres).
The acreage includes 21 high-potential explor-
atory blocks in the Campos, Santos, Espírito San-
to, and Pará-Maranhão basins.
Based on an appraisal by DeGolyer & MacNaugh-
ton, this acreage contains prospective resources of
20.180 Bboe and natural gas, and net risked pro-
spective resources of 4.835 Bboe. The net risked
prospective resources assume a 27% probability
of exploratory success. However, the exploration
team at OGX believes that the average success rate
could be closer to 50%.
Enthusiasm over these prospects has been (Above) Campos basin. (Below) Santos basin.
buoyed in part by the composition of the com-
pany’s management team, whose influence and
experience extend through the highest echelons
of Brazil’s corporate and political spheres.
Founded by Brazilian mega-investor Eike Ba-
tista, OGX has brought together top engineers se-
lectively recruited from Petrobras, a management
team with extensive experience in the energy in-
dustry, and a board of directors that includes two
former energy ministers, one former finance min-
ister, and one former president of Petrobras.
“We plan to drill 51 wells in the next four years
in order to prove our oil and gas reserves while
developing our initial discoveries,” says CEO Ro-
dolfo Landim.
The company expects to begin drilling in San-
tos with partner Maersk Oil by the end of 2Q
2009. Drilling will begin on two wells in Campos

Milestones at a glance tional. Two rigs are starting in September 2009, another will
begin in October, and the last one is scheduled to start in the
In the past six months OGX has completed a 3D seismic
beginning of 2010, but could start earlier.
campaign, hired four semis, chartered six vessels and two
• Logistics: So far OGX has chartered six vessels, five of which
helicopters for logistical support, contracted an onshore base,
are being built in Brazil, and two helicopters to service rigs in
acquired all critical drilling materials and built a state-of-the-art
Campos and Santos. Suppliers include Edison Chouest, Nor-
3D visualization center. While the drilling program was acceler-
skan Offshore, and Aeróleo. OGX also secured with Briclog
ated ahead of its initial schedule, Landim says costs have been
its onshore supply base in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
contained.
• Drilling services and equipment: All materials, services and
• Seismic: 3D seismic data shooting in the Campos and
equipment have been secured, including wellheads from
Pará-Maranhão basins was completed in December 2008.
Vetco, casing from V&M do Brasil, and drilling fluid from
Seismic acquisition in the Espírito Santo blocks is seven
MI-SWACO. OGX has retained engineering services from
months ahead of the original timetable. Existing 3D seismic
Schlumberger and Halliburton, and casing running services
data for Santos basin was enhanced for interpretation, which
from Frank’s International.
is scheduled to be complete by mid-2009 for the Campos,
• 3D visualization: OGX built a state-of-the-art visualiza-
Santos, and Pará- Maranhão basins, while Espírito Santo will
tion center at their Rio de Janeiro headquarters to further
be ready by December 2009.
enhance integration between teams of specialists, improve
• Drilling rigs: OGX hired four semisubmersible rigs, three of
decision-making, and increase productivity.
them from Diamond Offshore and one from Pride Interna-

28 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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GEOSCIENCES Gene Kliewer • Houston

Asia/Pacific: New Zealand Oil & Gas Africa: An ocean-bottom seismic pro-
Ltd. has contacted the Pacific Titan about gram is planned for the Agbami field
running a 500-km (311-mi), 2D seismic offshore Nigeria. Star Deepwater Petro-
survey over Petroleum Exploration Per- leum Ltd., a Chevron Nigeria Ltd. affili-
mit 51311 offshore Taranaki southwest ate and operator of Agbami, has agreed
of the Kupe development. The permit off- with SeaBird Exploration Ltd. and its
shore New Zealand recently was award- local partner Sonar Ltd. for survey de-
ed by Crown Minerals following NZOG’s sign and acquisition of seismic data. The
November 2008 “Priority in Time” appli- Hugin Explorer is scheduled to collect
cation. The vessel is in area waters. The data with Kondor Explorer as the source
permit is for an initial five years with eval- vessel. A CASE Abyss 4C autonomous
uation to be done in the first two years and seismic recording system will be used
a decision on drilling an exploration well is on the seafloor. Pre-survey geophysical
to come by the end of the second year. modeling, final contract terms, approv-
“There are a number of separate clo- als, and survey start are expected to be
sures formed by upper Miocene sands, complete in 2Q 2009.
eroded by submarine channels, which were A 940-sq km (363-sq mi) seismic in-
then in-filled by younger mudstones,” says version program is under way on Jubi-
CEO David Salisbury of NZOG. “These lee field offshore Ghana to integrate log
mudstones may have formed an effective and core data from Hyedua-1, Hyedua-2,
lateral seal, trapping oil and/or gas. Similar Mahogany-2, Mahogany-2, and Mahog-
oil bearing structures are known to exist in any-3 wells.
the Sacramento Valley in California and in “The original seismic inversion we con-
the Gulf of Mexico.” ducted for Kosmos Energy and partners
was limited to the West Cape Three Points
block and covered 150 sq km (58 sq mi),”
NZOG plans 500 km (311 mi) of 2D seismic says Gareth Taylor, Rock Solid Images
data collection offshore New Zealand. senior VP. “However, with only the Ma-
Proposed lines are shown on this map.
hogany-1 well as a calibration point, we
successfully predicted the presence of
pay in the Mahogany-2 and Mahogany-3 wells
so we are confident we will be able to contribute
substantively to a comprehensive appraisal and
delineation of this world-class field.”
Fugro Global Environmental & Ocean Sci-
ences Ltd. has won two contracts for metocean
work off the east coast of Africa. One contract
covers current measurement in 5,577 ft (1,700
m) water depth off Tanzania for Ophir Ener-
gy. The second is a joint-industry metocean off
Tanzania and Mozambique for StatoilHydro,
Dominion Tanzania Ltd., Petrobras, Petronas,
and Anadarko Energy. That study is in water
depths from 3,609 ft (1,100 m) to 9,843 ft (3,000
m) water depth.
Canamens is embarking on a round of explo-
ration offshore Morocco following the award
of contracts and agreements with Morocco’s
Office National Hydrocarbures et des Mines.
Canamens says it will reprocess and acquire
new 2D data in the Essaouira Shallow Offshore
in water less than 500 m (1,640 ft) and based
upon the results chose whether to convert the
license into an exploration permit. In the Es-
saouira Deep Offshore area with water depths
greater than 500 m (1,640 ft), Canamens plans
to reprocess and acquire new 2D data with an
option to extend into a 3D and drilling commit-
ment. The acreages totals more than 11,000 sq
km (4,247 sq mi) and Canamens holds 75% with
ONHYM holding the remainder.
Latin America: Reliance Industries con-
tracted Wavefield Inseis and Discoverer 2 to
____________________ conduct a seismic survey on Borojo Norte and

30 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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Borojo Sur blocks offshore Colombia, which

was scheduled to be completed by now. The
blocks are west of the country and cover 4,000
sq km (1,544 sq mi) with water depths to 1,500
m (4,921 ft). When it took the lease, Reliance
planned to spend as much as $50 million over
18 months including two wells on each block.
Borders & Southern has reviewed its 3D
survey over 1,492 sq km (576 sq mi) offshore
the Falkland Islands. The company says it
plans additional interpretation of the data. Work
to date highlights three fairways: a Lower Cre-
taceous, Upper Cretaceous/Lower Tertiary,
and Tertiary. The Lower Cretaceous play fair-
way comprises sandstone reservoirs within
tilted fault blocks and submarine fans. The Up-
per Cretaceous/Lower Tertiary structural play
fairway comprises sandstone reservoirs within
major structural closures measuring up to 150
sq km (58 sq mi). The Tertiary seismic ampli-
tude supported play fairway comprises Tertia-
ry deepwater distributary sandstone reservoirs
partly stratigraphically trapped within struc-
tural closures. Borders & Southern says there
is evidence of hydrocarbon generation and
migration, including a “chain of five anticlines
with gas hydrates located above the crests or
slightly displaced on the asymmetrical limb of
the folds.” There also are multiple seismic am-
plitude anomalies over the area.
Petrobras and Schlumberger have signed
a technological cooperation agreement for
pre-salt reservoir research and development.
Included under the agreement are four re-
search projects:
• Electromagnetic technologies to improve
deep reservoir characterization
• Seismic data analyses technologies, also
to improve reservoir characterization
• Nuclear magnetic resonance technolo-
gies, aimed to characterize complex res-
ervoirs
• H2S electrochemical sensors.
Additionally, six other projects are still under
negotiation. The agreement will be in effect for
three years, and can be renewed for an equal
term. Petrobras foresees it will invest some $10
million in the projects. The agreement will also
establish the Schlumberger research center
on the Fundão Island in Brazil during 2010.
Gulf of Mexico: TGS-NOPEC Geophysical
Co. says it has completed several multi-client
projects to evaluate hydrocarbon potential in
the central GoM prior to the scheduled March
lease sale. The Stanley 3D survey is the first
multi-client reverse time migration project in
_____________
the Gulf. TGS also completed an anisotropic
Kirchhoff depth migration for Deep Resolve
and Sophie’s Link 3D surveys. The anisotrophic
work ties into more than 800 well logs, accord-
ing to the company.
CGGVeritas has won a long-term contract for
wide-azimuth and 4D reservoir surveys from
BP in the GoM. The contract runs into 2010. 

www.offshore-mag.com • March 2009 Offshore 31

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F

GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS

New seismic company, vessel

plans highlight survey
Acquisition technology drives changes in industry practice
Gene Kliewer
Technology Editor, Subsea & Seismic

T
he feature of the 2009 Seismic Vessel
Survey is the entrance of Polarcus
onto the list of companies. That also
brings the list of new vessels for 2009
and beyond to eight – Polarcus has
three scheduled for delivery this year and
three for delivery in 2010 while WesternGeco
has two scheduled for this year. Additions
and deletions of vessels to the list bring the
total number accounted for to 173, compared
with 169 on the 2008 tally. This is an increase
of four vessels, or slightly less than 2.5%.
Launched in 2008, Polarcus is investing in
a seismic fleet of high-end 3D and multipur-
pose 3D/source vessels. The company says
it expects to operate worldwide providing
towed marine contract acquisition services
and multi-client projects. The first 12 stream-
er 3D vessel is scheduled to be operational in
3Q 2009, with all six vessels fully operational
within 2010. Headquarters is in Dubai.
“We have a pure play strategy focusing on the
marine towed streamer seismic acquisition busi-
ness, coupled with a strong commitment to mini-
mize our environmental impact in the perfor-
mance of our work, leaving the lowest possible
environmental footprint,” the company says.
WesternGeco will bring its vessel total to 22
with the addition of the Columbus and Magel-
lan scheduled this year. That total puts West-
ernGeco at the top of the vessel count by com-
pany. Second is CGGVeritas with 20 followed
by Global Geophysical and PGS Marine both
with 16.
One merger currently being conducted in-
volves CGGVeritas acquisition of Wavefield
Inseis. At this writing, CGGVeritas was in the
process of acquiring the last remaining shares of

(Top) Polarcus Nadia and Naila both are Ulstein

SX124 design 12-streamer, 3D vessels and will
resemble this rendering. (Middle) Western Spirit,
a Q-Marine vessel equipped with DSC (Dynamic
Spread Control), the automated vessel, source,
and streamer steering technology. (Below)
Global Geophysical Tiny Tune designed for shal-
low water surveys.

32 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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When it’s a question of acquisition services... ... Ask Fugro

Fugro-Geoteam combines the latest in

proven technology and state of the art
vessels to provide world class solutions.

SAFE - RELIABLE - EFFICIENT

Steerable streamer technology available

on all 3D vessels.

Meet us at TUROGE 2009

Ankara, Turkey 11-13 March 2009

For details please contact Fugro-Geoteam.

Oslo +47 22 13 46 00 • Houston +1 713 369 5858 • Perth +61 8 9481 2043 www.fugro-geoteam.com

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______________

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GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS

Wavefield which it did not purchase following a erty determination. tic reflectivity inversion that provides a model
voluntary offer. Upon completion of the merger, In the future, the industry will have to go of the Earth properties.
the resulting company will have 28 vessels, the beyond correctly positioned images and de- “We will continue to ride the wave of com-
largest fleet among seismic survey contractors. liver estimates of absolute Earth properties. puter power,” Nichols says. “When I joined the
Some changes in vessel construction plans In a traditional compressional-wave, or P- company almost 15 years ago, we were at 10s of
hinge on timely completion of construction. It wave, workflow, this process has been split megaflops. We have seen a million-fold increase
also is possible that some construction and ren- into two parts: acoustic-imaging algorithms in computer power. I expect to see another
ovation could be canceled owing to the world that yield accurate Earth reflectivity and elas- thousand times increase before I retire.” 
financial market conditions now as compared
to the circumstances at this time last year.
As an illustration, Petroleum Geo-Services
ASA (PGS) last year responded to speculation
regarding vessel construction by discussing
termination rights in contracts for newbuilds
532 and 533 at Factorias Vulcano, Spain, and
the related contracts governing the charter
parties between Arrow and WesternGeco.
After amendments made in 2008, the ship-
building contracts with the yard set delivery of
Nov. 30, 2008, and March 31, 2009. If either 532
or 533 were delayed more than 120 days, Ar-
row would notify WesternGeco that Arrow has
a right to terminate the shipbuilding contract
with the yard. WesternGeco then could either
choose to terminate the charter party with Ar-
row or instruct Arrow not to terminate the ship-
building contract. Further, if either or both of
the construction contracts were canceled due
to late delivery, Arrow would receive repay-
ment from the yard of all investments made to
that date.
The nature of the surveys undertaken to-
day is changing. According to WesternGeco,
recent advances in processing capabilities are
allowing sophisticated seismic data migration
methods to become standard practice.
Dave Nichols, Houston-based research di-
rector, says improvements in imaging are tak-
ing advantage of the increases in computer
capacity that enable imaging techniques that
are closer to the ideal wave equation. They
also benefit from new acquisition geometries
that extend the frequency bandwidth and off-
set and azimuth range of recorded data.
New acquisition geometries such as wide- Discover the New Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services.
azimuth, multi-azimuth, rich-azimuth, and Now, the full spectrum of potential field products and services is available from a
Coil Shooting single-vessel full azimuth acqui-
sition increase illumination of the subsurface single source: Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services. Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services
from a wider range of angles and azimuths. has more than 50 years of land, marine and airborne oil and gas exploration experience,
These techniques enhance the accuracy of
the inversion of seismic data for Earth prop- providing geologic solutions, enhancing seismic data and improving drilling efficiency.
erties. In addition, increasing the frequency And, all delivered by 600 professionals around the world. For cost-effective exploration
bandwidth by lowering the minimum fre-
quency of seismic sources has improved risk reduction, depend on Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services, a whole new center of
steep-dip imaging and overall resolution. gravity and magnetic services.
Migration techniques that honor the actual
physics of wave propagation are an important
factor in improving image quality, Nichols
continues. There are two main trends active
here: reverse-time migration and anisotropy.
Both have been studied for many years, but
only now are adequate computer resources
          
available to make use of these tools in an inte-
grated approach of imaging and Earth prop-

Gravity Inspired. Magnetically Inclined. www.fugro-gravmag.com/solutions

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Worldwide Seismic Vessel Survey

length (m) x width (m))

footprint (# cables x
Exclusive contract)
Vessel availability

Maximum towable
rigged (# arrays x
configuration as
Total length (m)

Total beam (m)

Primary region
(# streamers x
Year rigged or

configuration

Source array
(Yes, No, or
# channels)
converted

Streamer

capacity)
Vessel
name

BGP, P.O.Box 11, Zhuozhou Hebei, 072751 P.R.China

BGP Atlas 2007 64.7 1 x 1,200 Yes AF, MID E, FAR E 1 x 9000
BGP Pioneer 2006 83.7 19.5 6 x 648 Yes AF, MID E, FAR E 2 x 3,400 6 x 8,000
BGP Researcher 2007 68.5 13.8 1 x 1,200 Yes AF, MID E, FAR E 1 x 3,000 n/a
BGP Surveyor 2007 68.5 13.8 2 x 480 Yes AF, MID E, FAR E 2 x 3,400 2 x 6,000
Caspian Geophysical, T. Aliyarbekov St. 9, 370005, Baku, Azerbaijan
Caspian Kyra 1970 36 7 Caspian Sea
CGGVeritas, 1 Rue Leon, BP 32, 91301 Massy Cedex, France
Alize 1999 100 29 14 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,840 14 x 6,000 x 75
Amadeus 1999 84 19 8 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,960 8 x 6,000 x 100
Challenger 2006 90 24 12 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,740 12 x 7,200 x 100
Duke 1998 67 13 1 x 960 Yes Worldwide 1 x 3,000 1x 7,200
Fohn 1997 87 18 8 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,670 8 x 6,000 x 75
Harmattan 1997 97 18 6 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,820 6 x 6,000 x 100
Laurentian (leased from PGS) 2005 84 17 6 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,930 6 x 6,000 x 100
Orion 1997 81 18 8 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,500 8 x 6,000 x 100
Pacific Sword 2000 58 12 2 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,200 2 x 5,000 x 100
Pacific Titan 1998 65 19 4 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,840 2 x 6,000 x 100
Princess 2001 76 14 3 x 320 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,080 3 x 4,000 x 100
Search 2002 98 19 8 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,940 8 x 6,000 x10
Symphony 2000 121 23 12 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,740 12 x 6,000 x 100
Venturer 2007 90 15 4 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,840 4 x 6,000 x 100
Viking 2006 93 22 10 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 5,260 10 x 8,100 x 100
Viking II 1999 93 22 8 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 5,260 8 x 8,100 x 100
Viking Vanquish 2007 93 22 12 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 5,260 10 x 8,100 x 100
Viking Vantage 2002 93 22 8 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 5,260 8 x 8,100 x 100
Viking Vision 2007 105 26 12 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 5,260 10 x 8,100 x 100
Voyager 2006 68 16 4 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 5,260 4 x 6,000 x 100
China Oilfield Services, Ltd., No.6 Dongzhimenwai Xiaojie Beijing 100027 P.R.C
Bin Hai 511 1979 81 13.4 3 x 360 Yes China, Asia, CIS 2 x 3,000
Bin Hai 512 1979 79 13.4 4 x 360 Yes China, Asia, CIS 2 x 3,000
Bin Hai 517 1997 60 15 2 x 480 Yes China, Asia, CIS 4,075
Bin Hai 518 1995 50 12.5 2 x 240 Yes China, Asia, CIS 2,040
COSL 718 2005 78 6 streamers Yes China, Asia, CIS
Nan Hai 502 1980 66 11 2 x 360 Yes China, Asia, CIS 3,660
Orient Pearl 1994 77 16 4 x 480 Yes China, Asia, CIS 2 x 3,660
Dalmorneftegeophysica (DMNG), 426, Mira Ave., Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 693004, Russia
Akademik Fersman 2006-2007 81.5 14.8 1 x 7,680 PGS Worldwide 4 x 4,200 1x12000
Orient Explorer 1995 81.8 14.8 4 x 1,440 PGS Worldwide 6 x 2,920 4 x 6000 x 100
Zephyr-I 2002 81.8 14.8 1 x 960 4 x 2,940 1 x 7,950
Fairfield Industries, 14100 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478, USA
Fairfield Encounter 2001 55 11 Radio Tel. Yes GOM OBS
Fairfield Endeavor 2001 65 9.75 Radio Tel. Yes GOM 4,140
Fairfield New Venture 2004 76 16.5 Z-3000 Yes GOM 4,330 dual
Fairfield Challenger 2005 67 13.4 Radio Tel. Yes GOM 4,140
Fairfield Speculator 1996 20.75 5 Radio Tel. Yes GOM 1,680
Fugro GeoServices, 200 Dulles Blvd., Lafayette, Louisiana USA
Geodetic Surveyor 1981 37 9 1 x 48 Yes GOM 90-300 GI Guns
Seis Surveyor 1976/ 1985 45.7 11.6 1 x 48, 1 x 96, 2 x 48, 4 x 8, 6 x 6 Yes GOM 90-300 GI Guns
Universal Surveyor 1980 37 9 1 x 48, 1 x 96 Yes GOM 90-300 GI Guns
Albuquerque 1982 40 10 1 x 48 Yes GOM 90-300 GI Guns
Fugro Enterprise May 2007 52 12 1 x 48, 1 x 96 Yes GOM 90-300 GI Guns
Fugro-Geoteam AS, Hoffsveien 1 C, P.O. Box 490 Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
Geo Arctic 1988/1997/2005 82 15 1 x 12,000 Yes Worldwide 5,860 single source
Geo Atlantic 2000/2006 121 26 10 x 8,000 Yes Worldwide 4,300 dual source 7.20 sq km
Geo Baltic 1998/2002/2006 75 16 6 x 4,000 Yes Worldwide 2,620 dual source 3.00 sq km
Geo Barents 2007 77 17 6 x 9,000 Long-term charter Worldwide 4,300 dual source 6.75 sq km
Geo Caribbean 2008 100 28 14 x 6,000 Yes Worldwide 4,500 dual source 10.4 sq km
Geo Celtic 2007 100 28 12 x 8,000 Yes Worldwide 4,500 dual source 8.80 sq km
Geo Natuna 2006/2008 70 17 6 x 4,000 Yes Worldwide 4,300 dual source 3.00 sq km
Geo Pacific 1998/2003/2006 82 20 8 x 6,000 Yes Worldwide 3,460 dual source 4.5 sq km
Hawk Explorer Yes Worldwide
Seisquest 1991/2001/2007 92 19 8 x 6,000 m Yes Worldwide 4,000 dual source 4.5 sq km
Fugro Survey Ltd., Denmore Rd, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB23 8JW, UK
Fugro Mercator 1979/1996 73 11.6 1 x 120 Yes NWECS 140
Fugro Meridian 1982/1997 72.5 13.8 1 x 240 Yes NWECS 140/1,000
Geo Prospector 1970/1997 72.6 11.8 1 x 120 Yes EAME 140
Fugro Discovery 1997/2007 70 12.6 1 x 120 Yes NWECS 140

SCAN Geophysical is geared to provide you with the industry’s best value in 2D,
OUR BUSINESS 3D, and 4D marine seismic acquisition. SCAN has grown into a highly efficient, and
flexible service provider that you can rely on for the right solution at the right time.

HIGH-END 2D. - FULL SPECTRUM 3D & 4D. - LONG OFFSET.

MULTI-PURPOSE VESSELS. - RELIABLE RESULTS.

SCAN Geophysical ASA

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F

Technical capability Onboard processing

to shore (company used

Seismic

Satellite transmission
Acquisition
capability

and transmission
speed – baud #)
transition zone

Ocean bottom

Vertical cable
High density
Deepwater

Nav data

Full data
Shallow

QC data

Notes
cable
2D

3D
4C

x x
x x x
x x
x x

x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 256k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 256k
x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 256k
x x x x x x x VSAT ≥128k
x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 512k
x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 512k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 256k
x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k
x x x x x x x x x VSAT ≥ 128k

x x >10 m x x x x x
x x >10 m x x x x x
x x >8 m x x x x
x x >6 m x x x x x
x x
x x >10 m x x x x x
x x >10 m x x x x x

x x x x x x Chartered to PGS
x x x x x x x x NorSat Chartered to PGS
x x x x x x NorSat

x x x x x x x x X Yes
x x x x x x x X Yes
x x x x X x x x x Yes
x x x x X x x x x Yes
x x x x X x x x Yes

x x x x x x M-Sat 4800
x x x x x x x M-Sat 4800
x x x x x x M-Sat 4800
x x x x x x M-Sat 4800
x x x x x x M-Sat 4800

x x x x x Norsat
x x x x x x x Norsat
x x x x x x x x Norsat
x x x x x x x Norsat
x x x x x x x Norsat
x x x x x x x Norsat
x x x x x x x x Norsat
x x x x x x x Norsat
Chartered from Seabird. See Seabird Exploration below
x x x x x x x Norsat

x x x x x x 7
x x x x x x x 7
x x x x x x 7
x x x x x x 7

An expanding fleet to match your expanding worldwide requirements.

ACQUISITION

w w w. s c a n g e o . c o m
______________

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Worldwide Seismic Vessel Survey

length (m) x width (m))

footprint (# cables x
Exclusive contract)
Vessel availability

Maximum towable
rigged (# arrays x
configuration as
Total length (m)

Total beam (m)

Primary region
(# streamers x
Year rigged or

configuration

Source array
(Yes, No, or
# channels)
converted

Streamer

capacity)
Vessel
name

Fugro Searcher 2010 65.2 14 1 x 240 2010 tba 140/1,000

Fugro Survey Pte Ltd, 32 Tuas West Road, Singapore 638387
Geo Surveyor 1981 58 10.5 1 x 120 Yes Far East, Worldwide 1 x 40, 1 x 80, 1 x 160
Gardline, Endeavour House, Admiralty Rd., Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 3NG UK
Sea Explorer 1993/1994 58.8 11 1 x 120 Yes Worldwide 2 x 160
Sea Proflier 1992 65.7 11 1 x 120 Yes Worldwide 2 x 160
Sea Surveyor 1998/1999 64.4 11.4 1 x 480 Yes Worldwide 1 x 160 up to 1,950
Sea Trident 1984/1991/2006 57.9 10.2 1 x 120 Yes Worldwide 2 x 160
Ocean Seeker 1970/2000 80.7 13 1 x 120 Yes Worldwide 1 x 160
L’Espoir 1971/1996 67.5 10.6 1 x 120 Yes Worldwide 1 x 160
Tridens 1 1984/1991 57.9 10.2 1 x 120 Yes Worldwide 1 x 160
Global Geophysical Serevices, 3535 Briarpark Dr., Houston TX, USA
DIB 1 2007 12.5 4.25 Yes International OBC Cable
DIB 2 2007 12.5 4.25 Yes International OBC Cable
Global Longhorn 2007 28.5 8 3,000 channels Yes GOM, International OBC Cable
Global Quest 2007 20 5.5 Yes India, International OBC Cable
Global Vision 2007 20 6.4 Yes India, International OBC Cable
James H. Scott 2005 21 6.7 Yes GOM, International 4 x 750 OBC Cable
Lori B 2007 14.6 6 Yes GOM OBC Cable
Miss Ginger 2006 54.8 11.5 Yes GOM OBC Cable
Ms. Cordelia 2007 41.5 11.5 Yes GOM, International OBC Cable
Sea Diamond VIII 2007 55 12 Yes India, International 2 x 750 OBC Cable
Seapol One 2007 16.75 9 3,000 channels Yes India, International OBC Cable
Soha Folk 2007 55 12 Yes India, International OBC Cable
Super Transporter 2006 33.5 8.5 Yes GOM OBC Cable
Te Wera 2007 16.5 4.9 Yes India, International OBC Cable
Tiny Tune 2005 11.5 3.7 Yes USA 1 x 640 OBC Cable
Tuhawiki 2007 15 4.2 Yes India, International OBC Cable
GSI 400, 400 5th Ave. SW Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0L6, Canada
GSI Admiral 1998 89.6 19 4 x 480 Spec Americas 2 x 3,930 4 x 6,000 x 300
GSI Pacific 1979/2005 56.3 12 1 x 480 Spec Americas 1 x 4,410 1 x 7,200
Marine Arctic Geological Expedition (MAGE)
Geofizik 1983 55.7 9.3 Contract Arctic, Northern Seas
Geolog Dmitriy Nalivkin 1991 71.7 12.8 1 x 480 Contract Arctic, Northern Seas 1 x 3,410 1 x 6,000
Professor Kurentsov 1995 68.9 12.4 1 x 480 Contract Arctic, Northern Seas 1 x 6,000
Offshore Seismic Surveys, OSS, 13430 NW Freeway, Suite 800, Houston TX 77040
OSS Gulf Supplier 56.4 11.6 3 x 240 Yes South America 2 x 1,500 3 x 3,000 x 200
OGS Italy, Borgo Grotta Gigante 42c, P.O. Box 2011, 34016 Trieste, Italy
OGS Explora 1997 71.9 12.8 1 x 96 Worlwide inc. Antarctic 2 x 355
PGS Marine Geophysical, Strandveien 4, 1326 Lysaker Norway
Atlantic Explorer 1994 91.5 18 6 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 3.6 sq km
Falcon Explorer 1997 81.2 16.3 1 x 640 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 N/A
Geo Atlantic 2006 121 26 10 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4,500 5.4 sq km
Laurentian 2005 84 17 6 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 3 sq km
Nordic Explorer 1993 82 16.5 6 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 3.6 sq km
Ocean Explorer 1995 82 18 6 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 3.6 sq km
Orient Explorer

Pacific Explorer 1994 91.5 22 6 x 528 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 4.0 sq km

Polar Explorer 2008 92 17 1 x 640 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 N/A
Ramform Challenger 1996 86.6 39.6 16 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 6.6 sq km
Ramform Explorer 1995 82 39.6 12 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 6.6 sq km
Ramform Valiant 1998 86.6 39.6 20 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 6.6 sq km
Ramform Vanguard 1999 86.6 39.6 20 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 6.6 sq km
Ramform Viking 1998 86.6 39.6 20 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 6.6 sq km
Ramform Sovereign 2008 102 40 26 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 10.4 sq m
Southern Explorer 2008 92 17 Yes Worldwide 2 x 3,090 N/A
Polarcus, PO Box 283373, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Nadia 2009 88.8 19 2009 Worldwide 2 x 4,240 12 x 8,000 x 75
Naila 2009 88.8 19 2009 Worldwide 2 x 4,240 12 x 8,000 x 75
Samur 2009 84.2 17 2010 Worldwide 2 x 4,240 6 x 8,000 x 160
Selma 2010 84.2 17 2010 Worldwide 2 x 4,240 6 x 8,000 x 160
Asima 2010 92 21 2010 Worldwide 2 x 4,240 12 x 8,000 x 100
Alima 2010 92 21 2010 Worldwide 2 x 4,240 12 x 8,000 x 100
RXT Reservoir Exploration Technologies, Lysaker Torg 5 A, PO Box 104, 1325 Lysaker, Norway
Beulah Chouest (RXT 1) 1982/1996 60 14 980 channels Yes Worldwide 3 x 1340 cu in. 6 x 6,000
Bourbon (RXT 1) 2004 210 54.4 Yes Worldwide 6 x 6,000
Caspian Marie (RXT 3) 1998 Yes Worldwide 8 6-km VSO cables

   
GEO SEARCHER   
 !  !

SCAN Geophysical ASA

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Technical capability Onboard processing

to shore (company used

Seismic

Satellite transmission
Acquisition
capability

and transmission
speed – baud #)
transition zone

Ocean bottom

Vertical cable
High density
Deepwater

Nav data

Full data
Shallow

QC data

Notes
cable
2D

3D
4C

x x x x x x 7

x x x x x x x

x x >10m x x x x x VSAT (256)

x >10m x x x x x VSAT (256)
x x >10m x x x x x VSAT (256)
x >10m x x x x x VSAT (128)
x >10m x x x x x VSAT (256)
x >10m x x x x x VSAT (128)
x >10m x x x x x Gardline 64k

x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x Recording vessel
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x Recording vessel
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x

x x x x x x V-SAT
x x x x V-SAT

x
x x x x x x NorSat
x x x

x x x x V-SAT

x x x x x x 64k

x x x x x x x 56k
x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
Chartered from DMNG.
See Dalmorneftegeophysica (DMNG) above.
x x x x x x x 56k
x x
x x x x x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
x x x x x x x 56k
x

x x x x x x x VSAT
x x x x x x x VSAT
x x x x x x x VSAT
x x x x x x x VSAT
x x x x x x x VSAT
x x x x x x x VSAT

x x x x
x x x x
x

SCAN RESOLUTION "     

! #$!%
"   &'  (
  )*! +
-& /    

w w w. s c a n g e o . c o m
______________

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Worldwide Seismic Vessel Survey

length (m) x width (m))

footprint (# cables x
Exclusive contract)
Vessel availability

Maximum towable
rigged (# arrays x
Total length (m)

configuration as
Total beam (m)

Primary region
(# streamers x
Year rigged or

configuration

Source array
(Yes, No, or
# channels)
converted

Streamer

capacity)
Vessel
name

Geofizik-1 (RXT 3) 1989 Yes Worldwide 8 6-km VSO cables

Ocean Pearl (RXT 2) 2001 108.6 18 Yes Worldwide 12 x 6,000
Sanco Star (RXT 5) Q2 2008 (combined source/cable vessel) Yes Worldwide
Sara Maatje II (RXT 3) 1977 Yes Worldwide 8 6-im VSO cables
Sara Maatje IX (RXT 3) 1994 Yes Worldwide 8 6-km VSO cables
SCAN Geophysical ASA, Raadhusgaten 23, 0158 Oslo, Norway
Geo Searcher 2005 69.2 12.8 1 x 960 Yes Worldwide 1x 7,480 N/A - 2D
Scan Resolution 2006 72.7 17 4 x 1,920 Yes Worldwide 2x 4,000 4 x 6,000 x 100
Scan Stigandi 2008 66.3 14.2 4 x 2,560 Yes Worldwide 2x 4,000 4 x 6,000 x 100
Scan Empress 2009 80 19.4 10 x 6,400 3Q 2009 2 x 4,320 10 x 8,000 x 1
Sea Bird Exploration Nedre Vollgate 3, P.O. Box 1302, Vika 0112 Oslo, Norway
Aquila Explorer 2007 71 17.5 1 x 960 PGS Worldwide 2 x 5,000
Geo Mariner 2001/2004 38.2 12.8 2 x 320 Yes Worldwide 2 X 1,700; 3 X 1,995 2 x 3600 x 100
Harrier Explorer 2007 81 18.3 Source PGS Worldwide
Hawk Explorer 2006 66 14.5 1 x 960 Fugro Geoteam Worldwide 1 x 4400
Hugin Explorer 2007/2008 86 20 Yes Worldwide 2 x 4400
Kondor Explorer 1984/1997 63.5 13.6 Source Yes Worldwide 2 X 5000 (client selectable)
Munen Explorer 2007 60 14 1 x 960 Yes Worldwide 2 x 5000
Northern Explorer 1987/1998/2004 76 14 1 x 648 Yes Worldwide X 5,000 Bolt
Osprey Explorer 2006 81 16 Source Yes Worldwide 2 X 5000 (client selectable)
Sevmorneftegeofizika (SMNG), 17, Karl Marx St., 183025 Murmansk, Russia
Akademik Lazarev 1987/96 81.8 14.8 1 x 696 Yes Worldwide 4 x 4,258 1 x 8,000
Akademik Nemchinov 1988/97 84 14.8 4 x 408 Yes Worldwide 6 x 7,874 4 x 5,000 x 450
Akademik Shatskiy 1986/91 83.5 14.8 1 x 640 1-year charter Worldwide 6 x 6,444 2 x 4,000 x 100
Iskatel - 5 1989/97 49.2 18.2 1 x 324 Yes Worldwide 4 x 3,000 1 x 4,000
Professor Polshkov 1984/94 71.6 12.8 1 x 480 Yes Worldwide 4 x 3,800 1 x 6,000
Professor Rjabinkin 1989/95/2007 49.9 10.5 2 x 480 Yes Worldwide 2 x 2,280 2 x 6,000
Shanghai Offshore Petroleum Bureau CNSPC, 1225 Shangcheng Road Pu Dong, Shanghai
Discoverer 1980 72 16.4 120 ch
TL Geohydrographics (TL Offshore, operated by SapuraCrest Petroleum), Tingkat 15, Menara 2, Faber Towers, Jalan Desa Bahagia, Taman Desa, Off Jalan Klang Lama, 58100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Teknik Kembara 1993 56.4 12.2 1,500 m GX600 Yes Asia Pacific 2 x 160
Teknik Putra 1995 60 11 Yes Asia Pacific
Wavefield Inseis AS, Damsgardsveien 163 B, N-5162 Laksevag, Norway
Bergen Surveyor 1997/ 2006 67 14.6 2 x 480, 1 x 960 Yes Worldwide 4,400, 2 x 2 sub-arrays 2 x 6,000 x 100
Discovery 2 1993 65.15 17.98 960 Yes Worldwide 1 x 4,000 1 x 12,000
Geowave Champion 2007 106.3 22.4 12 x 720 Yes Worldwide dual 3,500, 2 x 3 sub-arrays 12 x 9,000 x 825, 10 x 9,000 x 900
Geowave Commander 2006 98 16.5 6 x 720, 8 x 480 Yes Worldwide dual 3,500, 2 x 3 sub-arrays 8 x 6,000 x 700
Geowave Endeavour 2008 106.6 26.6 16 x 720 Yes Worldwide dual 3,500, 2 x 3 sub-arrays 16 x 9,000 x 1,125m
Geowave Master 2007 113 22.5 12 x 720 Yes Worldwide dual 3,500, 2 x 3 sub-arrays 12 x 9,000 x 825, 10 x 9,000 x 900
Geowave Voyager 2008 92.7 22 12 x 720 Yes Worldwide dual 3,500 2 x 3 sub-arrays 12 x 9,000 x 825, 10 x 9,000 x 900
Malene Østervold 2007 70 15 2 x 480, 1 x 960 Yes Worldwide dual 3,500, 2 x 3 sub-arrays 2 x 6,000 x 100
WesternGeco, Schlumberger House, Buckingham Way, Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, RH6 0NZ UK
Conti 2005 65 17 2 x 3,200 Yes Worldwide
Geco Bluefin 1980 80 19 2 x 3,200 Yes Worldwide
Geco Diamond 1993 81 19 8 x 480 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695 8 x 6,000 x 700
Geco Eagle 1999 95 37 12 x 640 Yes Worldwide 8 x 1,695 12 x 8,000 x 1,100
Geco Emerald 1992 81 19 8 x 480 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695 8 x 6,000 x 700
Geco Searcher 1983 92 20 8 x 2,560 Yes Worldwide 8 x 1,695 8 x 8,000 x 700
Geco Snapper 1997 67 18 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695
Geco Tau 1992 77 19 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695
Geco Topaz 1992 81 19 8 x 1,920 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695 8 x 6,000 x 700
Geco Triton 1970 79 21 10 x 720 Yes Worldwide 8 x 1,695 10 x 9,000 x 900
Gilavar 1981 85 19 6 x 480 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695 6 x 6,000 x 500
Ocean Odyssey 2005 72 16 Yes Worldwide 8 x 1,695
Western Delta 2007 61 12 Yes Worldwide 8 x 750 sleeve
Western Monarch 1991 93 24 12 x 2,560 Yes Worldwide 8 x 1,695 12 x 8,000 x 1,100
Western Neptune 1999 93 24 12 x 2,560 Yes Worldwide 8 x 1,695 12 x 8,000 x 1,100
Western Patriot 1993 78 17 8 x 480 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695 sleeve 8 x 6,000 x 700
Western Pride 1991 73 20 20 x 1,920 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695 10 x 6,000 x 900
Western Regent 1992 94 24 12 x 2,650 Yes Worldwide 8 x 1,695 sleeve 12 x 8,000 x 1,100
Western Trident 1999 92.5 23 16 x 315 Yes Worldwide 8 x 750 sleeve 10 x 7,000 x 1,100
Western Spirit 1993 78 22 10 x 1,920 Yes Worldwide 8 x 1,695 sleeve 10 x 6,00 x 700
WG Columbus 2009 88 21 12 x 3,200 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695 12 x 10,000 x 1,100
WG Magellan 2009 88 21 12 x 3,200 Yes Worldwide 6 x 1,695 12 x 10,000 x 1,100
Q refers to Q-Technology

0 ) 1

SCAN STIGANDI !    ! !
5/ 1*6 !  !
   

SCAN Geophysical ASA

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Technical capability Onboard processing

to shore (company used

Seismic

Satellite transmission
Acquisition
capability

and transmission
speed – baud #)
transition zone

Ocean bottom

Vertical cable
High density
Deepwater

Nav data

Full data
Shallow

QC data

Notes
cable
2D

3D
4C

x
x x x x
x

x x x x x x VSAT
x x x x x x x x VSAT
x x x x x x x x VSAT
x x x x x x x x VSAT

x x x x x Inmarsat C 2D/Source. Charter to PGS.

x x x x x x NorSat C
Inmarsat C Charter to PGS.
x x x x x Inmarsat C Time charter to Fugro-Geoteam.
x x x x x x x Inmarsat C SeaBed
x KU Band Source only.
x x x x x Inmarsat C 2D/Source.
x x x x x NorSat C
x Inmarsat C

x x x x x x 64k
x x x x x x x x 64k
x x x x x x x x 64k One-year charter to Wavefield Inseis.
x x x
x x x x x x 64k
x x x x x x 9.6k

x x x x x x

x x x x Inmarsat B
x x x x Inamrsat B

x x x x x x VSAT Telenor 256k

x x x x x x x VSAT Telenor 256k

x x x x x x x VSAT Telenor 256k
x x x x x x x VSAT Telenor 256k
x x x x x x x VSAT Telenor 256k
x x x x x x x VSAT Telenor 256k
x x x x x x VSAT Telenor 256k

x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x Q x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x Q x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x Q x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x Q x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x Q x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x x x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x Q x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x Q x x x VSAT 128K+
x x x Q x x x VSAT 128K+

7  /! 

SCAN EMPRESS 18&   +
   !  
9  $ * :-; <-;
 

w w w. s c a n g e o . c o m
______________

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S P E C I A L R E P O R T: M E D I T E R R A N E A N

Eastern Mediterranean Tamar discovery reveals

potential gas-rich play in Levantine basin
Regional analogies also offer prospects for deeper oil

T
est results from a gas discovery in the Jeremy Beckman ing geological and seismic data since 2005
Levantine basin point to an emerging Editor, Europe indicated strong potential for thermogenic
subsalt play. The deepwater well on gas, and for condensate and oil at deeper
the Tamar structure, 90 km (56 mi) levels. The company’s acreage is close to the
offshore Haifa, Israel, encountered Tamar discovery and on trend with the Dalit
three productive reservoirs with thick sands structure. PetroMed also has found strong
in the Lower Miocene and net pay of more more recently other companies have picked indications of deeper lying, light Jurassic oil,
than 460 ft (140 m). up offshore concessions. These include Israeli based on wells closer to the Israeli coast and
Gas flowed at a constrained rate of 30 junior PetroMed, which last year converted via geological analogies with recent ultra
MMcf/d over a limited section of the lowest two deepwater exploration permits in the Le- deep discoveries in the Nile Delta to the
reservoir, and operator Noble Energy be- vantine basin to drilling licenses (Sara and south.
lieves a production rate of over 150 MMcf/d Myra) both a short distance from the Matan
could be feasible. It claimed the find could license. The company also operates an adjoin- Hibernia ‘look-a-like’
be the largest in its history, with a resource ing exploration permit (Benjamin). The company describes its mission as “to
potential of around 5 tcf. The water depth of PetroMed’s interpretive studies of exist- discover, drill, develop, and deliver oil and
5,500 ft (1,680 m) was also the deep- gas to Israel,” with a focus on off-
est by far for any well to date in Is- shore targets. It was formed in 1999,
raeli waters. originally as a Nevada-based corpo-
Noble and its partners are set to ration, by financial and management
retain the rig, the Atwood Hunter, consultant Hagai Amir. Four years
for two more wells. The first would later in Calgary, he and Russell Koch
be on Dalit, another Tertiary/Lower were introduced to the late Donald
Miocene subsalt prospect in 4,500 ft Axford, a Canadian geologist cred-
(1,372 m) of water in the Michal per- ited with finding the Hibernia field
mit, 28 mi (45 km) offshore, which is off Newfoundland.
already covered by 3D seismic. The Axford believed he had “seen” an-
second well would be a step-out on other Hibernia on seismic offshore
Tamar, in the Matan license. Israel.
Further gas finds would help ease AJ Amir is chairman and CEO of
Israel’s energy concerns. The coun- PetroMed, supported by finance di-
try’s sole production comes from the rector Koch, who is based in Seattle.
Mari-B field in shallow water off the Other board members include Arlon
southern coast. The Gaza Marine Tussing, a former chief energy advis-
discovery has yet to be put into pro- er to the US Senate and now energy
duction. Otherwise, the only exter- consultant for the World Bank and
nal source of gas is a pipeline from Deutsche Bank.
Egypt, but throughput has been sub- The company’s exploration team of
ject to interruptions. experienced geologists and geophysi-
In recent years, Houston-based No- cists, all based in the UK, are headed
ble and local company Delek Drilling by exploration manager David Peace.
have been the mainstays of Israeli E&P. The team is complemented by exter-
Prior to Tamar, there had been no ex- nal consultants RPS, providing as-
ploration drilling for several years, but sistance with 3D survey design and
specialized data reprocessing, and
Aberdeen-based contractors to help
The Atwood Hunter will shortly drill the with early well planning.
Dalit structure, another gas prospect, in For much of his exploration career
shallow water closer to the Israeli coast. Peace has worked in the greater Medi-
terranean region. He worked in Milan
for Agip and Penn Geophysical, and
headed an interpretation team of eight

42 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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___________________

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S P E C I A L R E P O R T: M E D I T E R R A N E A N

geologists and geophysicists for Agip review- seismic leads, from small closures to much structure in the adjacent Noble-operated
ing much of the Italian offshore region and the larger simple structural traps.” permit. The second prospect is a potential
Po Valley. In the 1990s, he was Texaco’s explo- reef growth on top of an older high, which is
ration manager, based in Rome, and a director Southerly analogy in turn overlain by potential Cretaceous and
of Texaco Italiana Spa. To the south in the Nile Delta, explora- Tertiary reservoirs, as confirmed in Tamar.
After leaving Texaco in 1998, Peace was tory drilling began in earnest in the late The company has a letter of agreement for
an independent exploration consultant and 1990s. “British Gas started finding gas in a 3D seismic vessel, and aims to start acquir-
conducted a regional evaluation of the en- channel sands in the shallow Pliocene sec- ing 3D over the two license areas by mid-
tire Eastern Mediterranean based on Spec- tion above the deeper Messinian salt layer year, followed by detailed processing and
trum’s regional seismic grid of 25,000 line that covers much of the Mediterranean,” pre-stacked depth migration of the data.
km (15,534 mi). says Peace. “Later, they followed similar “We will do the interpretation ourselves,”
“Spectrum had a regional seismic grid channel features up the eastern Mediter- Peace says. “We’re happy that the structures
around Cyprus and Lebanon,” he explains, ranean coast to make further biogenic gas are there from the 2D data, so the main pur-
“based on a reprocessed speculative survey finds off Gaza and southern Israel. pose of the 3D seismic is to confirm internal
originally acquired in 1975. This data was a “At that time I was with Texaco and to us, geological detail within each of the struc-
wide-spaced regional survey from southern the whole area looked rather gas-prone in tures to allow us to optimize future drilling
Turkey to the eastern Nile Delta, and cov- the early days. Later on, however, the focus locations.
ered the thrust zone between Anatolia and of Nile Delta exploration switched to drilling “We need 3D data primarily to define
North Africa – one of the major continental through the Messinian salt zone, and over these structures in greater detail – we can
margins – and it revealed a very attractive the last few years companies have found not see anomalies within them that cannot be
new play. just biogenic gas of shallow origin, but also resolved by 2D seismic. Thereafter, we plan
“The old data had imaged the entire Le- deeper thermogenic gas and, more recently, to select our best drilling locations and be
vantine basin, which had not really been condensate and oil 4.5 km (2.8 mi) down in ready to spud our first well within two and a
explored by any of the countries in the re- the high-pressure/high-temperature zone. half years from now. At the same time, it is
gion. Due to recording limitations, they had So the message is clear: biogenic gas in the also a case of getting partners on board to
only recorded the first five to six seconds of shallow section, but thermogenic gas, con- share the well costs.”
data – hence also seeing only the top of the densate and free oil in the deeper pre-salt According to Hagai Amir, PetroMed has
basin. However, when Spectrum acquired section, a situation we believe exists in the been in open dialogue with several major oil
its 20,000 km (12,427 mi) of new seismic in Levantine basin as well. companies in this regard. “At this time,” he
2001-2002, it recorded down to 12 seconds, “From our evaluation of the Spectrum says, “we are open to offers from potential
which allowed us to see the deeper part of regional data, we can see that the Levantine new financial partners and strategic part-
the basin.” basin has some characteristics and geologi- ners from the industry. Ideally, the partner
The only prior wells in the area were off cal conditions similar to the Nile Delta (al- we would prefer would be an established in-
southern Turkey and had led to some small though not at all identical) and which extend ternational oil and gas company with signifi-
discoveries in the Iskendrun basin. Spec- into PetroMed’s licenses. Inshore from our cant drilling and operational experience.
trum’s new seismic provided a more de- blocks, two older wells have already tested “PetroMed is currently operator of all
tailed 2D grid over offshore southern Tur- 800 b/d of light ‘Jurassic’ oil from deeper ly- three licenses and permits for all technical
key, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Israel, Gaza, ing Jurassic strata underlying our permits. work up to the initial well spud, but we would
and the outer fringes of Egypt, and was de- These excellent oil shows are almost cer- welcome specialized geophysical technical
signed to promote licensing rounds in these tainly the result of migration from the deep- assistance from suitably experienced new
countries. er parts of the basin to the west, and provide partners as well. As we are only a small com-
In 2001, when the surveys were being further evidence for an active thermogenic pany, we would also prefer that a more expe-
acquired, the Lebanese government was in hydrocarbon system in the deeper part of rienced oil company partner would operate
talks about a first offshore round, but this the Levantine basin, in part mirroring what as we enter the actual drilling phase.”
never came about at the time. Cyprus also we see off Egypt.” Water depths in the two drilling permits
considered staging a round, although this extend to 1,500 m (4,921 ft). Both carry ini-
did not take place until 2007-08. Exploratory leads tial three-year terms, but in the event of a
“To date,” Peace adds, “there has been Following initial contact and dialogue discovery, these can be renewed for a fur-
no offshore drilling either in Syria or Cy- with the Geophysical Institute of Israel near ther four years for appraisal drilling, and 25
prus, and only one well offshore Lebanon. Tel Aviv, PetroMed submitted its initial tech- years for subsequent development and pro-
Onshore Cyprus, which is the epicenter of nical presentations for its permit areas to the duction. The work obligations for the adjoin-
the collision zone with Africa, is one of the Ministry for National Infrastructure in Jeru- ing, 18-month exploration permit include
toughest to interpret geologically in the salem early in 2006, and these were granted geological studies and 2D seismic.
world, but we see the sedimentary plays on later that year. Initial evaluations continued “Our long-term ambition,” says Amir, “is
the fringes of the Levantine basin as very to confirm the potential of the areas, and last to build a stronger and stronger explora-
interesting.” year the company opted to convert the per- tion position, work up opportunities that
In late 2002, Peace began evaluating mits to three-year drilling licenses. will attract further industry partners, and
Spectrum’s entire database for the eastern The Sara and Myra licenses both cover see them developed while retaining an inter-
Mediterranean region, concluding the pro- 400 sq km (154 sq mi). Peace and his team est therein. In time the company may also
gram in fall 2003. The results looked very so far have identified two large prospective consider venturing outside Israel to explore
promising: “In the Levantine basin, includ- lead areas, one in each license, in water other opportunities, but the recent discov-
ing the Latakia thrust zone in the north, we depths of around 1,100 m (3,609 ft). One is ery of Tamar has confirmed our belief in the
identified some very interesting structural a thick four-way dip closure from Tertiary region, and we are very happy with our cur-
patterns which showed a lot of individual to Jurassic, which is on trend with the Dalit rent acreage.” 

44 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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_____________

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SUBSEA

Subsea boosting, processing sustain momentum

Michael Padilla
Advances, new applications create opportunities INTECSEA

T
his article addresses the progress made through the application
of subsea processing, separation, and boosting technologies in the
Reasons for subsea compression,
past year. Maintaining the momentum from a number of recent/
boosting, water injection, separation
current subsea processing installations, development programs COMPRESSION
and project applications continue to provide the industry with new Increase subsea tieback distance
technical advancements and opportunities, and some challenges, too. Improve flow assurance issues
Eliminate offshore platform(s)
Operators continue to initiate and to fund studies into boosting,
ENABLER: The field could not be developed economically and/or
separation, compression, and power delivery and distribution when technically (i.e. - Gas tieback under ice in Artic regions)
developing new fields. In an attempt to capture the full value of subsea
processing’s technical and economic advantages, operators are tak- BOOSTING
ing the lead in field development. An increase in overall confidence Reservoir advantages
towards subsea processing packages is the result of ongoing devel- Increase ultimate recovery by lowering abandonment
pressure
opment and the success of current systems. Operators appear more
Enable oil recovery from low-pressure reservoirs
open to investigation and development of project-specific equipment, Enable oil recovery of low-quality fluids
and now ask more questions about economics and application details
rather than voicing previous concerns about risk and reliability. Production advantages
INTECSEA has completed multiple proprietary Gulf of Mexico Increase production rate by reducing flowing wellhead pressure
Reduce opex by reducing recovery time (shorten life of field)
projects which carried subsea processing solutions through the
Offset high-friction pressure losses in flowline due to fluid viscosity
conceptual and pre-FEED stages. Each project performed detailed Offset elevation head pressure loss
studies into the current industry offerings; identifying current hard-
ware while also planning the development of future complementary Facilities advangages
technologies required for the entire system. For example, identify- Longer subsea tiebacks
ing the optimal type and size of a subsea pump for an application is WATER INJECTION
only half the battle. If the necessary wet-mate electrical connectors Eliminate topsides water injection equipment
and penetrators are not available, the pumps have to wait. Eliminate water injection flowlines
SEPARATION
SEP
See the 2009 Subsea Processing poster in this issue. Min
Minimize topsides water handling
Hydrate control by removing liquids from gas stream
Hyd
As the primary subsea processing disciplines (separation, boost- Increase hydrocarbon production volume
Incr
ng and gas compression) are applied to projects
ing, projects, evolution of the Decrease total boost system power requirements
Dec
drivers for each of the disciplines continues. Stated advantages are Accelerate and/or increase recovery
being complemented with new drivers as necessity breeds develop- Improve flow management, flow assurance
ment. This is evident in the BP King and StatoilHydro Tordis proj- Reduce capex on topsides processing equipment and pipelines
ects, as both have dealt with unplanned interruptions during the first Improve economics of field with low GOR, high viscosity, low
permeability
few months of operation. Yet these interruptions are viewed as prog-
ress towards more efficient solutions; a necessary step in the evolu- COURTESY OF INTECSEA AND BHP BILLITON
tion of the technology. During the Subsea Boosting and Processing
Joint Industry Project conducted by INTECSEA in 2007, operators Schlumberger and Baker Hughes Centrilift continue to develop elec-
voiced the realization that unforeseen problems were more likely trical submersible pump (ESP) technology. Centrilift expects success-
in the first two years than the following three to five years. That is, ful installations offshore Brazil will continue to push the advancement
problems are identified and solved in the early part of application life of ESPs. Pending installations and operations include BC-10, Golfinho,
so operations are much more trouble free after that. The same con- and Albacore Leste. Similarly, the Shell Perdido project aims to set the
cept applies to technologies in general. As problems are identified stage in the Gulf of Mexico by using ESP technology in 8,000 ft (2,438
and solved, future applications should be much more reliable. m) of water with five boosting packages.
Subsea boosting continues to pave the way for the other subsea Looking further into the future, gas developments at Aasgard and
processing disciplines in its development and experience. While Fra- Ormen Lange (both slated for 2012) still are on pace to establish
mo continues to develop its Hybrid and High Boost pump technol- new baselines in gas compression and power distribution technol-
ogy to combine the benefits of helicon-axial and centrifugal pumps ogy. A project update for Ormen Lange is expected at the 2009 Sub-
for Pazflor, the Camforce joint venture of Cameron, Curtiss-Wright, sea Tieback Forum in San Antonio, Texas.
and Leistritz anticipates results from the pending Marlim twin-screw Effects that the current economic downturn will have on the in-
pump installation. Keeping pace, Aker Solutions continues to devel- dustry cannot be quantified, but it has not yet prevented operators
op its new semi-axial pump technology to rival the Framo offerings, from investigating, developing, or committing to continued develop-
while Bornemann and Flowserve continue to advance the technol- ment of subsea processing technology. 
ogy of twin screw designs, including Flowserve’s future target offer-
ing of a 5-MW pump system. To continue this conversation, contact INTECSEA by e-mailing [email protected].

46 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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      𰀕
𰁞𰁨𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁬𰁤𰁧𰁡𰁙𰃉𰁨𰀕𰁛𰁤𰁧𰁚𰁢𰁤𰁨𰁩𰀕𰁚𰁫𰁚𰁣𰁩𰀕𰁛𰁤𰁧𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕
𰁙𰁚𰁫𰁚𰁡𰁤𰁥𰁢𰁚𰁣𰁩𰀕𰁤𰁛𰀕𰁤𰁛𰁛𰁨𰁝𰁤𰁧𰁚𰀕𰁧𰁚𰁨𰁤𰁪𰁧𰁘𰁚𰁨𰀕𰁞𰁣𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕
𰁛𰁞𰁚𰁡𰁙𰁨𰀕𰁤𰁛𰀕𰁙𰁧𰁞𰁡𰁡𰁞𰁣𰁜𰀡𰀕𰁚𰁭𰁥𰁡𰁤𰁧𰁖𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰀡𰀕𰁥𰁧𰁤𰁙𰁪𰁘𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰀡𰀕
𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀕𰁚𰁣𰁫𰁞𰁧𰁤𰁣𰁢𰁚𰁣𰁩𰁖𰁡𰀕𰁥𰁧𰁤𰁩𰁚𰁘𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰀣

  

 
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Port Fourchon thrives

despite the economy

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Port Fourchon thrives despite the economy

PORT FOURCHON SUPPLEMENT

Deepwater activity stays the course amid pullback

B
uoyed by deepwater activity that Jim Redden
shows no sign of drying up anytime Contributing Editor
soon, Port Fourchon is sidestepping
the economic malaise gripping most
of the nation and is not just coping,
but flourishing.
While cash-strapped independents upwards of one-third of the nation’s domestic
operating on the continental shelf have oil supply, with 80% expected to flow from the
pulled back appreciably, the bread and deepwater by 2010 when some new develop-
butter for Port Fourchon is the deepwater, ments come on line, the ramifications on US
where it functions as the primary sup- energy security of any supply interruption
port base for more than 90% of existing are momentous, the study concludes. What’s
projects. According to a recent Minerals more, some 87% of the nation’s offshore gas
Management Service (MMS) study, that production comes from the Louisiana outer
Retiring Port Fourchon Executive Director Ted
bread and butter is in no danger of going continental shelf. Falgout, right, and his successor, Chett Chias-
off the shelves in the foreseeable future. Along with its impact on domestic son, at the port’s Galliano headquarters.
In early 2009, the federal agency listed 59 production, Port Fourchon also is home
“pending” deepwater projects in the Gulf of to the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port imported crude along with 300,000 b/d of
Mexico, which is in addition to the 33 wells (LOOP), the only deepwater facility in domestically produced oil.
currently being drilled in deep and ultra the US capable of offloading supertank- Taking all this into account, the study en-
deepwater. Factoring in the 135 deepwater ers carrying imported oil. An estimated titled “Economic Impacts of Port Fourchon
fields already developed, there are nearly 13-15% of the imported oil entering the US on the National and Regional Economies”
230 deepwater projects in need of products market is delivered through LOOP, which concludes any long-time disruption from a
and services flowing from the port. also is connected to 50% of the nation’s hurricane or other event would remove some
The port’s daily traffic count appears to refining capacity. The latest figures show 18% of the nation’s energy supply. Dr. Loren
confirm that the global recession has not LOOP handling more than 1 MMb/d of Scott of Loren C. Scott and Associates of
yet made its way into Port Fourchon, the Baton Rouge compiled the study,
southernmost port in Louisiana, strategically which was funded by the Loui-
nestled on 1,300 acres at the mouth of Bayou siana Department of Economic
Lafourche in Louisiana’s southernmost par- Development.
ish of Lafourche. Based on an average 2006 oil
“Interestingly enough, our daily traffic price of $66/bbl, Scott concluded
count in January (2009) was 13% higher than
it was in January 2008. So, as you can see,
Tanks for the fifth M-I Swaco drill-
our activity level certainly hasn’t diminished ing fluid plant in Port Fourchon
here,” says Ted Falgout, executive director are staged for installation at the
of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission new Gulf Offshore Logistics (GOL)
(GLPC), who will retire at the end of the year facility.
after 30 years at the helm of Port Fourchon.
Today, more than 250 operators and Rally Point to keep information flowing
service and supply companies, from inter- The next time a hurricane or similar catastrophe strikes South Louisiana, com-
national conglomerates to home-grown, munications for employees and companies operating out of Port Fourchon will
family-owned enterprises, operate out of Port continue unabated.
Fourchon. The port’s director of Economic By the start of the 2009 hurricane season, Port Fourchon will have its “Rally
Development, Chett Chiasson, who will suc- Point” network in place. It is designed to give employees and companies operat-
ceed Falgout in January, says that number ing out of the port an uninterrupted communications system. Port Fourchon IT
promises to rise considerably as companies Director April Danos says the Web-based system will provide continual updates.
stand in line to acquire space being made “During storms, people evacuate and we have no contact information for them.
available through the entity’s aggressive What this will do is allow us to communicate with them, advise them of what is hap-
pening at the port, and when they can return,” she explains.
northern expansion project.
The way it works is each facility and employee will receive access cards and
“We’ve been averaging about one new
a link where they can provide contact information in case they have to evacuate
lease a month and as fast as we can build because of a storm.
these new facilities, they’re taken,” he says. Danos says to further facilitate uninterrupted communications, the port is looking
The latest MMS report follows on the at establishing an off-site e-mail service that will provide a “fail over” should elec-
heels of an eye-opening study released in tronic communications at the port become inoperable.
2008 that examines the regional and national “We also are looking at having a mobile communications trailer so the adminis-
impact of a three-week disruption in oil and trative offices and harbor police can be up and running immediately after a storm,”
gas deliveries from the port’s jurisdiction. she says.
Considering that the Gulf of Mexico provides

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a three-week loss of service for any reason VIH Cougar joins Port Fourchon helicopter fleet
PORT FOURCHON SUPPLEMENT

would equate to a national economic impact

By April, Idaho-based VIH Cou-
of $9.9 billion in lost sales, a loss of $2.9 gar Helicopters will be flying out
billion in household earnings, and a drop of of a new hangar and passenger
more than 77,000 jobs across the nation. facility at South Lafourche Leon-
Closer to home, the study estimated the ard Miller Jr. Airport.
economic impact of a supply disruption on The company has been operat-
the Houma Metropolitan Statistical Area, ing in the Gulf of Mexico since
which includes Port Fourchon, to be $1.5 bil- 2005 as part of an alliance with
lion in lost business sales and a $350 million Pacific Helicopter Tours Inc.
drop in household earnings. where it flew passengers for BP
“We have long felt that the impact of this Americas. In October 2008, VIH
Cougar completed its Part 135
corridor to our region and nation was huge, Federal Aviation Regulations
and now we have well-documented evidence (FAR) certification, allowing it to An artist’s rendition of the new VHI Cougar Helicopter
that even our own estimates were understat- fly passengers directly, says Gen- hangar and passenger facility at South Lafourche
ed. Port Fourchon’s significance is growing eral Manager Bill McDonald. Leonard Miller Jr. Airport.
every day,” Falgout said when the report was “We will be conducting pas-
released. senger flights for Heerema Marine beginning in the March/April timeframe and will
The impact of even a comparatively short- also conduct flights for BP on an as-required basis. We also have hopes of securing
er disruption was driven home in August more passenger contracts with Gulf operators,” McDonald says. “Additionally, VIH
and September of 2008 when hurricanes Cougar has a depth of experience in search and rescue and we plan to evolve into
Gustav and Ike slammed into the southern that role with the Sikorsky S92 by mid-summer.”
Louisiana coast, temporarily shutting off McDonald says the company plans to move into its new passenger facility by
the end of March and into the new hangar by the end of April. Three 20-passenger
production coming out of the port.
Sikorsky S61 helicopters will be based at the airport with an additional S92 ex-
“It is estimated that as a result of Gustav pected to join the fleet in June.
and Ike, over $7 billion worth of oil and VIH Cougar Helicopters claims it is the only such operator in the Gulf with 100%
gas was made unavailable to the American satellite-based tracking and voice communications. Consequently, it says there is
public,” Falgout said at the time. “The Port no interruption of service or safety even during inclement weather.
is ramping up very quickly to play its role VIH Cougar Helicopters also operates from an office in Bellingham, WA.
in recovery of the Gulf of Mexico energy
industry.”

Port, tenants expanding

Ramping up, indeed. In light of the most
recent MMS calculation on the present and
future growth of the deepwater oil and gas
operations and expectations for 19 newbuild
deepwater drilling rigs entering the Gulf of
Mexico between 2010-2112, the optimism
of port executives and tenants alike is easily
justified, and both sides are responding
accordingly.
The port, which the Louisiana legislature
created in 1960, is moving closer to comple-
tion of its 4,000-acre northern expansion
project, which essentially would double the
facility’s operational area. Port officials say A jackup works off the coast of Port Fourchon in aftermath of Hurricane Gustav.
they are close to completion of Phase 1 north
of the E-Slip development that comprises a Furthermore, Port officials say that when traffic, but now it’s more like 50-50,” says
700-acre (2.8-sq km) site that includes 180 Lafourche Parish votes abolished the drilling airport manager, Jason Duet, who adds that
acres of non-waterfront property and 21,000 rig ad valorem tax in 2004, it cleared the way Edison Chouest Offshore is completing a
linear ft (6,400 m) of water frontage. for property within the northern expansion hangar to house three of its jets.
Construction of 2,314 linear ft (705 m) of to become an attractive venue for the grow- Duet says the airport also is looking at
steel sheet pile bulkhead along Slip B is well ing rig repair and refurbishment business. developing an industrial park, which would
under way, with an additional 1,800 linear The South Lafourche Leonard Miller double available crew quarters and other
ft (549 m) of bulkhead expected to be com- Jr. Airport, which came under the GLPC facilities for offshore workers and those
pleted by the end of this year. Chiasson says umbrella in 2001, likewise, is in the midst engaged in other local projects like the LA 1
84% of the property included in the Phase 1 of a major expansion. The airfield, which highway construction.
project already has been leased. the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) The companies operating out of Port Four-
“Slip B is nearing completion. Right now, named Louisiana’s Airport of the Year in chon say the optimism of port executives is
4,100 ft (1,250 m) of bulkhead is under 2006, has completed the extension of its clearly justifiable.
construction and another 1,425 ft (434 m) is runway from 3,800 ft to 6,500 ft (1,158 m to “The bottom line is, Port Fourchon
in the planning stages. We also are working 1,981 m), allowing it to accommodate mid- provides quick access to the deepwater; so
on permits for Phase 2 that will include the size business jets. as long as there is an oilfield in the Gulf of
7,000 ft long x 700 ft (2,134 m x 213 m) wide “Since the (runway) expansion, we’ve Mexico, this will continue to be the hub,”
Slip C. We expect those permits any day see a big increase in jet traffic. Business jets says Karl Boffanie, manager of John W.
now,” Chiasson says. used to make up about one-fourth of our total Stone Oil Distributors. 

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D E E P W A T E R S O L U T I O N S
𰁅𰁝𰁤𰁩𰁤𰀯𰀕𰀹𰁖𰁜𰀕𰁂𰁮𰁧𰁚𰁨𰁩𰁧𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀤𰁈𰁩𰁖𰁩𰁤𰁞𰁡𰀽𰁮𰁙𰁧𰁤

The
deeper
you go,
the closer
Unmatched
we are.
infrastructure
𰀶𰁘𰁘𰁚𰁨𰁨𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁢𰁤𰁨𰁩𰀕𰁚𰁭𰁩𰁚𰁣𰁨𰁞𰁫𰁚𰀕𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕
𰁡𰁤𰁜𰁞𰁨𰁩𰁞𰁘𰁨𰀕𰁣𰁚𰁩𰁬𰁤𰁧𰁠𰀰𰀕𰁝𰁞𰁜𰁝𰀢𰁘𰁖𰁥𰁖𰁘𰁞𰁩𰁮𰀡𰀕𰁛𰁖𰁨𰁩𰀢𰀕 𰁅𰁝𰁤𰁩𰁤𰀯𰀕𰀽𰁖𰁧𰁖𰁡𰁙𰀕𰁅𰁚𰁩𰁩𰁚𰁧𰁨𰁚𰁣𰀤𰁈𰁩𰁖𰁩𰁤𰁞𰁡𰀽𰁮𰁙𰁧𰁤
𰁩𰁪𰁧𰁣𰁖𰁧𰁤𰁪𰁣𰁙𰀕𰁛𰁖𰁘𰁞𰁡𰁞𰁩𰁞𰁚𰁨𰀕𰁖𰁩𰀕𰁠𰁚𰁮𰀕𰁥𰁤𰁧𰁩𰁨𰀕𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀕
𰀨𰀥𰀕𰁨𰁩𰁧𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁜𰁞𰁘𰁖𰁡𰁡𰁮𰀕𰁡𰁤𰁘𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕 Experienced personnel
𰁗𰁖𰁨𰁚𰁨𰀕𰁬𰁤𰁧𰁡𰁙𰁬𰁞𰁙𰁚𰀣 𰁌𰁚𰀕𰁝𰁖𰁫𰁚𰀕𰁤𰁫𰁚𰁧𰀕𰀧𰀥𰀥𰀕𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀢𰁘𰁚𰁧𰁩𰁞𰁛𰁞𰁚𰁙𰀕
𰁨𰁥𰁚𰁘𰁞𰁖𰁡𰁞𰁨𰁩𰁨𰀡𰀕𰁨𰁘𰁝𰁤𰁤𰁡𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁞𰁣𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁡𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁨𰁩𰀕 Tailored technology
𰁩𰁚𰁘𰁝𰁣𰁤𰁡𰁤𰁜𰁞𰁚𰁨𰀕𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀕𰁚𰁭𰁥𰁚𰁧𰁞𰁚𰁣𰁘𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁞𰁣𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕 𰁌𰁚𰀕𰁝𰁖𰁫𰁚𰀕𰁢𰁖𰁙𰁚𰀕𰁨𰁞𰁜𰁣𰁞𰁛𰁞𰁘𰁖𰁣𰁩𰀕
𰁩𰁤𰁪𰁜𰁝𰁚𰁨𰁩𰀕𰁗𰁖𰁨𰁞𰁣𰁨𰀣 𰁞𰁣𰁫𰁚𰁨𰁩𰁢𰁚𰁣𰁩𰁨𰀕𰁞𰁣𰀕𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁛𰁡𰁪𰁞𰁙𰁨𰀕𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀕
𰁧𰁚𰁡𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁩𰁚𰁘𰁝𰁣𰁤𰁡𰁤𰁜𰁞𰁚𰁨𰀡𰀕𰁛𰁧𰁤𰁢𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁢𰁤𰁨𰁩𰀕
𰁚𰁣𰁫𰁞𰁧𰁤𰁣𰁢𰁚𰁣𰁩𰁖𰁡𰁡𰁮𰀕𰁖𰁘𰁘𰁚𰁥𰁩𰁖𰁗𰁡𰁚𰀕𰁙𰁧𰁞𰁡𰁡𰁞𰁣𰁜𰀕
𰁛𰁡𰁪𰁞𰁙𰁨𰀕𰁩𰁤𰀕𰁨𰁩𰁖𰁩𰁚𰀢𰁤𰁛𰀢𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀢𰁖𰁧𰁩𰀕𰁬𰁚𰁡𰁡𰁗𰁤𰁧𰁚𰀕
𰁢𰁤𰁙𰁚𰁡𰁞𰁣𰁜𰀕𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀕𰁫𰁞𰁨𰁪𰁖𰁡𰁞𰁯𰁖𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰀕𰁨𰁤𰁛𰁩𰁬𰁖𰁧𰁚𰀣

𰁌𰁞𰁩𰁝𰀕𰀺𰀛𰁅𰀕𰁤𰁥𰁚𰁧𰁖𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰁨𰀕𰁙𰁧𰁞𰁫𰁚𰁣𰀕𰁩𰁤𰀕𰁚𰁫𰁚𰁧𰀢𰁜𰁧𰁚𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁙𰁚𰁥𰁩𰁝𰁨𰀕𰁛𰁤𰁧𰀕
𰁤𰁛𰁛𰁨𰁝𰁤𰁧𰁚𰀕𰁤𰁞𰁡𰀕𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀕𰁜𰁖𰁨𰀡𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰁧𰁚𰃉𰁨𰀕𰁤𰁣𰁚𰀕𰁨𰁚𰁧𰁫𰁞𰁘𰁚𰀕𰁥𰁖𰁧𰁩𰁣𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁜𰁤𰁞𰁣𰁜𰀕𰁩𰁤𰀕
𰁜𰁧𰁚𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁡𰁚𰁣𰁜𰁩𰁝𰁨𰀕𰁩𰁤𰀕𰁝𰁚𰁡𰁥𰀕𰁤𰁫𰁚𰁧𰁘𰁤𰁢𰁚𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁪𰁣𰁞𰁦𰁪𰁚𰀕𰁘𰁝𰁖𰁡𰁡𰁚𰁣𰁜𰁚𰁨𰀕𰀕
𰁤𰁛𰀕𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁥𰁧𰁤𰁟𰁚𰁘𰁩𰁨𰀯𰀕𰁂𰀢𰀾𰀕𰁈𰁌𰀶𰀸𰁄𰀣
𰁄𰁫𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁡𰁖𰁨𰁩𰀕𰀦𰀪𰀕𰁮𰁚𰁖𰁧𰁨𰀡𰀕𰁬𰁚𰃉𰁫𰁚𰀕𰁖𰁨𰁨𰁚𰁢𰁗𰁡𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁖𰀕𰁘𰁤𰁢𰁥𰁧𰁚𰁝𰁚𰁣𰁨𰁞𰁫𰁚𰀕
𰁧𰁖𰁣𰁜𰁚𰀕𰁤𰁛𰀕𰁧𰁚𰁨𰁤𰁪𰁧𰁘𰁚𰁨𰀕𰁛𰁤𰁧𰀕𰁢𰁚𰁚𰁩𰁞𰁣𰁜𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁨𰁥𰁚𰁘𰁞𰁛𰁞𰁘𰀕𰁣𰁚𰁚𰁙𰁨𰀕𰁤𰁛𰀕
𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁤𰁥𰁚𰁧𰁖𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰁨𰀣𰀕𰀶𰁡𰁡𰀕𰁤𰁛𰀕𰁤𰁪𰁧𰀕𰁨𰁤𰁡𰁪𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰁨𰀕𰁛𰁤𰁘𰁪𰁨𰀕𰁤𰁣𰀕
𰁤𰁥𰁩𰁞𰁢𰁞𰁯𰁞𰁣𰁜𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁥𰁚𰁧𰁛𰁤𰁧𰁢𰁖𰁣𰁘𰁚𰀕𰁤𰁛𰀕𰁤𰁪𰁧𰀕𰁘𰁪𰁨𰁩𰁤𰁢𰁚𰁧𰁨𰃉𰀕𰁖𰁘𰁩𰁞𰁫𰁞𰁩𰁞𰁚𰁨𰀕𰃄𰀕
𰁛𰁧𰁤𰁢𰀕𰁙𰁧𰁞𰁡𰁡𰁞𰁣𰁜𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁧𰁤𰁪𰁜𰁝𰀕𰁥𰁧𰁤𰁙𰁪𰁘𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰀕𰃄𰀕𰁬𰁝𰁞𰁡𰁚𰀕𰁥𰁧𰁤𰁩𰁚𰁘𰁩𰁞𰁣𰁜𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰁞𰁧𰀕
𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁖𰁨𰁨𰁚𰁩𰁨𰀕𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁚𰁣𰁫𰁞𰁧𰁤𰁣𰁢𰁚𰁣𰁩𰀣
𰀶𰁨𰀕𰁖𰀕𰁧𰁚𰁨𰁪𰁡𰁩𰀡𰀕𰁬𰁚𰃉𰁫𰁚𰀕𰁝𰁚𰁡𰁥𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁤𰁥𰁚𰁧𰁖𰁩𰁤𰁧𰁨𰀕𰁙𰁧𰁞𰁡𰁡𰀕𰁢𰁤𰁧𰁚𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁖𰁣𰀕𰁝𰁖𰁡𰁛𰀕𰁤𰁛𰀕
𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁬𰁤𰁧𰁡𰁙𰃉𰁨𰀕𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰀕𰁖𰁣𰁙𰀕𰁪𰁡𰁩𰁧𰁖𰀢𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁬𰁚𰁡𰁡𰁨𰀣𰀕𰁉𰁝𰁞𰁨𰀕𰁢𰁚𰁖𰁣𰁨𰀕𰀕
𰁣𰁤𰀕𰁤𰁣𰁚𰀕𰁞𰁨𰀕𰁗𰁚𰁩𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁥𰁤𰁨𰁞𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁤𰁧𰀕𰁚𰁦𰁪𰁞𰁥𰁥𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁩𰁤𰀕𰁨𰁪𰁥𰁥𰁤𰁧𰁩𰀕𰁮𰁤𰁪𰁧𰀕
𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁬𰁖𰁩𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁤𰁥𰁚𰁧𰁖𰁩𰁞𰁤𰁣𰁨𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁖𰁣𰀕𰁂𰀢𰀾𰀕𰁈𰁌𰀶𰀸𰁄𰀡𰀕𰁬𰁝𰁚𰁧𰁚𰁫𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁮𰁤𰁪𰁧𰀕
𰁣𰁚𰁭𰁩𰀕𰁥𰁧𰁤𰁟𰁚𰁘𰁩𰀕𰁩𰁖𰁠𰁚𰁨𰀕𰁮𰁤𰁪𰀣

𰁉𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁙𰁚𰁚𰁥𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁮𰁤𰁪𰀕𰁜𰁤𰀡𰀕𰁩𰁝𰁚𰀕𰁘𰁡𰁤𰁨𰁚𰁧𰀕𰁬𰁚𰀕𰁖𰁧𰁚𰀣
Drilling Wellbore Production Environmental
Solutions Productivity Technologies Solutions 𰁬𰁬𰁬𰀣𰁢𰁞𰁨𰁬𰁖𰁘𰁤𰀣𰁘𰁤𰁢
_______________

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LA 1 coalition, levee district trying

PORT FOURCHON SUPPLEMENT

to get Washington’s attention

E
missaries of two prominent alliances for nationwide highway projects. That way, Surface Transportation Formula. That
in Lafourche Parish are trying to get he says, the four-phase LA1 project has a translates into $308 million for Louisiana
the ear of Washington, but for entire- better chance of landing its full requested highways and complicating it even further,
ly different reasons. amount than if it was forced to try to get a the package requires $109 million of high-
While the LA 1 Coalition lobbies large share of a smaller pie. way monies be spent on transportation
for a share of the US economic stimulus However, the final stimulus package projects in urban areas.
package to complete construction of the earmarks $27.5 billion nationally in high- “Because under state law the Louisiana
elevated highway, the South Lafourche ways funding to be disbursed through the Department of Transportation must have
Levee District is merely trying to convince US Department of Transportation (DOT) the full $360 million identified for the LA
the federal government that it, indeed,
exists. In what threatens to cause financial
hardships to local residents and business-
es alike, the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (FEMA) says it intends to
decertify the nearly 50-mi (80-km) levee
that in 40 years has never sustained a
breach, despite being slammed by some
of the most active and powerful hurricane
seasons on record.
In the meantime, LA 1 Coalition Execu-
tive Director Henri Boulet says his group
had been seeking up to $360 million from
the near trillion-dollar stimulus package
President Barack Obama recently signed
into law, but that request has since been
pulled off the table. As the coalition looks
elsewhere than the federal government,
Boulet says the federal stimulus financ-
ing would have gone a long way to help
ensure that the main stretch of the nearly
$1.6-billion 47-mi (76-km) infrastructure
improvement project now under way was
completed by 2012 as planned. The federal
funds would have been earmarked specifi-
cally to complete the elevated eight-mile
stretch north of Leeville to the Golden
Meadow town limits.
A major sticking point was the compli-
cated appropriation formula that has states
receiving a percentage of the total monies
allocated for national transportation
improvements. Boulet’s coalition pushed
the Louisiana congressional delegation to
encourage the federal government to dedi-
cate the full $80 billion proposed earlier

(Above) Construction is well under way on

the new LA 1 elevated roadway.

(Below) The footing of the Leeville Overpass

is engineered specially to resist collisions
and strong tide flows.

54 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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Connecting the right people

to the right job for 62 years.
Danos & Curole is a progressive and growing oilfield services
company offering a broad range of services and a proven track
record. Founded in 1947, we remain a family owned business
with a strong commitment to our foundational values. All of our
services are based on our core strengths of finding, developing Global Provider of Excellent Service
and managing people.

Danos & Curole is a flexible, responsive service partner setting

Larose: 985-693-3313
a high standard for excellence in the services we offer. With Lafayette: 337-235-2767
more than 1000 employees and consultants worldwide, we are Houston: 713-329-1200
committed to safety, training and the quality development of our www.danos.com
personnel.

From the Gulf of Mexico to West Africa to the South China Sea, 2009 National
we are pleased to serve the industry through our extensive MMS Safe Award Nominee
compliment of services. Visit our new website or call our sales
Award Recipient
team today. 2001 • 2002 • 2004

•Shore-base Management •Construction & Fabrication •Production Labor •Coatings •International Consultants •Safety Professionals

Right for you. Where you need us. When you need us.

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1 Project’s Phase II in order to put the a more significant project to the country’s ognized as “America’s Energy Corridor,”
PORT FOURCHON SUPPLEMENT

project out to public bid, consequently, the economy than the LA 1 Project is at this it provides the only hurricane evacuation
LA 1 Project has been taken out of consid- time,” he says. route out of Port Fourchon. The existing
eration for this smaller-than-anticipated pot As the only overland access to Port sea-level highway repeatedly is closed to
of money. Even if we received the entire Fourchon, which is directly responsible traffic even during less severe weather.
state allocation, it’s simply not enough to for some 18% of the nation’s energy sup- The ramifications are magnified during a
do the project,” Boulet says. ply, no one disputes the need to replace hurricane, which Gary Ellis, for one, will
He points out, however, that the coali- the time-worn and flood-prone roadway. be the first to affirm.
tion has an alternative federal route for the Owing to the billions of federal funds The general manager of Gulf Offshore
necessary funding. The funding option, generated in OCS royalty revenue, the Logistics (GOL), the newest company to
he says, is linked directly to the highway’s US Congress in 2001 made Louisiana set up shop in Port Fourchon, says the
federal designation as a “High Priority Cor- 1 a “High Priority Corridor” – one of service and supply facility had just begun
ridor,” because of its strategic importance only 44 highways in the nation to be operations in August 2008 when Category
to the nation’s energy security. In addi- so-designated. More recently, a Minerals Two Hurricane Gustov pummeled south
tion, the US Department of Homeland Management Service (MMS)-authorized Louisiana. “Highway One was closed so we
Security and the Minerals Management study revealed that only 2% of this “High all had to stay here. We desperately need
Service (MMS) has named LA 1 a “Critical Priority Corridor” was not in need of that new highway,” he says.
Asset” and “Focal Point for OCS Activity,” improvement. The federal agency also While the coalition awaits word on
respectively. estimated that ever-increasing deepwater federal stimulus funding, construction is
“Our hope is that in a much smaller activity will spur a 60% increase in traffic well under way, thanks to a combination
stimulus transportation program, another along the rapidly deteriorating highway, of local and state funds. The coalition will
$1.5 billion from the DOT Secretary is compared to a national traffic growth rate celebrate a major milestone later this year
available for him to disburse at his discre- that averages 5% a year. with completion of the 4.4-mi (7.1-km)
tion under a competitive grant program “It’s been made pretty clear that if this overpass toll way over Bayou Lafourche at
that provides no state can get more than highway gets washed out because of a Leeville. A major component of this phase
$300 million and that must be intended storm, it will have a negative economic of the project is replacing the 40-year-old
for projects of national significance, which impact on the entire country,” Boulet says. and often inoperative Leeville lift bridge
he is supposed to distribute equitably be- He added the project also has a leg-up in with a fixed-level overpass that features
tween rural and urban communities. We that the full Environmental Impact State- a 72-ft (22-m) clearance. Closed often by
are in talks with the state Department of ment has been completed and acquisition high tidal flows and collisions, the existing
Transportation to allow the LA 1 Project of remaining right-of-ways is well under Leeville bridge has long been cited as the
to be Louisiana’s sole application to this way. weakest line in the LA 1 network.
program, because we do not think there is In addition, not only is LA 1 widely rec- “Based on the future traffic estimates

______________________________________________

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New LA 1 models and probabilities, but there’s a lot recent years. He added the importance of
construction timeline of leeway in judgment and assumptions both the levee and the new LA 1 to the en-
when you’re doing modeling. What they’ve ergy security of the area and nation cannot
Phase 1A: Construction of two-lane
elevated highway south of Leeville to done is take a few observations and default be understated.
LA 3090 at Port Fourchon (6.8 mi). to models, but you need experts to inter- “This is a working coast. We don’t have
Completion target: 2011 pret those,” Curole says. any condos or beaches and we have some
Curole says the threatened decertifica- of the lowest unemployment rates in the
Phase 1B & 1C: Construction of a tion is ironic, considering the levee is the country. The farmer in Iowa may never
fixed-span, high-level, two-lane over- only one south of Intercoastal that has visit South Louisiana, but he’ll definitely
pass over Bayou Lafourche at Leeville, never breached even in the face of the feel the effects if fuel from here is cut off,”
and associated interchanges and toll massive storms that have hit the coast in he says. 
booths (4.4 mi).
Completion target: 2009
𰀦𰁙𰁑𰁆𰁄𰁕𰀁𰀮𰁐𰁐𰁓𰀁𰁇𰁓𰁐𰁎𰀁𰁂𰀁𰀭𰁆𰁂𰁅𰁆𰁓𰀏
Phase 2: Highway widening and
upgrades from Port Fourchon to Grand
Isle (8 mi)
Construction of a two-lane elevated
highway from Golden Meadow to
Leeville (8.3 mi).
Completion target: 2012

𰀮𰁐𰁐𰁓𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁂𰁏𰀁
Phase 3: Construction of a four-lane,
at-grade highway from Larose to US

𰀮𰀰𰀰𰀳𰀪𰀯𰀨
Highway 90 (19.5 mi).
Completion target: 2017

Phase 4: Construction of an ad-

ditional two lanes of elevated highway
from Golden Meadow to Port
Fourchon, including the Leeville
Overpass, and upgrades to LA 1 from
Fourchon to Grand Isle. (17 mi)
Completion target: 2017

we’ve seen, we estimate the tolls will allow

us to retire all our (highway construction)
bonds within 30 years,” Boulet says.
He says the phased construction ap-
proach allows portions of the project to be
constructed as funding is made available.
In addition, the roadway is designed to
facilitate “end-on” construction methods
to help protect sensitive wetlands and
marshes wherever possible. Boulet added
that concrete from the soon-to-be-disband-
ed Leeville bridge also will be crushed and
used for wetlands restoration.

FEMA decertification ‘ironic’

Meanwhile, Windell Curole, general
manager of the South Lafourche Levee
District, says he is cautiously optimistic
FEMA will rethink its decertification
𰀪𰁇𰀁𰁚𰁐𰁖𰀁𰁋𰁖𰁔𰁕𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁊𰁏𰁌𰀁𰁐𰁇𰀁𰁖𰁔𰀁𰁇𰁐𰁓𰀁𰁎𰁐𰁐𰁓𰁊𰁏𰁈𰀍𰀁
of the levee, which would decree new
residents and businesses build as high as
𰁚𰁐𰁖𰂵𰁓𰁆𰀁𰁋𰁖𰁔𰁕𰀁𰁔𰁌𰁊𰁎𰁎𰁊𰁏𰁈𰀁𰁕𰁉𰁆𰀁𰁔𰁖𰁓𰁇𰁂𰁄𰁆𰀏
14 ft (4 m) above sea level. Currently, con- 𰀧𰁓𰁐𰁎𰀁𰁎𰁐𰁐𰁓𰁊𰁏𰁈𰀁𰁕𰁐𰀁𰁔𰁖𰁃𰁔𰁆𰁂𰀁𰁕𰁐𰀁𰁇𰁂𰁃𰁓𰁊𰁄𰁂𰁕𰁊𰁐𰁏𰀁𰀁
struction in the levee district is authorized 𰁕𰁐𰀁𰁃𰁂𰁔𰁆𰀁𰁑𰁐𰁓𰁕𰀁𰁔𰁆𰁓𰁗𰁊𰁄𰁆𰁔𰀍𰀁𰀪𰁏𰁕𰁆𰁓𰀮𰁐𰁐𰁓𰀁𰁈𰁊𰁗𰁆𰁔𰀁𰀁
at elevations of 2½ ft to 4 ft above sea
level. The ring levee protects the towns 𰁚𰁐𰁖𰀁𰁎𰁐𰁐𰁓𰀁𰁂𰁄𰁄𰁆𰁔𰁔𰀍𰀁𰁎𰁐𰁐𰁓𰀁𰁐𰁑𰁕𰁊𰁐𰁏𰁔𰀁𰀁
of Golden Meadow, Larose, and Galliano, 𰁂𰁏𰁅𰀁𰁎𰁐𰁐𰁓𰀁𰁔𰁆𰁓𰁗𰁊𰁄𰁆𰁔𰀏
key support centers for South Louisiana’s
offshore energy production.
The problem arose when FEMA adopted
𰀦𰁙𰁑𰁆𰁄𰁕𰀁𰀮𰁐𰁓𰁆𰀏𰀏𰀏𰀨𰁆𰁕𰀁𰀮𰁐𰁐𰁓𰀏𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀁 𰁘𰁘𰁘𰀏𰁊𰁏𰁕𰁆𰁓𰁎𰁐𰁐𰁓𰀏𰁄𰁐𰁎
_______________

new standards that increased the strength

of 100-year storms for national flood insur-
ance purposes. “We’re trying to work with
FEMA. We’re reviewing the flood elevation

www.offshore-mag.com • March 2009 Offshore 57

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No job shortage in Lafourche Parish

PORT FOURCHON SUPPLEMENT

I
n stark contrast to much of the US, in La- environmental incidents.”
fourche Parish “help wanted” signs are as To properly match available personnel
prevalent as the bayou and shrimp boats. with a client’s requirements, Danos & Curole
“While the national economy has also developed a personnel tracking software
slowed and people are losing their jobs, system.
we haven’t seen the slow down here,” says “What this involves is matching the
Danos & Curole Vice President of Domes- specifications for the position the company is
tic Operations Paul Danos. “Job seekers looking to fill with an individual who has the
recognize the need here and consequently proper certifications or qualifications, says
we’ve had a great deal of interest from as Paul Danos. “Every employee in our system
far as Detroit, Florida, Oklahoma, and New has a link to all of their training, certifica-
York.” It is impossible to drive down a roadway in tions, and skill levels. That way, the customer
The demand for workers is so strong Lafourche Parish without seeing “help wanted” is assured we have sent the right person for
signs.
the 62-year-old family-owned company, a specific job.”
which provides supplemental labor and and development program. In addition, every Danos & Curole says the key differentia-
related services, recently constructed a person we send to a customer’s operation tor with its services is the focus on training
second bunkhouse at its Larose head- has completed an intensive four-day training and safety. According to the company web-
quarters to accommodate workers from program that educates them in our safety site, “Our commitment to training is a reflec-
outside the area. culture and provides hands on, practical tion of our core values. Danos and Curole
Danos says the most pressing needs training for their work. That is a real asset to provides quality training to our employees
include specialized disciplines such as our customers.” through a well managed and documented
offshore and onshore crane operators, I&E “Some companies provide labor. We process. Our training is designed to meet or
technicians, mechanics, logistical person- provide a service,” adds Manuel Merlos, divi- exceed compliance standards set by govern-
nel, production operators, welders, project sion manager – Labor Services. ment agencies, expectations of customer
managers, and a wide range of maritime In addition to providing a supplemental contracts, company best practices, and job-
positions. He adds that the skill sets of any labor force, Danos & Curole provides specific skills.”
number of workers displaced from other Construction and Fabrication services The company offers nearly 300 courses
industries as well as soon-to-be-discharged and recently established a Coatings Divi- for employee development covering cur-
US military personnel can be transferred sion to paint and blast offshore platforms riculums devoted to training in such areas
with specialized training and development and onshore industrial structures. The as core compliance, DEVELOP Production
to the offshore and the onshore support company also created a Professional Personnel, core initiatives, and DOT-OQ
environments. Safety Services Division offering a suite Leadership.
“Our core competency is in developing of enhanced services designed to provide Danos & Curole was recently awarded the
people. We can work with people with no clients a “total safety and environmental Houma District 2009 Minerals Management
experience in the oilfield and put them management plan to reduce losses from Service SAFE Award and is a 2009 nominee
through a comprehensive, hands-on training employee injuries, property damage, and for the MMS’ National SAFE award. 

Work It! Grooming tomorrow’s workforce today

Jane Arnette makes no attempt to curb her enthusiasm ing classroom posters, media advertisement, a website,
when she discusses a program aimed at molding a new classroom career videos, career link events, speaker’s bureau,
generation of workers for the southernmost parishes of and is driven further by teacher Work It! champions from each
Louisiana. participating school. Arnette says the initiative focuses on lo-
The executive director of the South Central Industrial As- cal students, who do not have the financial means or inclina-
sociation says the group’s Work It! The Louisiana initiative tion to attend a college or university.
has been a hit with students, teachers, and business leaders. “We’re trying to expose them to multiple career paths and
Described as “a creative marketing and recruitment plan” to we’re doing that through several initiatives, including having
address current employment needs, the long-term goal is to champions in every school from grades 6-12. We’re not re-
educate students on job opportunities and salary expecta- questing the presidents of companies speak to these kids, but
tions. the working class guy. Recently, we had a guy speak on how
The pilot program encompasses seven parishes, includ- geometry is used in drilling. It was awesome and so motivat-
ing Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, Assumption, St. John, ing. The kids were excited, the teacher was excited and the
St. James, and St. Charles. Arnette says Work It! Louisiana is speaker was excited. We also brought in a boat captain and
“motivated and executed by local businesses, with the total when he told the kids he was making $100,000 a year, that got
support of educational system.” their attention,” she says.
“Others have tried somewhat similar approaches, but none The work has not gone unnoticed at higher levels. In July
of those were ever structured as a team approach generated 2008, Louisiana legislators approved $370,000 in state funding
from the business aspect. In the past they were always gener- with the Louisiana Economic Development and the Louisiana
ated from the education side of it. We felt like we needed to Department of Education promising additional monies.
look at long-term recruitment and the only way to do that is “Our objective is to bring nobility back to our work force and
through the children of Louisiana,” Arnette says. that’s critical because these kids have always been told that if
She explains the program is designed to encourage the they don’t go to college they’re somehow lacking. We want these
student to “value and take pride” in any chosen career path. kids to feel good about their career choices. We want them to
The strategy involves an aggressive media campaign includ- take pride in their careers. That’s what we’re all about.”

58 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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VIH Cougar Helicopters

is a new kind of Helicopter Company in the Gulf of
Mexico. We were built by a team of US and Inter-
national experts from the ground up using global
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Industry. We are 100% US owned and operated
and dedicated to providing the highest quality deep
water transportation services available in the Gulf
of Mexico.

The GAO FBO offers full fuel services 24/7 with

both 100LL and Jet Fuel. We are a Chevron
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We meet all the highest quality standards in
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Cell: (601) 590-0577 | Office: (985) 475-4534 985-475-6701
Email: [email protected] www.gaofbo.com
www.vihcougar.com

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Two new offshore facilities

PORT FOURCHON SUPPLEMENT

proposed for Port Fourchon

I
f Edison Chouest Offshore and local to the port’s 400-acre expansion around a “This facility is designed specifically for
businessman Jim Moncus have their third channel called Slip C. anchor handling vessels. Before when they
way, Port Fourchon soon could be With more than a mile of bulkhead, the had an issue that needed addressing they
home to two new offshore facilities. proposed facility will be capable of accom- had to go to Houma or Biloxi. These are
Chouest Marketing Manager Dan- modating heavier crane capacity and offer expensive pieces of equipment so you need
iel W. LaFont says the company is looking more space to store greater quantities of to get them repaired and turned around
at constructing a modified version of its water, chemicals, and drilling fluids. The as quickly as possible. It’s very costly for
C-Port 1 and 2 facilities, designed specifi- project is aimed primarily at servicing the a rig to be sitting there waiting for them,”
cally for the timely delivery of supplies 19 new deepwater rigs slated to enter the LaFont says.
and equipment to the deepwater Gulf of Gulf of Mexico over the next three years. “We just felt it would be more cost ef-
Mexico. Unlike its two counterparts, the In a related development, Chouest is fective to have a facility right here in Port
latest version would comprise a straight- nearing completion of a covered three-slip Fourchon. The demand is so strong that
line uncovered dock with 1,800 ft (549 m) drydock in Port Fourchon that is designed the facility will pay for itself in a relatively
of bulkhead with cranes, he says. to handle large anchor-handling vessels. short time.”
In December 2008, Edison Chouest LaFont says the facility is expected to be in Meanwhile, Moncus says land is available
Senior Vice President Roger White told operation by early in the second quarter. and all he needs are client commitments
the Greater Lafourche Port Commission The new drydock is 420 ft x 400 ft (128 to make his Deepwater Storage & Service
that construction of the so-called Chouest m x 122 m) and rises 150 ft (46 m) above facility a reality. The founder and former
Shorebase Services facility would not be- the water level. Since it is under cover, owner of Devin International supply and
gin until 2010 at the earliest. The company repairs will not be impacted by weather, manufacturing company, describes his
has been in negotiations to lease a 71-acre LaFont says, adding the facility can ac- concept as the only industrial storage and
track within the port’s ongoing northern commodate anchor handlers as large as service facility that allows companies to re-
expansion project. If all goes well, Edison the 348-ft (106-m) long Laney Chouest, the furbish and securely store deepwater tools
Chouest will be the first client to commit largest in the company’s fleet. and other equipment.

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PORT FOURCHON SUPPLEMENT

Edison Chouest Offshore’s new anchor-handling drydock rises above the wetlands of Lafourche Parish. The facility is slated to be in operation this
spring.

Moncus says the facility is geared to- areas. “These are high-end components to have a central facility here. There’s a
ward downhole specialty equipment, such that they do not want to leave outside and great deal of business in the deepwater
as drill collars, that previously had to be unsecured,” he says. so the opportunity is definitely there. It’s
taken to central storage facilities in Houma Moncus notes while many companies just a matter of lining up the first couple of
or Lafayette. In addition to the warehouse build facilities to store their own equip- clients and then we’re up and running.”
storage facility, the proposal also would ment, a need definitely exists for a univer- Greene’s Energy Group LLC acquired
have provisions for maintenance and wash sal location to be shared. “It makes sense Moncus’ former company in 2008. 

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PORT FOURCHON SUPPLEMENT
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Halo goes high-tech to optimize safety

H
alo LLC is using advanced technol- loop RFID systems provide 100% comput- lines and heavy-lift slings.
ogy as an integral component of its erized and transparent record keeping, In addition to slings, wire rope, and relat-
“Life First” safety initiative. which helps end users minimize mistakes ed products, the Halo Offshore Equipment
One of the newest companies to and speed up the typically tedious tracking Sales and Rental division also offers heave
locate in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, process. compensation units, ROV handling systems,
the provider of wire rope, chains, slings, “This technology can be added to any and abandonment and recovery winches,
and related industrial equipment for the product we fabricate, test or inspect,” says among other items. Complementing its
offshore has incorporated Radio Fre- Ragusa. “It eliminates paperwork, helps product offerings are onsite and in-house
quency Identification (RFID) technology clients maintain compliance, and ensures inspection and training services.
to ensure traceability of all its products. total traceability of our products. More “As a company, we believe it is our
President and owner Ken Ragusa says importantly, it strengthens our commitment responsibility to educate and train our
that unlike the traditional stainless tagging to keeping ‘Life First’ as opposed to ‘Safety customers to make sure they know how
systems popularized in the 1980s, RFID First.’ I am very passionate about safety and to handle our products in a safe manner,”
eliminates human error and instantly this is in keeping up with what the industry says Ragusa. “We feel our responsibility
advises clients when slings and other in- wants,” says Ragusa. for that product does not end when it is
dustrial products are scheduled for safety Founded in 2007, Halo opened its delivered to the customer.”
inspections. 11,000-sq ft (1,022-sq m) rigging ware- In late 2008, the company went global
“This is revolutionary technology and is house and fabrication shop at the 25-acre when it formed a strategic alliance with
keeping with what the industry wants and InterMoor facility in December 2008. Gaylin International PTE Ltd. of Singa-
needs,” Ragusa says. “We listened to our The facility is equipped with a 4,000-ton pore. The agreement calls from Halo to
end users and they want total traceability (3,629-metric ton) hydraulic swaging market Gaylin’s heavy-lift cable-laid slings
and we want to modernize the industry by machine able to press up to 6-in. (15- and grommets in the Gulf of Mexico and
using innovative and creative technology to cm) wire rope, and seven spooling units Atlantic basin while Gaylin, in turn, will do
ensure our goal of keeping ‘Life First’.” capable of handling up to 300,000 lb. In the same with Halo products in the Pacific
While RFID tracking tags can be found addition, the facility houses a 3-million lb Rim.
in everything from passports to people, it (1,361-metric ton), 220-ft (67-m) load test “Our goal is to become a full-service
was only a few years ago that they made bed with an 11-ft (3-m) stroke capable deepwater rigging and testing center,”
their way into the oilfield. Today, closed- of testing all sizes and types of mooring Ragusa says. 

The Halo LLC facility in Port Fourchon is equipped with a 3-million lb (1,361-metric ton), 220-ft (67-m) load test bed to test all sizes and types of moor-
ing lines and heavy-lift slings.

62 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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The Louisiana E&P waste management scorecard is clear

USLL gets a perfect 10

USLL Brand X Brand Y

1 Two transfer stations with 1600-ft water Please visit
frontage in Port Fourchon to improve barge www.uslla.com
turnaround times for more
2 Six transfer stations in Port Fourchon, information
Berwick, Cameron, Intracoastal City, Venice
about the
and Galveston to keep your transport costs
low
difference
3 Four treatment facilities in LA and two in TX to professional
provide local service E&P waste
4 Frequent testing, open-door “anytime/anyday” management
audit policy with zero citations or violations can make to
5 Does not dispose of waste in 3rd-party
your operations.
industrial or municipal landfills
6 Waste treated in engineered cells with oil and
water recycled and clean reuse material Jennings, LA
generated 337.824.3194
7 Drilling and NORM waste slurried and pumped
under pressure into injection wells in TX
Houston, TX
8 Does not accept or handle NORM or other 713.590.4620
industrial waste streams; never commingles
E&P waste with other waste streams
9 Diligently working to achieve zero operator
liability by converting clean recycled E&P
waste to levee fill and road base
10 100% of customers surveyed would
recommend their services to a friend or
colleague in the industry

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LIQUID LEVEL MEASUREMENT

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6646 Complex Drive • Baton Rouge, LA 70809 • 1-866-556-7466 • [email protected]

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Your Source for Energy News, Research, and Insight.

More Content. Global Energy Coverage.

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____ _____

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__
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Held Under the Patronage of

H.E. Dr. Abdul-Hussain Bin Ali Mirza - Minister of Oil & Gas Affairs and
Chairman of National Oil & Gas Authority, Kingdom of Bahrain

Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Manama, Bahrain

27 – 29 October 2009, www.offshoremiddleeast.com

Delivering Solutions for

For further information about participation Offshore Growth
as a speaker, or for a full list of conference
topics, please contact:

Frances Webb
Event Director
T: +44 (0) 1628 810562
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Call for Papers
Abstract submittal deadline: 22nd March 2009
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Owned and produced by: Supported by: Flagship Media Sponsors:

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Houston London Paris Stavanger Aberdeen Singapore Moscow Baku Perth Rio de Janeiro Lagos Luanda

www.offshore-mag.com

March 2009

World Trends and Technology for Offshore Oil and Gas Operations

SWEDEN
Prepared by
Offshore Magazine
March 2009

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SWEDEN

Higher capacity, smoother discharge

improve supply vessel cargo handling

H
opper and blow-pump bulk handling ship – the longitudinal and transverse bulk- MacGregor also has developed a two-way
systems from MacGregor Selfun- heads for the walls and the underside of the valve to replace the butterfly valve at the
loaders increase storage capacity for main deck for the roof. Only the floor needs junction where the cargo transfer line splits
offshore supply vessels (OSVs). Cur- to be added. Thus, the hopper’s capacity is into the loading line which enters the top
rently, systems are being installed on significantly greater than that of pressurized of the hopper and the discharge line run-
10 newbuild vessels. circular tanks fitted into the same space – ning from the blow-pumps. When opened,
The company – part of Cargotec Corp.’s 50-75% greater, according to Thakker. the butterfly valve has a blade in the cargo
MacGregor Group – has derived the design He cites one current delivery to a VS491 stream, and so tends to wear out.
for this equipment from its pneumatic con- CD anchor-handler under construction at the The two-way valve overcomes any clog-
veying system to load and unload cement Batamec Shipyard in Indonesia, in which bulk ging in the line – it has a disc which fits on the
carriers, first introduced in 1947 and further capacity will be about 500 cu m (654 cu yd). line that needs to be blocked. Since it does
refined over the years. In 2004, with the sud- “This is almost 67% higher than the originally not intrude into the cargo stream, it suffers
den boom in offshore vessel construction, planned conventional bulk tank type system almost no wear and tear, Thakker says. It is
the company decided to transfer fitted with an inspection cover
its bulk handling expertise into for easy maintenance.
this market. The MacGregor system avoids
Bulk cargoes carried by OSVs clogging the discharge line due
typically include barite and ben- to high humidity in the air used
tonite, as well as cement. “The for conveying the cargo (which
major disadvantage with conven- often leads to the air being passed
tional bulk handling systems in through refrigerant dryers). In
OSVs is that they rely on pressur- the case of the hopper and blow-
ized storage tanks,” says Pankaj pump system, between each fill
Thakker, senior sales manager and discharge cycle of the blow-
for MacGregor Selfunloaders in MacGregor’s
pump, the whole discharge line is
Sweden. hopper and blow- blown clean.
During discharge, it is the pres- pump bulk handling “To fully realize the benefits
sure differential between the tank system offers gains of the self-unloading system, it
and the discharge line which, with in storage capacity should be taken on board at the
the aid of compressed air, conveys compared with project’s design stage,” Thakker
the bulk material out of the tank. pressurized tanks. says. “It should be emphasized
“Because the tanks are pressur- that the hopper and blow-pump
ized,” he adds, “they have to be circular, which comprising four 75-cu m (98-cu yd) tanks with system is integrated within the structural
is not an optimal shape when it comes to using a total capacity of 300 cu m (392 cu yd).” design of the vessel, and early discussions
the storage space in a vessel’s hull.” To speed discharge, each hopper has two between ship designer and system designer
The MacGregor solution instead stores outlets, one in each half. While one pump is are crucial for successful implementation.”
cargo in hoppers, which have floors covered filling with cargo, the other is discharging The first hopper and blow-pump systems
with aeration panels. The floors are tilted at its load. The capacity of the blow-pump is 4 for offshore application are now being fitted
an angle of 12º in the direction of the outlet, cu m (5.2 cu yd). in four offshore vessels under construction
below which is situated a blow-pump. Dis- at Batamec for Mosvold Supply. Last year
charge is achieved by passing air through Less steel the company also received orders for six
the aeration panels. This fluidizes the cargo There are other advantages. Less steel is newbuild vessels from Arabian Gulf’s Whi-
which, under the influence of gravity, flows needed to form the hopper, as it makes use tesea Shipping & Supply. 
to the outlet and drops into the blow-pump. of existing bulkheads and deck. In contrast,
When the chamber of the blow-pump is full, the pressurized tank has to be built. More- For more information contact Pankaj Thakker,
aeration stops, the outlet valve is closed, and over, because it is pressurized, it needs Cargotec Sweden, MacGregor Selfunloaders. Tel +46
compressed air conveys the bulk material thicker walls, sometimes up to 20 mm (0.8 171 232 56, fax +46 171 232 99, pankaj.thakker@
macgregor-group.com, www.macgregor-group.com
from the pump through the discharge line. in.), which further adds to the required vol-
Only the blow-pumps are pressurized. ume of steel.
Since the hoppers are not pressurized, they In addition, the internal wall of the pres-
are designed for optimal use of available surized tank has to have a special coating of ON THE COVER: the Deepsea
space in the ship’s hull, meaning a rectangu- epoxy primer to ensure none of the cargo Atlantic semisubmersible. Picture
lar shape. Moreover, they normally can be sticks to it. No special treatment of the inter- courtesy GVA Consultants
formed using the existing structure of the nal wall is required for the hopper.

68 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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Heavy Offshore Experience

ENGINEERING »FROM FEED TO FIELD «
GVA has been in the offshore industry for more than 30 years. Our design have been proven and tested in all
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Find out more at www.gvaconsultants.com

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SWEDEN

Syntactic foam wrap helps protect

casings against HP/HT damage
Nick Terdre
Contributing Editor

T
relleborg CRP has introduced CFW+, an upgraded version
of its crushable foam wrap for use in high-pressure/high-
temperature wells.
CFW mitigates casing failure caused by annular pressure-
build-up, or trapped annular pressure, a phenomenon restrict-
ed to subsea wells. Fluids such as brine and drilling muds from the
drilling phase, and solids such as rock chippings become trapped in
the outer casing annuli, also known as the “B” and “C” annuli.
When the well is brought into production, and the hot wellstream
flows to the surface, heat transfers to the outer annuli. This causes
an increase in pressure in these annuli, which is not vented to air.
The trapped fluids are incompressible so they do not mitigate pres-
sure build-up.
If the pressure reaches a certain level, something has to give – flu-
Crushable foam wrap from Trelleborg CRP being attached to casing. The
ids may leak or, in the worst case, there may be catastrophic failure wrap is used to combat annular pressure build-up in subsea wells.
of the casing, says Guy Downie, manager of the subsea group at
Trelleborg CRP. The well then has to be shut down, and may be lost as specified by the operator’s well design engineers. The amount
permanently, leading to a large investment going down the drain – of CFW is dictated by the collapse volume and crush percentage
these days a deepwater well into an HP/HT reservoir can cost $50- requirements, Downie says. The collapse volume is defined as the
100 million. Recovery costs can be even more expensive. calculated volume increase of the annular fluids brought about by
There are well-documented cases, such as well A2 on BP’s Marlin thermal expansion between the installation (or ambient) tempera-
deepwater development in the Gulf of Mexico. Much effort was put into ture and the operating temperature during production.
investigating this incident. To quote from one resulting paper, “Pressur- The crush percentage is defined as the amount of compression un-
ization of outer annuli due to the production of thermal effects was iden- der isostatic load allowed by the foam before catastrophic collapse.
tified as one of two possible root causes of the failure” (SPE 77473). This value is usually between 30% and 40% depending on the foam
formulation. From the collapse value and the crush percentage, the
Honeycomb structure total volume of foam required can be calculated. The crush mecha-
Trelleborg first launched CFW in the early 1990s as a means to nism is progressive over the pressure envelope, but complete failure
combat annular pressure build-up when subsea wells were becom- is designed to occur well before the casing collapse pressure.
ing increasingly popular as a means of production. Over the years, CFW typically is supplied in quadrant cylinders around 1 m (3.28 ft)
technology enhancement has expanded the operating envelope long – these are rectangular sections bonded to the outside of the pro-
more than 4,000 psi (25.6 MPa) and 80-100º C (176-212º F). To date duction casing using an acrylic adhesive. They can be located anywhere
this has been sufficient to meet most requirements. Recent deliver- within the annulus while still allowing the free flow of the liquids.
ies include a 21-well deepwater development off Nigeria. CFW is quick and easy to install on the casings onshore prior to
But with downhole operating conditions becoming ever more ex- deployment, whether by Trelleborg CRP off-site teams or by those
treme, the company decided a new grade of CFW with higher capa- installing the well.
bilities was needed. The result is CFW+, which can operate in tem- There are other methods of mitigating annular pressure build-
peratures of 175º C (347º F) or more and at much higher pressures. up, Downie says. For example, the wall casing can be dimensioned
CFW is a polymeric material with a honeycomb microstructure to withstand whatever pressure is anticipated in the outer annuli,
which collapses under pressure. It is made of syntactic foam – resin implying a thick casing. Other options include insulated casing, to
– with microscopic glass bubbles, or microspheres, embedded in it. limit heat transfer, burst disks, or pumping nitrogen, a compressible
Downie describes it as a mechanical fuse – at a pre-determined pres- fluid, into the outer annuli.
sure and temperature, the glass bubbles, which are voided, collapse, Currently, CFW is the only solution which operates on both pres-
causing the material to shrink in size and allowing expansion of the sure and temperature triggers, rather than pressure alone, accord-
annulus fluids and dissipation of potentially hazardous pressure. ing to Downie. “Additionally, the feedback we have received from
For the CFW+ development, the resin system was modified to ex- our clients is that it is one of the few systems that works without
pand the operating envelope. Different grades of microspheres are affecting casing integrity.” 
used, with crush strengths ranging from 250 to beyond 18,000 psi
(1.7 to beyond 124 MPa). For more information, contact Guy Downie, Trelleborg CRP, Tel +44 1695 712 018,
Each delivery is tailored to the requirements of the individual well fax +44 1695 712 111. [email protected], www.trelleborg.com

70 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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SWEDEN

Mooring group sees signs of recovery

A
nchor chain manufacturer Ramnäs Toscana’s Livorno floating regasifica- Under President Magnus Westher,
anchor chain manufacturer Ramnäs
has landed its biggest order ever. The tion plant off Italy. Delivery is due
has had a busy start to 2009.
order is to supply chain to Hyundai next October. A third recent order
Heavy Industries for mooring Total’s was for 7,500 m (24,606 ft) of 76-mm
Usan FPSO off Nigeria. The order is (2.99-in.) R4 chain to drilling contrac- ity for proof-loading services, for
valued at more than SEK 120 million ($14.38 tor Odfjell, to be delivered in June. which there is increasing demand
million). Last year was eventful for Ramnäs, among mooring component suppli-
In a hectic period in January, the company which was acquired by a Norwegian ers and users.
booked two further orders, consolidating a consortium led by Carl Arnet, CEO Fall, however, was a nervous peri-
strong start to the year. “We’ve got roughly of BW Offshore, leaving the previous Swed- od, says Westher, with customers putting their
one year’s production on our order book, ish owners with a 30% stake. Ramnäs also in- projects on hold. “Fortunately some of them
says Magnus Westher, president of Ramnäs, stalled a new machine to improve its capac- have now decided to go ahead.” Despite that
“but it’s not all for 2009. We still have some uncertain period, Ramnäs expects to post bet-
capacity available for this year.” ter results for 2008 than the previous year.
The Usan FPSO contract calls for lengths Meanwhile the company has expanded the
of chain of both 142-mm (5.59-in.) R4 grade range of chain strengths it can offer, having
and 147-mm (5.79-in.) R3S grade for 17 moor- received certification from both DNV and
ing legs. The total weight of chain will be sig- ABS for the R5 grade. With a yield strength
nificantly greater than the 3,400 metric tons of 760 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength
(3,748 tons) which was the maximum the of 1,000 MPa, R5 has a proof-load and a break-
company had previously delivered in a single load both 16% higher than R4. 
order. Final shipment is due in May 2010.
The company also will supply six 1,100 For further information, contact Magnus Westher,
m (3,609 ft) legs of 103 mm (4.06-in.) R4S Ramnäs Bruk. Tel +46 220 220 01, fax +46 220 358
chain to Saipem to moor OLT Offshore LNG Ramnäs’ new proof-loading machine. 37, [email protected], www.ramnas.com

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Our drive is your performance.

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SWEDEN

Stabilized antenna expected to improve

satellite coverage on seismic vessel
M
aritime communications specialist C2SAT has sold its
first VSAT antenna for use on a seismic ship, Wavefield
Inseis’ Malene Ostervold. The antenna forms part of a
TracSAT satellite communications system supplied by
the Swedish company’s partner in Norway, ID Systems.
The VSAT – very small aperture terminal – antenna delivered to
Wavefield is a 1.2-m (3.9-ft) Ku-band unit.
Wavefield purchased the TracSAT system after testing to verify
satellite coverage and global function. The company’s IT manager,
Jan Vidar Nordstrand, says the equipment “excelled in the tests we
performed. The C2SAT antenna, combined with the complete solu-
tion provided by Trac ID, is a significant improvement for us.” Malene Ostervold is the first seismic ship to be fitted with a VSAT stabi-
“This sale should be regarded as a reference installation for the lized antenna.
oil and gas industry,” adds Mats Back, C2SAT’s director of business
development. “A lot of companies are interested in seeing how the Both partners are finalizing tests of a specially developed switch to
TracSAT solution works, especially in different parts of the world.” control which antenna is transmitting at any time. An upgraded radio
The focus of the cooperation is the development of the Radio Link amplifier supplied by Ericsson has made this task easier, as it automati-
Point-to-Point system which allows the transfer of huge quantities of cally controls which of each pair of antennas is in transmission mode.
data – 155 megabytes per second – by radio. This service requires a The Radio Link Point-to-Point system now is available to the market. 
vessel to carry four antennas, two at the bow and two at the stern, to For more information contact Mats Back, C2SAT Communications. Tel +46 8748
ensure uninterrupted contact with the satellite. 0144, fax +46 8748 0143, [email protected], www.C2SAT.com

____________

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SWEDEN

Supply vessel specialist building

expertise in ice operations
T
ransatlantic, the only Swedish shipown- In 2010 and 2011, two new anchor-handlers,
er operating offshore supply vessels, is both under construction at the Astilleros Za-
i up to b
gearing l
be a player iin the
h arctic
i k
makona d iin S
yard i will
Spain, ill jjoin
i the
h T l
Transatlan-
offshore market, according to business tic fleet. Both will comply with the Swedish- Transatlantic’s anchor-handler Tor Viking on
manager for offshore/ice-breaking, Ste- Finnish 1A ice-class. station in the Arctic ice.
fan Eliasson. “We see a big increase in activities in this
Until late last year the company was involved market within three to five years,” says Elias- arctic areas. In 2004 Vidar Viking, one of the
in a joint venture with Norwegian group Viking son. ships now with Viking, was fitted with a drill-
Ship Supply, operating four anchor-handling In supporting this ambition, the company ing rig and drilled for cores on the Lomonos-
tug/supply vessels, three of them also ice-break- has established three courses in ice manage- ov Ridge close to the North Pole on behalf of
ers. When the two parties began to diverge on ment and associated topics at Kalmar Mari- a Russian scientific expedition.
policy issues, they agreed to discontinue the joint time Academy in southern Sweden to help de- In 2007 Tor Viking worked for Shell for six
arrangement, each taking two of the vessels. velop the required crew competency. And last months off Alaska, performing ice-breaking
Transatlantic now operates Balder Viking and month it was set to announce the formation and anchor-handling duties. Last year Vidar
Tor Viking, both ice-breakers. Under a 15-year of the Transatlantic Ice Council, comprising Viking worked as an ice-breaker off Greenland
agreement with the Swedish Maritime Admin- eight ice experts from Russia, Finland, Ger- supporting seismic activities for a consortium
istration, these are available for ice-breaking many, Sweden, Canada, and the US. They will led by StatoilHydro. 
duties in the Baltic Sea during the first quarter provide the company’s customers with best
of the year. Otherwise, they work mainly in the practice and advice about ice operations. For further information contact Stefan Eliasson, Red-
North Sea spot market, where Transatlantic Under its joint venture with Viking, the eri AB Transatlantic. Tel +46 304 67 47 00, fax +46
and Viking continue to cooperate. company undertook various assignments in 304 67 47 70, [email protected], www.rabt.se

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SWEDEN

Micro-seismics technique sheds

light on fracturing operations

A
technique to visualize hydraulic fracturing operations has
been developed by Guideline Oil Drilling Technology. The
company hopes to have a commercial version available by
the end of this year, according to CEO Peter Hjorth.
Guideline’s approach involves the use of micro-seismics,
which it devised originally as a means to locate the drill bit in real
time. During field tests in North America, the company noted its
potential for fracturing, and is now developing the two applications
in parallel.
Drill bit localization uses seismic waves generated by the friction
between the bit and the rock or sand being drilled. With fracturing,
the waves are created by stress relief as the rock fractures under
the pressure of the fluid and solid material pumped into it under
high pressure. In both cases the signals are registered by an array
of receivers deployed at the surface above the well.
Guideline has formulated data algorithms to indicate the location
of the source of the waves. For drill bit location, there is just one
source of events, but in the case of fracturing, there are multiple
events at multiple locations.
A feasibility test on a horizontal well in Canada was encouraging,
according to chief technology officer Ivo Henriksson. The frac was Guideline has developed a method to visualize the effects of hydraulic
fracturing. Here a fracing operation is prepared at an onshore well.
performed in several zones along the horizontal section of the well
at a depth of 5-6,000 ft (1,524-1,829 m), in a hydrocarbon-bearing lay-
er about 30 ft (9 m) thick. Knowing the geology where the test was Taking the Guideline method offshore represents a significant
carried out and the locations where the fracing emanated from, the step which the company will consider once the onshore version is
team concluded that the results were realistic, Henriksson says. commercial. In principle it could be implemented offshore using an
The field’s operator is working “in the dark” for almost all fractur- array of receivers on the seabed, although like other novel offshore
ing, he adds, so its only way of judging the effectiveness of a frac technologies, a higher level of cost will be involved.
operation is the resultant well performance. A means to map the Meanwhile the drill bit development is progressing, though at a
operation will make it possible to assess both the extent and the somewhat slower pace. A number of field tests have been done and
direction of the fracture. This should allow the operator to improve more are planned. However, drilling activities have declined in line
control of the operation and to judge when it has achieved its aims, with the oil price drop, as have the cost of associated services. So for
making the entire operation more cost-effective. the time being, the company’s business focus will remain on fractur-
Henriksson says the technology’s accuracy is sufficient in terms ing visualization.
of the deviation on a horizontal plane, although some improvement More work also needs to be done on the sensor for the drill bit de-
is required in the vertical plane. A development program which will velopment, Henriksson adds. Drilling for oil and gas usually involves
involve several tests is scheduled for this year in Canada or North drilling through sedimentary formations consisting of multiple lay-
America. ers in which seismic waves propagate with different velocities. The
sensor, therefore, needs to be able to receive signals imparted with
Tight reservoirs a range of different velocities.
The company is encouraged by market prospects. According to “It’s both a sensor and a mathematical problem. When it comes to
market analyst Spears & Associates, the downhole pressure pump- hydraulic fracturing, we have pretty much resolved this and arrived
ing services sector, of which fracturing accounts for the largest part, at solutions for the algorithms, but there is more to do regarding the
exhibited compound annual growth of 21% in 1999-2007. In 2007 it drill bit application,” says Henriksson.
was evaluated at about $20 billion. Guideline also has become active in a new technology through
This reflects the well-known fact that the industry increasingly its acquisition last year of Malå Geoscience, a specialist in ground
has to tackle tight reservoirs which restrict hydrocarbon flow. Frac- penetrating radar. This technology also is relevant to the oil and gas
ing is widespread in North America, in both vertical and horizontal industry, Hjorth says. One tool developed and sold by this company
wells, Henriksson says. is the omnidirectional borehole radar which is deployed downhole
The same development is taking place offshore. In the UK south- to map the surrounding formation. 
ern gas basin, for instance, several operators have implemented
fracturing to improve production. In one recent case it was only after For more information contact Peter Hjorth, Guideline Oil Drilling Technology. Tel
conducting successful frac operations on a field that a leading opera- +46 8 655 3641, fax +46 8 655 2610, [email protected], __
www.
tor decided that development would be economic. guidelinetechnology.com

74 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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More Bytes, More Barrels:

Business-Driven Innovation

The 2009 Digital Energy Conference and

Exhibition will emphasize case studies related
to people, processes, and technology issues.

The conference will address the challenges of

    
deployment
    
sustainable strategies

Register now at www.digitalenergy2009.com.

7–8 April 2009

Marriott Houston Westchase
Houston, Texas, USA
www.digitalenergy2009.com

Gulf Coast Section

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

People International Association of Drilling The Minerals Management Service (MMS)

Prospectiuni has appointed Contractors (IADC) has nominated Naresh has appointed Ron Brinkman as senior staff
Timothy Branch as VP of Kumar as a member of the organization’s ex- geophysicist for its resource evaluation office.
business development. Branch ecutive committee. Kumar, who serves as MD Brinkman will oversee seismic compliance and
previously served as country for Jindal Drilling & Industries and president policy issues for the Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, and
manager for Petroleum GeoSer- of Petrotech Society, will serve a three-year Pacific MMS regional offices.
vices in Morocco. term. Knight Manufacturing has
MODEC has appointed Yaji The Greater Lafourche Port Commission appointed Phillip Thomas
Nobuhiro Yaji as president has named Chett Chiasson as successor to Mitchell as GM. Mitchell will
and co-CEO. The company executive director Ted Falgout. Chiasson is manage Knight’s manufacturing
has also appointed Shashank the current director of economic development division and focus on developing
Karve as MD and COO as and will be the second director in the port’s its workforce. Mitchell
well as chairman and CEO of history. Falgout is scheduled to retire on Dec. OPITO – The Oil & Gas
MODEC International Inc. 31, 2009. Academy has appointed Mike
Kenji Yamada has been named Karve Xodus Group has appointed Nick Lodge Duncan as skills director. The
chairman and continues as CEO and Francis Barrett to the company’s subsea organization has also appointed
of MODEC Inc. division as senior consultants. Peter Crowther as technical
Wave Imaging Technology NCS Survey has appointed Andrew Mc- specialist and Sam Howard
has appointed Tom Wood as VP Murtrie as business development manager. as corporate communications Duncan
of sales and marketing. McMurtrie has responsibility for further de- manager.
CSIP has appointed David veloping business with NCS Survey’s existing ONGC has appointed Sudhir Vasudeva as
Scott-Frame and Julian Yamada customer base both in the UK and overseas, director. He succeeds N K Mitra.
Moore as embedded software as well as developing relationships with new Severneftegazprom has appointed Alexan-
engineers focusing on the com- customers. der Popov as director general.
pany’s underwater manipulator TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. (TGS) has Geomodeling Technology has appointed
arms. appointed Rod Starr as GM, Asia Pacific. Kevin Donihoo as VP of sales and services.
ClerkMaxwell has appointed Tanya Johnstone has been promoted to Pegasus International has appointed Bill
Guy Cook as subsea and pipe- regional manager – Indonesia and Australasia. Washington as director of business develop-
lines director. Cook will focus The company also has appointed Iain Buchan ment. He will be responsible for leading the
Wood
on bringing operations, con- as regional manager – South and Southeast strategic business development activities for
struction, and detailed design Asia and Peter Baillie as chief geologist for an the company’s offshore division. The company
knowledge into the front-end of expanded region that now includes Africa and also has appointed Randy Monson to its busi-
projects. the Middle East in addition to Asia-Pacific. ness development team.
BP has appointed Robert Newfield Exploration has appointed Lee K. Rowan has appointed John J. Quicke, a
Dudley as a director, effective Boothby as president, effective immediately. managing director and operating partner at
April 6, 2009. As a MD of the BP The company expects to name Boothby to the Steel Partners, to the company’s board of
Group, he will assume respon- Scott-Frame additional role of CEO in May, where he also directors.
sibility for broad oversight of will stand for election to the board of directors. Pöyry has added Conor Crowley, Neil
the company’s activities in the Boothby will succeed David A. Trice, who Smith, and Peter Henderson to the com-
Americas and Asia. plans to retire. pany’s board of directors.
Thales has appointed Michel- Knight has appointed Doug- Baker Hughes has appointed Russell J.
angelo Neri as division country las (Doug) W. Smith to the Cancilla as VP of HS&E, and security.
director in the United Arab company’s corporate sales team The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petro-
Emirates (UAE). In his new Moore in Houston. leum Board has appointed Stuart Pinks as
position, Neri will coordinate BJ Services has appointed CEO.
all marketing and sales activities for Thales’s Ryan Elder as business devel- Aker Solutions has appointed Gary Mandel
Security Solutions and Services business in opment manager – Middle East Smith as executive VP of the company’s process
the region. and Russia for the company’s tu- and construction business area. He replaces
Apache Corp. has named Roger B. Plank bular and completion assembly executive VP Jarle Tautra who moves to a
as president. The company has also appointed service line. similar position in the energy development
John A. Crum as co-COO and president– The Industry’s Technology and services business area.
North America, and Rodney J. Eichler as Facilitator (ITF) has promoted PIPC has appointed Ben Tye as the firm’s
co-COO and president–International. technology manager David global practice lead. He is joined by Helen
Transocean has appointed Ramon Yi as VP Liddle, to operations direc- Liddle Ratcliffe.
and treasurer. tor. Liddle will be responsible Total has appointed Marc Blaizot to the
MicroSeismic has appointed Malcolm for the development of the organization’s company’s corporate management committee.
Macaulay as VP of international sales. strategy. The organization has also appointed Eni Norge has appointed Leonardo Stefani
Macaulay previously served as the company’s Tony Zaccarini as business development as MD. Former MD, Agostino Maccagni, will
international sales manager. manager. return to Eni’s E&P headquarters in Milan.
ABS has appointed Sean T. Connaughton InterMoor do Brasil has named Osvaldo The Kuwaiti government has appointed
as corporate VP for government affairs. Con- Lorca as project director for its Rio de Janeiro Sheikh Mohammad Al-Salem Al-Sabah
naughton previously served as US maritime office. He will be responsible for project as oil minister; he replaces Mohammad Al-
administrator. management. Olaim.

76 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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L I Q U I D L E V E L M E A S U R E M E N T

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E3 MODULEVEL

Worldwide Level and Flow Solutions SM

1-800-624-8765 • magnetrol.com
[email protected]

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C L A S S I F I E D A D V E RT I S I N G

• Display Ads: $215.00 per column inch. Same discount as above. 15% agency commission. $200.00 minimum charge for inser-
tions. Page size is 3 columns wide by 10 inches deep. One Column = 2.25” wide, Two Columns = 4.75” wide, Three Columns = 7”
wide. Minimum Size: 1 Column X 1 Inch.
• Deadline for classified advertising is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Contact Glenda Harp, (918) 832-9301, or
fax your ad for a quote (918) 831-9776. E-mail: [email protected]
• No special position available in classified.

C O N S U LTA N T S P I P E L I N E L O C ATO R

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Effective strategic analysis, quality technical services,
compelling economic/regulatory advice, and realistic LICENSE – DEVELOP – UTILIZE
approach regarding Brazilian business environment - 120 Generate 3-D As-Built Survey Plat Plans from Data Analysis
specialists upstream, downstream, gas and biofuels. (Reference 49CFR192.927.c.1.ii & ASME B31.8S,P6.4.2)
Email: [email protected] Contact: Todd G. Boudreaux, P.E.
Web: www.expetro.com.br -Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Email: [email protected]

EMPLOYMENT

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ADVERTISERS INDEX

A N
SALES OFFICES Acteon.................................................. 2-3 National Oilwell Varco ..........................27
PENNWELL PETROLEUM GROUP www.acteon.com www.nov.com/xlsystems
1455 West Loop South, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77027 Alcoa Oil & Gas.......................................1
PHONE +1 713 621 9720 • FAX +1 713 963 6228 www.alcoaoilandgas.com O
David Davis (Worldwide Sales Manager) Orion Instruments ................................64
[email protected] B orioninstruments.com
Bailey Simpson (Regional Sales Manager) Baker Hughes Incorporated............... 29
[email protected] ORR Safety Corporation ......................13
Mona El-Khelaly (Advertising Services) www.bakerhughes.com www.orrsafety.com/kong
[email protected] Bayou Companies ............................... C3
Glenda Harp (Classified Sales) [email protected] www.bayoucompanies.com P
Bisso Marine. ........................................ 11 Polarcus.................................................31
GREATER HOUSTON AREA, TX www.bissomarine.com www.polarcus.com
David Davis [email protected]
Bupa International. ...............................14 PennEnergy ...........................................65
USA • CANADA www.bupa-intl.com www.PennEnergy.com
Bailey Simpson [email protected] PennWell
C Deep Offshore Technology International
SCANDINAVIA •THE NETHERLANDS • Cameron ............................................... C4 Conference & Exhibition 2010 .................... 6
MIDDLE EAST www.c-a-m.com/camerondc www.dotinternational.net
11 Avenue du Marechal Leclerc
61320 Carrouges, France MAPSearch................................................. 24
PHONE +33 2332 82584 • FAX +33 2332 74491 D www.MAPSearch.com
David Betham-Rogers [email protected] Danos & Curole Marine Contractors....55 Offshore Asia 2009 .................................. ..25
www.danos.com www.offshoreasiaevent.com
UNITED KINGDOM Delmar Systems, Inc........ .....................61 Offshore Middle East ................................. 66
PennWell Corporation www.delmarus.com www.offshoremiddleeast.com
Warlies Park House, Horseshoe Hill, Upshire
Offshore Reprints ...................................... 14
Essex, United Kingdom EN9 3SR
PHONE +44 (0) 1992 656 665 • FAX +44 (0) 1992 656 700 E www.offshore-mag.com
Linda Fransson [email protected] ESAB Welding & Cutting Products......47 PennWell Books......................................... 22
esabna.com/seismic www.PennWellBooks.com
FRANCE • BELGIUM • PORTUGAL • EXPRESS WELD, LLC...........................60 PROLINE SYSTEMS, INC. .....................56
SPAIN • SOUTH SWITZERLAND • MONACO www.prolinesystemsinc.com
• NORTH AFRICA
Prominter F
8 allée des Hérons, 78400 Chatou, France Fluor Corporation...... ...........................19 Q
PHONE +33 (0) 1 3071 1224 • FAX +33 (0) 1 3071 1119 www.flour.com/offshore Qatar Airways ........................................45
Daniel Bernard [email protected] Fugro......................................................35 qatarairways.com
www.fugro-gravmag.com/solutions
GERMANY • NORTH SWITZERLAND • Fugro-Geoteam AS................................33 S
AUSTRIA • EASTERN EUROPE www.fugro-geoteam.com SCAN Geophysical ASA ................. 36-41
RUSSIA • FORMER SOVIET UNION • BALTIC
• EURASIA www.scangeo.com
Sicking Industrial Marketing, Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 16 G Schilling Robotics, LLC .......................23
59872 Freienohl, Germany Greater LaFourche Port Commission .51 www.schilling.com/schillingstrong
PHONE +49 (0) 2903 3385 70 • FAX +49 (0) 2903 3385 82 www.portfourchon.com Sercel..... ................................................34
Andreas Sicking [email protected] GVA Consultants AB ............................69 www.sercel.com
www.gvaconsultants.com SPE - 2009 Digital Energy Conference
ITALY
UNIWORLD MARKETING and Exhibition .......................................75
Via Sorio 47 - 35141 Padova, Italy H www.digitalenergy2009.com
PHONE +39 (04) 972 3548 • FAX +39 (04) 985 60792 Hagglunds Drives AB ...........................71 SPE - 2009 Offshore Technology
Vittorio Rossi Prudente [email protected] www.hagglunds.com Conference.... ........................................48
www.otcnet.org/2009
BRAZIL / SOUTH AMERICA
Grupo Expetro/SMARTPETRO, Ave. Erasmo
I Statoil Hydro .......................................5, 7
INTECSEA .............................................15 DoMoreHere.com
Braga 227, 11th floor
Rio de Janeiro RJ 20024-900, BRAZIL intecsea.com
PHONE +55 (21) 2533 5703 or +55 (21) 3084 5384 INTERMOOR..........................................57 U
FAX +55 (21) 2533 4593 www.intermoor.com US Liquids Of Louisiana.. ....................63
[email protected], Url [email protected] ION .........................................................43 www.uslla.com
Marcia Fialho marcia.fi[email protected] iongeo.com/IAdata
JAPAN V
e. x. press Co., Ltd. J VIH Cougar Helicopters .......................59
Hirakawacho TEC Bldg., 2-11-11,Hirakawa-cho Jet-Lube Inc.......................................... C2 www.vihcougar.com
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 102-0093, Japan www.jetlube.com VOLVO PENTA . .....................................72
PHONE +81 3 3556 1575 • FAX +81 3 3556 1576 www.volvopenta.com
Manami Konishi [email protected]
K
SINGAPORE KOHLSWA GJUTERI AB.. .....................73 W
19 Tanglin Road #09-07 Tanglin Shopping Center www.kohlswagjuteri.se Weatherford International ......................9
Singapore 247909 www.weatherford.com
PHONE +65 6 737 2356 • FAX +65 6 734 0655 L Wood Group ..........................................21
Michael Yee [email protected] L&M Radiator, Inc..................................16 www.woodgroup-esp.com
mesabi.com WPT Power Transmission
INDIA Corporation..... ......................................30
Interads Ltd., A-113, Shivalik, New Delhi 110 017
PHONE +91 11 628 3018 • FAX +91 11 622 8928 M www.WPTpower.com
Rajan Sharma [email protected] M-I SWACO ............................................53
www.miswaco.com
NIGERIA/WEST AFRICA Magnetrol International ........................77 The index of page numbers is provided
Flat 8, 3rd floor (Oluwatobi House) magnetrol.com as a service. The publisher does not as-
71 Allen Ave, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria sume any liability for error or omission.
PHONE +234 805 687 2630 or +234 802 223 2864 Multi-Chem ............................................17
Dele Olaoye [email protected] www.multichem.com/safespend

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BEYOND THE HORIZON

Going green demands global solutions

Seismic industry is not exempt
It is controversial and urgent. Debate and discussion carry from ficiencies. The Emission Indexing is being conducted on the global
classrooms to b d
boardrooms, ffrom TV di and
TVs to radios, d even to ships
hi at marinei seismic
i i fleet byb Ulstein
Ul i International
I i l and
d Det
D Norske
N k Veritas
V i
sea. This emotional topic, of course, consists of the joint challenges AS. This will establish benchmarks for existing vessels as well as
of climate change and sustainable development with the primary newbuilds. It is our intention to share this data with the industry as
question being: How are we going to address this? We believe the it is only together that a timely, effective, and pragmatic global solu-
answer is that the world needs global solutions. This means nations, tion can be found for the pollution and greenhouse gas challenges.
NGOs, individuals, and the business world working together as a The resultant data will provide clients with the ability to objectively
team. evaluate the sector and select an environmentally responsible con-
The seismic industry should not be exempt, even though it is a tractor, further challenging us all to innovate and move towards a
part of the oil and gas business which is perceived so often as being cycle of continuous improvement.
on the dark side of the environmental debate. In reality, fossil fuels While building the company, nearly every aspect of our vessel
will have a place alongside other energy sources for many decades, design and technology selection has come under the green focus.
so our industry has a key stewardship role to play in making every In designing the fleet, we recognized the importance of reducing
effort to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. atmospheric emissions from our vessels. We investigated Selective
There have been some in our industry who maintained a business Catalytic Reduction and through installation of these units realized
strategy that allowed them to operate with little concern for environ- an investment in our future.
mental responsibility and sustainable development. After all, it was Similarly, by using the latest bilge and ballast water treatment sys-
fossil fuels, the dark side, plus they did not sell to the public and did tems we reduce, if not eliminate, the number of contaminants and
not see a profit in operating green. non-native species released into our oceans, a lesser debated but
Polarcus, a marine seismic company launched in 2008, approach- equally important area of concern.
es this from the perspective of individual citizens seeking global so- In parallel to the engineering initiatives, we continuously seek
lutions and recognizes we must be willing to accept economic costs other ways to address the green agenda. For instance, we measure
now in order to avoid negative future consequences. We are well the carbon footprint of our office, including business seminars held
aware that we have a significant opportunity within the maritime elsewhere. Employees calculate the carbon footprint of primary cars
sphere of our industry to perform our work cleaner and greener. and residences, with the carbon offsets paid for personally by the se-
Our goal is to rise up and meet this challenge head on. nior managers and by the company for all other employees. Another
In launching Polarcus, we are building an environmentally re- idea under consideration is a carbon offset matching plan with our
sponsible company that we envision as a model for others. Our be- clients and suppliers, to offset the carbon footprint generated during
liefs are embedded in our corporate values of respect, innovation, our operations. The offsets would be used to support sustainable de-
and excellence, and are apparent throughout the corporate lifecycle, velopment in areas of extreme need, allowing us to give something
from the design of our seismic fleet through each vessel’s operation back to the global community.
to their eventual recycling. These may be small initial steps, perhaps. But by increasing par-
Our corporate values are the foundation for what we call “our ticipation, promoting awareness, investing in green technologies,
pioneering environmental agenda.” To be a pioneer, we lead by ex- and leading by example, we hope to inspire others in our sector to
ample. Leading by example means, we know where we start from become part of the global solution.
and how we compare alongside our peers.
We are pursuing an Emission Index for COx, NOx, and SOx in
our vessel build program. The principal uses an Emission Indexing Peter Zickerman
algorithm to measure our environmental footprint. The goal is to Executive Vice President
minimize that footprint while simultaneously maximizing vessel ef- Polarcus

This page reflects viewpoints on the political, economic, cultural, technological, and environmental issues that shape the future of the petroleum industry. Offshore
Magazine invites you to share your thoughts. Email your Beyond the Horizon manuscript to Eldon Ball at [email protected].

80 Offshore March 2009 • www.offshore-mag.com

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With all our companies at one dock,

you can tie up some real savings.
Because The Bayou facilities are together at
the Port of Iberia, we can meet your subsea
project schedule and deliver real savings. Your needs
can run the gamut because our services do. Bayou
applies OD corrosion, ID flow efficiency and
concrete coating. CCSI provides InnerGard™, ID
FBE, and custom coating of buckle arrestors
and girth welds. BFT offers insulation and flow
assurance coatings and BWW provides fabrication for
all your subsea and topside equipment. Add six-plus
decades of experience and the takeaway is clear. When
there’s no give in your project, give The Bayou Companies
the opportunity to save you time and money.

The Bayou Companies

5200 Curtis Lane, New Iberia, La 70560
Tel: 337.369.3761 Fax: 337.365.9747
www.bayoucompanies.com © 2008

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________________

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Advanced Coiled Tubing

Solutions
Supported by Supplement to

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Contents
A s e c re t b e g i n n i n g 1
The basic coiled tubing rig 3
Applications 4
F i t - f o r- p u r p o s e s o l u t i o n s 6
ACTive* services 8
The ACTive portfolio 10
ACTive case histories 11
S p o n s o r p ro f i l e s 14

An asterisk (*) is used throughout this document to denote a mark of Schlumberger.

“ When you know exactly what’s happening downhole, you can adjust job parameters
in real time based on downhole measurements. The Schlumberger lineup of ACTive

coiled tubing services that is now available applies to a

variety of services—from perforating using accurate and

defined BHP, to running inflatable packers, monitoring

downhole temperature and pressure, and increasing zonal

coverage for matrix stimulation, and even for formation

evaluation. For the first time, operators can manage

downhole treatments with positive feedback and make a

Sherif Foda
difference to the results with complete confidence when it
vice president,
matters the most—while the operation is still in progress. ” coiled tubing services

Custom Production Manager, PennWell Petroleum Group sponsored by:

Publishing Dorothy Davis 1455 West Loop South, Suite 400
[email protected] Houston, TX 77027 U.S.A.
VP, PennWell Custom Publishing, Profile Editor, 918.831-9537 713.621.9720 • fax: 713.963.6285
Roy Markum Jerry Greenberg fax: 918.831.9415
[email protected] [email protected] PennWell Corporate Headquarters supplement to:
Circulation Manager, Tommie Grigg 1421 S. Sheridan Rd., Tulsa, OK 74112
Managing Editor, Presentation Editor/Designer, [email protected] P.C. Lauinger, 1900–1988
Richard Cunningham Chad Wimmer 918.832.9207 Chairman, Frank T. Lauinger
[email protected] [email protected] fax: 918.831.9722 President/CEO, Robert F. Biolchini

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A secret beginning

The first application of coiled tubing (CT) tech- the first string of 2-inch coiled tubing was milled
nology was not for oil wells, but for a plan to lay for a permanent well completion, and suppliers
emergency pipelines across the English Chan- soon began offering coiled tubing up to 4-½
nel during World War II. Allied engineers made inches outside diameter.
coiled tubing from 40-foot lengths of 3-inch pipe Service companies quickly developed new CT
and spooled it around huge floating drums that applications. In well workovers, coiled tubing be-
could be towed behind ships. In 1944, some of came the tool of choice for removing cement plugs
the 23 secret pipelines they laid delivered Allied and scale. When customers said they wanted to
fuel for the Normandy invasion. drill more slimhole wells for exploration and pro-
The Allies made their coiled tubing by weld- duction, coiled tubing was a natural choice.
ing joints of pipe end to end. The idea is simple
enough, but making coiled tubing that is safe and
dependable is much more complicated. The low-
grade steel used in the early days couldn’t take
the tensile stress of heavy loads, and the many
welds required to produce continuous spools of
pipe frequently leaked or broke.
Steady improvements in manufacturing and
metallurgy through the 1970s and 80s greatly
improved the reliability of coiled tubing. In 1990,

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The big advantage of coiled tubing, of course, site. Some oil and gas operators now use CT
is that tripping in and out of a well is continuous. routinely to drill shallow wells. In unconsolidated
That is not only faster than making up joints of sands, coiled tubing rigs can drill at rates up to
tubing, it requires fewer people on the rig floor 1,300 fph, compared 400 fph for conventional
and makes the whole operation safer. rigs. Current technology allows CT drilling be-
Coiled tubing units can also deploy downhole yond 7,000 feet, and some heavy-duty units are
tools that cannot be run on conventional wire- targeting depths of 10,000 feet.
lines. The two main benefits, however, are that Coiled tubing moved offshore in the mid-
with coiled tubing, operators can pump fluids 1980s, where CT engineers had to overcome
through the coil, and they can push tools into much greater challenges than they faced on
the well rather than lowering them down on a land. Even though CT is lighter than rigid-tubing
wireline. Depending on the size of the spool and rigs, the equipment was still too bulky for most
diameter of the pipe (1 inch to 4.5 inches), coiled offshore platforms, and if the tubing was de-
tubing is available in lengths in excess of 30,000 ployed from a nearby vessel, operators had
feet. Once reserved for niche services only, coiled to deal with the vertical and lateral movement
tubing is now an essential well intervention tool. caused by the sea. Today, thanks to CT SEAS*
For drilling and workovers, CT rigs are much Safer, Efficient, Automated Solutions other ad-
smaller and lighter than the rigs that use conven- vanced Schlumberger technology, coiled tubing
tional tubing, and they need less room at the drill offshore is an increasingly valuable option.

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The basic CT rig

The main components, other than the spool of

coiled tubing itself, are the injector head, the
stripper and the blowout preventers. Of these,
the injector head is the driver, because it is the
machine that pushes and pulls coiled tubing in
and out of the well. The device includes a curved
gooseneck beam that guides the coiled tubing
from its spool into the top of the injector head.

Pipe passing through the injector head

straightens before it enters the wellbore.
A stripper, set below the injector head,
contains the packing that seals the out-
side diameter of the tubing and isolates
pressure from the well.
Blowout preventers, located below
the stripper, are emergency devices that
can either cut the coiled tubing and seal
the wellbore, or if necessary, seal the
casing or riser.
The tool string at the bottom of the coil
is called the bottomhole assembly. One
advantage of coiled tubing is that it can
run a much wider range of tools and per-
form many more downhole jobs than can
be done with conventional wirelines.

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Applications

Coiled tubing can perform almost any downhole scale, including hard scale (strontium and iron
job. In depleted gas wells, CT has even been sulfide), from wellbores in one trip. It is a fast
installed as production tubing and can be run and cost-effective alternative to nozzle systems,
inside a well’s conventional tubing string. While positive-displacement motors, impact hammers
many production engineers think of CT as an and other techniques on the market.
alternative to wireline service—and it is—the PowerCLEAN* engineered fill removal service
technology is much broader than that. is a CT service that efficiently lifts sand, silt,
wax, scale and other debris from the wellbore.
Well cleanouts: Nearly half of all coiled tubing The system’s innovative software, coupled with
jobs are done to get a well back in production engineered nozzle and fluids, optimizes the job
by circulating fluids and debris from the wellbore. by evaluating the flow rate, circulating pressure,
Through an innovative mix of hardware, software, bottomhole pressure and other variables before
fluid cleanout systems and monitoring, produc- taking each bite of fill.
tion engineers worldwide are using Schlumberger
coiled tubing applications to reduce the cost and Workovers: In recent years, coiled tubing has
risk of cleanout operations and quickly return become an efficient, cost-effective solution for
their wells to production. open-hole milling, fracturing and many other
The difficulty of any cleanout job depends workover jobs.
largely on the geometry of the well, properties of CoilTOOLS* is a one-stop source for the latest
the cleanout fluid, flow rate, downhole pressures, downhole CT tools. The portfolio includes standard
the nature of the solids that must be removed, bottom-hole assemblies such as motor heads,
and how deep they are in the well. connectors, check-valve, disconnect assemblies,
Cleanouts are relatively easy for shallow wells knuckle joints, fixed and hydraulic centralizers,
with simple geometries. When deviation angles fixed and rotary wash tools, nipple locators, gauge
reach above 40 degrees, however, almost any carriers and the entire suite of downhole valves.
wellbore can be hard to clean. Often, sev- Discovery MLT* multilateral tool is a cost-
eral techniques are combined to clean one well. effective reentry system for maximizing the
Schlumberger began integrating its wellbore performance of multilateral wells. The downhole
cleanout and optimization systems in 2002 and tool sends a pressure signal to confirm that it has
continues to improve this robust lineup. reached the correct lateral. The tool’s orientation
Jet Blaster* jetting scale removal service is a adjusts from the surface and provides real-time
CT-conveyed through-tubing tool that uses a feedback, which greatly increases the chance of
rotating head and high pressure fluids to remove a successful reentry on the first try to Level 1 and

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2 multilateral wells. The Discovery MLT software the strength and rigidity of the tubing, which can
displays several essential parameters, such as the endure more tensile and compressive forces
tool’s orientation relative to the lateral window. The than wireline systems. Schlumberger routinely
application also monitors previous indexes and runs coiled tubing perforating strings in excess of
guides the operator through subsequent indexing 2,000 feet (600 meters) on Alaska’s North Slope.
cycles to provide accurate, real-time information.
Coiled tubing is often used to pump fluids to
specific sections of a well, and Schlumberger has
a suite of CT tools that make the job go easier.
CoilFLATE* through-tubing inflatable packer de-
signed for extreme conditions. CoilFLATE packer
can isolate selected perforation intervals with
pump-through capability, without the need for a
workover rig. The system also allows operators to
permanently abandon zones or temporarily iso-
late areas of the wellbore for testing.
CoilFRAC* stimulation through coiled
tubing is a well stimulation service that
incorporates unique bottomhole as-
semblies to selectively isolate zones
of interest. CoilFRAC service can treat
multiple zones in a single trip and stimu-
late zones that were bypassed during
the original completion. Many opera-
tors are using this economical system
to stimulate lower-producing zones that
were too expensive to treat before.
CoilCAT* coiled tubing computer-aid-
ed treatment raises informed real-time
decision making to a new level of confidence. For live wells, CT perforating can run long
The new CoilCAT well site service makes well gun strings and either drop them off or retrieve
interventions more efficient and reliable. CoilCAT them without having to kill the well. The ability
service combines the Coiled Tubing Sensor Inter- to continuously circulate through the tubing also
face advanced data acquisition system with the makes it easy to spot-treat with fluids. Treating a
Universal Tubing Integrity Monitor and software to carbonate interval with acid just before perforat-
efficiently merge design, execution and real-time ing, for example, creates cleaner perforations.
evaluation capabilities in one package. In depleted wells where there is not enough
difference between the bottomhole pressure and
Perforating: Coiled tubing offers many advan- pressure from the reservoir, nitrogen can be cir-
tages over other conveyance systems, particularly culated to lighten the fluid column and increase
for highly deviated and horizontal wells. First is the drawdown at the target zone.

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Fit-for-purpose
solutions

CT EXPRESS* rapid-deployment coiled tubing distributed architecture of the CT EXPRESS

service is designed for low- to medium-pressure, rapid-deployment coiled tubing unit for land-
intermediate-depth land-based wells. The sim- based operations.
ple, reliable design can handle rough terrain and Speed is a key feature. In some cases, well-to-
extreme weather conditions. well time is as little as four hours. The system’s
The unit consists of just two trucks and a crew ergonomic design, smaller footprint and high de-
of three. One truck holds the CT rig itself, and the gree of automation also make it less costly than
second vehicle carries a combination nitrogen other alternatives.
and liquid pump, plus electrical and hydraulic The CT SEAS system provides one central
systems to run the entire unit. Since there are no control point for the entire coiled tubing opera-
hydraulic or electrical connections to be made tion, as well as real-time data acquisition and data
on location, rig-ups are safer and more efficient transfer to offsite locations. The versatile, space-
than with other systems. During field tests, CT saving design combines all the major coiled
EXPRESS crews performed more than 200 jobs tubing components into modules that are easy
without a lost-time incident. to transport and assemble with zero discharge.
With CT EXPRESS service, rig-up and rig-down Because several key processes have been au-
times are as short as 30 minutes. Coiled tubing tomated, CT SEAS systems also require fewer
rigs with similar capabilities typically require four operators than conventional CT units, which is a
trucks and a crew of five. CT EXPRESS service real advantage offshore.
can be used on wellheads up to 20 feet high; the CT SEAS systems have a flexibility that makes
system can also be deployed onto the rig floor of them readily adaptable for many offshore struc-
land rigs if required. tures, including platforms, floaters and tension
leg platforms. But even with a high degree of
CT SEAS* Safer, Efficient, Automated Solu- flexibility, they retain all the capabilities of con-
tions, is a fit-for-purpose offshore CT system ventional coiled tubing units.
that greatly improves the efficiency and safety This advanced system improves the overall
of moving from one well to the next. Designed safety of coiled tubing operations; with a proven
for harsh offshore conditions, the system incor- 15 percent increase in operational efficiency, a
porates the same proven process control and substantial reduction in boat lifts, and 30 percent

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fewer offshore personnel. The design of the result is a total motion-compensation package
equipment package features fewer mechanical for deepwater CT operations.
connections, improved control room ergonomics, CT TCOMP system trims up to 16 hours from
and faster well-to-well cycle times. Compared to the average 87 hours it takes to rig up and rig
earlier systems, CT SEAS systems can also run down a standard deepwater CT system, and it
heavier coiled tubing at increased speeds. is safer than other CT packages. It protects well-
head integrity during CT operations by limiting
CT TCOMP* advanced coiled tubing motion- wellhead stresses, and by compensating for verti-
compensation system is made specifically for cal and horizontal wellhead motion from inside or
deepwater use. It is the result of a two-year field outside the derrick. And since the equipment rigs
study to identify the potential safety and efficien- up quickly, it can be used on some spars (caisson
cy that could be gained by improving the design vessels) and TLPs where conventional coiled tub-
and packaging of compensation equipment. The ing systems would be too expensive to use.

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ACTive services –
a breakthrough in
CT technology
In May 2008, Schlumberger introduced the and software that delivers internal and external
ACTive family of coiled tubing services for onshore pressure, temperature, casing collar locator
and offshore use. This innovative suite of down- depth correlation, and distributed temperature
hole coiled tubing services provides continuous measurements that provide data back to surface
feedback that allows engineers—either at the well in real time.
or in remote locations—to measure, interpret and ACTive services can elevate the performance,
act on downhole events in real time. efficiency and results of coiled tubing operations
All previous systems relied on surface data and in various types of wells. Operators in western
feedback from the well to determine what was Canada, for example, need cost-effective ways
happening downhole. Downhole pressure was to achieve maximum reservoir contact in their
estimated from pressure readings at the pump, partially depleted carbonate reservoirs. Multi-
the wellhead or both. Actual tool depth was in- lateral completions give them greater reservoir
ferred from the amount of coiled tubing in the contact and the ability to reach isolated parts
hole, which is only accurate to within about 0.3 of the reservoir without excessive construction
percent. When jobs required greater accuracy, cost or complexity. Conventional coiled tubing
crews might tag a known bottom or restriction, services are often used to access and treat these
use tubing tail locators, or run mud-pulse telem- multilateral wells, but without accurate depth
etry logging tools. These techniques, however, information, it can be hard to confirm access in
are inaccurate, expensive and time consuming, all the laterals. Operators not only have to cor-
and they can complicate the job. rectly orient the bottomhole assembly to enter
The ACTive difference is a rugged, high- the lateral, they must first determine which lateral
bandwidth fiber optic cable inside its own they are entering. For them, ACTive services rep-
nickel-chromium-based super-alloy steel carrier resent a step change in CT capabilities.
that is deployed inside the coiled tubing string. ACTive services give operators the tools they need
The fiber optic cable links bottomhole sensors to diagnose and respond to changing conditions
with surface monitors and controls, allowing in real time. To take full advantage, Schlumberger
specialists to measure, interpret and act on fields a team of CT experts who stand ready to
downhole events as they occur. diagnose and respond, based on their knowledge,
The complete system includes a bottomhole experience and the information they get from
assembly, fiber optic carrier, surface electronics ACTive real-time downhole measurements.

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As Schlumberger experts monitor the well,

Decipher* dynamic evaluation software provides
the information they need to cross-reference
what they see downhole with surface and petro-
physical data. For the first time, adjustments to
job parameters are based on immediate feed-
back from the job in progress. Changes can be
made decisively and with greater confidence
than ever before.

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The ACTive portfolio

There are six services in the ACTive portfolio. telemetry, fiber optics and real-time downhole
Each presents its own unique solution in the measurements with state-of-the-art interpreta-
market by combining advanced, high data-rate tion software.

ACTive Matrix monitors ACTive Cleanout is a ACTive Isolation provides

the injection rates, downhole fill-removal service that uses efficient, on-depth settings of
pressures and temperatures of differential pressure readings to isolation devices in a single run.
matrix treatments to promote avoid formation damage and It allows operators to insure the
the penetration of fluids, minimize the number of trips in integrity of the seals by control-
enhance diversion and optimize and out of the well. It also re- ling both the inflation pressure
treatment volumes. The service duces the total operating time and the differential pressure
also aids in the design of by optimizing fluid volumes and across the sealing elements.
subsequent treatments. penetration rates into the fill. ACTive Isolation can also be
used to accurately place fluids
for temporary operations or to
permanently isolate zones, all
in one trip in the hole.

ACTive Lift improves the ACTive Perf achieves accu- ACTive Profiling enhances
time and fluid efficiency of ni- rate depth control in a single all ACTive services with DTS
trogen lift jobs by continuously run and ensures full coverage profiling to provide a 3D
monitoring pressure in the of the target zone. Controlling temperature profile of the
wellbore. The result is a faster, the hydrostatic balance avoids entire wellbore to monitor the
more controlled restoration of damage to the formation, placement of treatment fluids
production, without the risk of and prevents the invasion of and production performance
producing excessive sand and formation fluids and sand into of the well. Temperature
debris from the reservoir. This the wellbore. Verification that profiling also gives operators
service also aids in the charac- the perforating guns have the ability to perform active
terization of field performance been activated improves the point measurements and DTS
and the evaluation of artificial safety and reliability of CT spatial measurements on the
lift programs. perforating jobs. same run.

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ACTive case studies

I n c r e a s e d s t i m u l a t i o n c ov e r a g e o f a m u l t i l a t e r a l g a s we l l :

When an operator in Canada needed to increase the productivity of two openhole legs in an exist-
ing multilateral gas well, they turned to ACTive Matrix for a solution. The well, which is in a natu-
rally fractured dolomite formation, was producing a high concentration of H2S and some CO2.
Coiled tubing was run in the hole to obtain downhole measurements, which were used to
stimulate the openhole legs. Acid treatments temporarily diverted and treated the sections of the
open hole that would otherwise not have been stimulated. Pre- and post-treatment distributed
temperature survey (DTS) data were used to optimize acid placement.
Using the more reliable real-time bottomhole pressure measurements, rather than surface pres-
sure measurements, increased the accuracy and effectiveness of the stimulation treatments.
The initial acid treatment was confirmed. Injection points and other zones to be opened were
identified. Thermal analysis results were used to generate a revised pump schedule that provided
details of the appropriate diverter and acid stages, which allowed temporary diversion of the
initially stimulated zones and better overall treatment of the multilateral leg.
A final DTS confirmed that the treatment successfully diverted the acid and stimulated all of the
targeted zones.

A c c u r a t e p l a c e m e n t f o r a s u c c e s s f u l wa t e r s h u t o f f :

Saudi Aramco chose ACTive Isolation when a 60 percent water cut caused one of its new horizon-
tal wells to stop flowing. Most of the water was coming from the toe of the openhole completion.
ACTive Isolation* provided a coiled tubing solution by allowing operators to deploy an inflatable
packer through the production tubing and a cement plug to isolate the water-producing zone.
An initial CT run confirmed accessibility and revealed an accurate downhole temperature,
which was needed to prepare the cement slurry. On the second run, the through-tubing inflatable
packer was deployed to the depth of the oil/water interface. After confirming the depth, a ball was
dropped in the coiled tubing to set the packer, and real-time measurements confirmed that the
packer was properly located and set. A third run spotted cement on top of the inflatable packer.
Kill fluids were displaced with nitrogen, which was confirmed at the surface by monitoring the
downhole pressure. With the well back in production, the water cut decreased by 50 percent and
oil production increased by 1,000 barrels per day.

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ACTive case studies

Effective sand cleanout:

Talisman Malaysia Ltd. (TML) drilled a water injector well in Malaysian waters of the South China
Sea. After perforating the first zone, produced sand plugged the next perforating intervals. Despite
efforts to clean the well using conventional CT methods, the planned intervals could not be
reached. Injecting nitrogen to circulate fluids and flow the well only produced more sand.
The operator chose ACTive Cleanout and ACTive Perf to obtain real-time downhole measure-
ments, which allowed better control of the cleanout and accurate placement of the perforating guns.
The existing sand in the wellbore was lifted out by keeping the bottomhole pressure balanced or
slightly overbalanced using real-time bottomhole pressure data. The designed pumping schedule
was then followed with continuous real-time monitoring of the pressure and temperature. Before
continuing with the planned perforation run, an injectivity test ensured that the tunnels in the exist-
ing perforation interval were open.
Perforating resumed, with the guns successfully conveyed to the target depth and correlated
against the base depth log. The real-time bottomhole pressure reading assured operators that
they were maintaining the proper balance to keep additional sand from entering the wellbore.
Using the real-time CCL correlations, the guns were positioned. The e-Fire* electronic firing head
system was activated via nitrogen pulses through the coiled tubing. Both the bottomhole pressure
and temperature increased after the guns were fired.
ACTive services allowed operators to effectively clean sand from the well, accurately place the
perforating guns, fine-tune the bottomhole pressure and receive feedback at the surface once
the guns were fired. As a result, the final water injectivity rate was 8,900 bbl/d at 700 psi surface
pressure, which confirmed that sand was not reintroduced into the wellbore after the perforating
operations were complete.

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ACTive case studies

Identifying the causes of lost production:

When production dropped in a well that was completed using an openhole slotted liner in the
Bunga Raya field, the operator, Talisman Malaysia Ltd. (TML), performed a chemical treatment to
remove the emulsion and polymers left behind by the drilling fluid used to drill the well. Immediately
after the treatment, production increased from 500 bbl/d to 2,000 bbl/d, but within five hours, it
dropped dramatically and then stabilized at its pretreatment rate.
TML suspected that the emulsions and asphaltenes had formed in the wellbore during the
shut-in time while rigging down. However, the operators did not have adequate information about
the formation characteristics and the trajectory of the well. Without the data, they could not
understand the cause of the production decline after treatment, where and how the emulsions and
asphaltenes were forming, and how to dissolve them or prevent them from reforming.
TML asked Schlumberger to design a well cleanup plan, to obtain pressurized bottomhole
samples, and to run a DTS. ACTive Profiling was chosen to provide a single-point temperature
reading at the tool and to provide a temperature reading across the fiber optic cable used to
deliver the DTS measurements.
The objectives were to check the conformance of the first DTS results and interpretation, to use
the DTS data to select the location for collecting representative bottomhole hydrocarbon samples
and to optimize the treatment interval.
The pressure survey and DTS data revealed minimum pressure support from the water injector,
which, in turn, caused the gas cap to expand. Temperature dropped across the entire interval, but
was lowest at the toe. The cooling effect and subsequent drop in liquid production was caused
by gas coming from the heel and toe of the well as the gas cap expanded. The combination of
gas rates with oil and water production was also creating a tight, viscous emulsion that further
hindered the well’s performance.
TML concluded that with this well, due to the horizontal openhole slotted-liner completion, the
high gas production from the toe and heel could not be selectively shut off or controlled.

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ACTive case studies

Using downhole measurements to boost well perfor mance:

Talisman Malaysia Ltd. operates more than 130 wells in the South China Sea, but many of them
do not perform to full potential because of perforation damage at suboptimal reservoir conditions.
Initial attempts to solve the damage problem involved CT perforating with the well in an under-
balanced condition. The main advantages of CT were the ability to lower the bottomhole pressure
using nitrogen and a lower overall cost when compared to tubing-conveyed perforating using a
standard rig.
Although conventional CT methods were considered effective in this application, concerns
included perforating off-depth due to inaccurate depth control, an inability to detect fired guns
and improper pressure balance in the well. Too much pressure in the wellbore could result in an
ineffective cleaning of the perforations and too little pressure could cause the guns to be sanded
in after they fired.
ACTive Perf was selected because the service provides downhole measurements, tools and
techniques to perforate in properly balanced conditions. It also allows the accurate placement of
the guns, a pressure activated electronic firing head system and the ability to receive real-time
confirmation that the guns have fired.
The ACTive Perf system was used to complete a TML offshore gas well. The perforating gun
was positioned on depth using real-time CCL correlation. Prejob calculations showed that the
correct underbalance would be reached after the displacement of wellbore fluid with nitrogen.
However, when real-time pressure data showed that the desired underbalance pressure had not
been achieved, operators were able to respond immediately to correct the problem.
Nitrogen pulses were sent down through the coiled tubing to fire the guns. Downhole measure-
ments quickly showed an increase in bottomhole temperature and pressure, which confirmed a
successful firing.
By perforating under optimal reservoir conditions, TML achieved a higher-than-expected and
sand-free gas production rate of 70 MMcf/d.

14 S ch l u m b e rg e r c o i l e d t u b i n g

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TROL
ON S

CH
WELL

OOL
Commit ted to Quality...
Av a i l a b le n o w, o r c o m in g s oon Delivering Value!

ning
ear
System 21

e-L
ACTive services are already deployed in eleven e -Learning

g
in i n
ra
Web - Based We
ll Control
T

countries, with nine more coming online in Training Program

2009. The addition of ACTive services to the IADC & API Well Control Training
(Drilling, Workover/Completion, Well Servicing)
Schlumberger family of services brings the next
Stuck Pipe Prevention Training
generation of coiled tubing capability and novel
ways to tackle old problems.
Instructor - Led
Training Program
www.slb.com/active
IADC & API Well Control Training
(Drilling, Workover/Completion, Well Servicing)
IWCF Preparatory Course and Testing
(Rotary Drilling & Well Intervention)

API

Tel: +1-713-849-7400

Tel: +1-713-849-7400

w ww.wellcontrol.com
________________________

Schlu mbe rger coi l ed tubin g

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Company Profile

Coiled Tubing Units, Nitrogen and Coiled Tubing Support Equipment

NOV Hydra Rig is the recognized world leader in coiled tubing units, technological expertise to provide the single source for all of your well
nitrogen and coiled tubing support equipment, having supplied more intervention requirements worldwide. NOV Hydra Rig delivers the complete
coiled tubing units than all current manufacturers combined. CT equipment advantage with brand names relied upon for more than 30
National Oilwell Varco’s Hydra Rig Division couples advanced years and is constantly developing new and innovative solutions for all of
technologies with proven high-quality components, service and your future CT requirements.

Coiled tubing drilling operation utilizing an NOV Hydra Rig coiled tubing unit and nitrogen unit, NOV Texas Oil Tools pressure control equipment, NOV
CTES data acquisition system, and an NOV Rolligon twin fluid pumper.

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Ft. Worth, Texas Duncan, Oklahoma Calgary, Alberta U.K. Dubai, U.A.E.
817-985-5000 580-255-4433 403-279-6430 44-1493-651801 971-4-883-5910

16 S c h l u m b e r g er c o i l e d t u b i n g

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Company Profile

Coiled Tubing (CT) Pressure Control Equipment

NOV Texas Oil Tools
Since its founding in 1978, Texas Oil Tools (TOT) has established itself as one of the leading
specialty manufacturers and suppliers of pressure control equipment. During this period,
TOT has expanded its range of products to meet the dynamic demands of the industry.
A proven track record of excellence in design, manufacturing and service has gained
NOV Texas Oil Tools worldwide recognition as a leader in pressure control products. We
design and manufacture our products to the most stringent standards. We are a licensed
API manufacturer and supply our equipment to meet or exceed industry standards.
Our product range begins with 1.50’’ bore and goes up to 9.00’’. In addition, our
spectrum of products exhibit working pressures up to 20,000 psi and temperature ranges
from -75°F arctic service to 500°F geothermal applications.

NOV TOT CT Pressure Control Equipment

• Blowout Preventers
Single, Dual, Triple, Quad, Quint, and Combi Ram Designs
• Stripper Packers
Side Door, Sidewinder, Conventional, Tandem Side Door, Over/Under, Two Door
• Quick Latches
Hydraconn, Injector Connector, Quick Disconnect, Hydraulic Releasing Connector (JHS)
• Additional Equipment Offered:
— Flanges — Safety Valve
— Flow Cross — Transport Lift Frames
— Hand Unions — Tubing Punch
— Lubricators — Tubing Shear

Two Door
Stripper Packer
NOV Texas Oil Tools has enhanced the Over/Under design
to have two easy access doors. The new Two Door
Stripper packer provides two packers in one Stripper
with easy replacement and extended life packers.

“ES” BOP
3.06’’, 4.06’’, 5.12’’, and 7.06’’
This is a lightweight, high pressure coiled tubing BOP
package. Features include hydraulic ram change,
balanced shear piston and combi shear seal and pipe
slip ram capabilities.

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.nov.com

Conroe, Texas Broussard, Louisiana Scotland, U.K.
936-520-5300 337-839-0024 44-1224-331-200

S chl umberger coi l ed t u b in g 17

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Company Profile

Tenaris offers the most diverse line of coiled tubing for downhole applications
Tenaris is th the leading manufacturer of coiled tubing products worldwide. At its two Houston
facilities, the company manufactures coiled tubing and coiled line pipe in a range of sizes and
grades, including
inclu corrosion resistant alloys for sour service environments. As a result of Tenaris’
capabilities, Schlumberger chose the company to be its exclusive provider of coiled tubing for
their global ccoiled tubing services organization.
Tenaris hhas differentiated its product offerings by not only supplying coiled tubing strings used
for downhole production-related coiled tubing services, but also through manufacturing of larger
coiled tubing that may be utilized for marine pipeline requirements. The company is the world’s
first tube or pipe manufacturing facility to obtain ISO-9001 certification for its quality assurance
programs. Te Tenaris is the world’s only supplier of 4 ½-in. and 5-in. OD coiled tubing and the sole
provider of hheavy wall coiled tubing with available thickness from 0.224-in. to 0.300-in.
Additionally, Tenaris operates the world’s only dedicated three-layer continuous coating line
Addition
for coiled line
lin pipe, consisting of fusion bonded epoxy, copolymer adhesive and polyethylene
polypropylene. The coiled line pipe is delivered on spools to marine vessels where they are
or polypropy
consolidated to enable the vessel to pay out the tubing significantly faster compared with con-
stick pipe welded joint by joint and laid by a traditional pipelay vessel.
ventional stic
Coiled liline pipe typically is used in water depths of 200-3,000 ft. with one Gulf of Mexico
installation in i more than 7,000 ft. of water and other projects in locations from Norway to
Zealand. Tenaris also pioneered the API 5LCP coiled line pipe certification standards, and
New Zealand
continues to be the only certified supplier.

Continuous setting records

Continuously
The company
compan holds numerous production records for the longest and heaviest coiled tubing ser-
strings, all of which have been in conjunction with Schlumberger as its global alliance
vice work str
supplier of coiled
co tubing.
• project
A pr Mexico calling for 28,900 ft of 1 ½-in. high strength (HS) 110 tapered coiled tubing;
roject in the Gulf of M
• A Gulf
Guulf of Mexico project requiring 32,600 ft of 2-in. tapered coiled tubing, plus a second 33,300 ft tapered
string
strin
ng of 2-in. HS 110 tu tubing. The strings have seven wall thickness transitions from 0.204-in. to 0.125-in.
The project took two ye years to develop, including six months of pre-planning and the manufacturing of two
mini-strings to test bias welds;
min
• third Gulf of Mexico project for Schlumberger required 30,600 ft of 1 ¾-in. HS 110 coiled tubing;
A th
• project offshore eastern Canada called for 30,200 ft of 2-in. HS 90 coiled tubing with electric line cable for
A pr
logging equipment.
logg

Optimizin manufacturing process

Optimizing
Tenaris’ co
coiled tubing plant in Houston went through a debottlenecking and expansion program from late 2005
spring 2007, significantly improving workflow as well as adding the latest technology to increase production
through sp
efficiency. The expansion project also improved service handling and simplified truck traffic flow through the plant.
Improvements included increased assembly lines, additional assembly consolidation wheels, which dramatically
Improv
the amount of time the coiled tubing was in the assembly area, and the addition of digital radiography tech-
reduced th
nology to rreduce the time for welds and inspection by 50% compared with the older film processing technology.
Two heavy-duty
h overhead crane systems were installed providing for safer and more reliable transportation
coiled tubing strings throughout the plant. There are more and larger spooling reels available for long
of the coi
coiled tubing strings, and additional hydro test bays were built. The expansion program increased output by
75%-80% and significantly reduced backorder time. There also is additional infrastructure to allow for further
Contact:
expansion, including a third mill and bias welding cells as well as room for onsite master coil slitting.
Dennis Dunlap
Tenaris continuously works with other innovative companies to develop new applications for coiled tubing
8615 East Sam Houston Parkway North
and coiled line pipe. The forward thinking company is currently testing the applicability of large diameter coiled
Houston, TX 77044
line pipe for marine riser applications, unique artificial lift products, and tubular products as subcomponents for
Telephone: 281-458-2883
more advanced production equipment for tertiary and SAG-D production.
Fax: 281-458-2886
Tenaris is a leading supplier of tubes and related services for the world’s energy industry and certain other
[email protected] industrial applications. Its mission is to deliver value to its customers through product development, manufactur-
www.tenaris.com/coiledtubes ing excellence and supply chain management. The company minimizes risk for its customers and helps them
reduce costs, increase flexibility and improve time-to-market. Tenaris’ employees around the world are commit-
ted to continuous improvement by sharing knowledge across a single global organization.

S c hl um be r ger co i l e d t ubing

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EnergyWorkforce For the industry’s career-minded professionals • Spring 2009

Energy Workforce
Opportunities in the
New Economic Climate
Customized and
Personalized:
Improving Frontline
Training Practices

Second Annual

Women in
A supplement to PennWell publications • w ww.PennEnergyJOBS.com
_____________________ Energy Forum
A

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J O I N A M E R I C A’ S C H A M P I O N O F

NAT U R A L G A S

CHESAPEAKE IS ONE OF AMERICA’S LEADING PRODUCERS OF NATURAL GAS. We’re

also proud to be listed among the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies To Work For® in
2009. Chesapeake offers rewarding opportunities in many career areas:

Drilling Engineers  Reservoir Engineers  EH&S

Production Engineers  Facilities Engineers
Pipeline Specialists  Geologists  Petrophysicists
Chesapeake has gained national recognition as a top-paying company
with outstanding benefits and a generous stock-award plan.

Chesapeake is a dynamic, fast-growing organization of professionals who are committed

to our company, our communities and our environment. Join us as we champion natural
gas – the answer to America’s energy future.

NYSE:CHK APPLY ONLINE AT CHK.COM

______

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Stacey Schmidt, Web Publisher

[email protected]

Chris Posey, J.B. Avants, Editors

EnergyWorkforce
[email protected]
[email protected]

Candice Doctor, Sales Manager

[email protected]
Energy Workforce Opportunities in the New
Chad Wimmer, Art Director Economic Climate 6
[email protected]
Peter Weigand and Michael Abraham, Skipping Stone
Dorothy Davis, Production Manager
[email protected]

Tommie Grigg, Audience Forum: Continued advancement for women

Development Manager in energy is promising 8
[email protected]
Chris Posey, Content Strategist

Tom Cintorino
Sr. Vice President, Digital Media

Customized and Personalized 14

The Ascent Group, Inc.

PennWell Corporation
1421 South Sheridan Road
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74112
DEPARTMENTS
918 835 3161
PennWell.com publisher’s letter 2

JOBS insight 4
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Recruitment Advertising Sales:

Candice Doctor
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
Sales Manager
Chesapeake Energy Corporation..............................................................................................Inside Front Cover
918 831 9884
[email protected] Shaw Group Inc............................................................................................................................................ 3
Aerotek Energy Services ............................................................................................................................... 5
Stephanie Brown
Power & Petroleum Account Executive Epco Inc...................................................................................................................................................... 7
918 832 9228
Fluor Corporation ....................................................................................................................................... 11
[email protected]
PennEnergy.com ........................................................................................................................................ 13
PennEnergyJOBS..................................................................................................................Inside Back Cover
Brent Eklund
Petroleum Account Executive Alberta Employment Immigration ......................................................................................................Back Cover
720 535 1264
[email protected]

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Cover illustration © Spectral-design

Dreamstime.com

w ww.PennEnergyJOBS.com
________________________________

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p u b l i s h e r ’ s l e t t e r

Dear Reader,

I
n 2008, PennWell Corporation launched the new PennEnergy.com, the first website
of its kind focused on providing the most complete and in-depth coverage of both
the petroleum and power industries. In January 2009, PennEnergyJOBS officially
became part of the PennEnergy.com family. With the addition of PennEnergyJOBS,
PennEnergy.com now provides workforce
management solutions and tools for job seekers
With easier, more efficient and employers.
navigation and even more With content organized by Topic Centers, the
valuable, energy-centric content, new PennEnergy.com provides easy access to
in-depth and expert original and sourced news,
PennEnergy.com serves the
comprehensive financial data, extensive research
global energy industry with the broadest and most complete tools and product and service information. Topic
coverage of petroleum and power industry news, research, Centers focus on specific areas of both the Power
workforce management solutions and product information. and Petroleum industries, including Renewable
Energy, Smart Grid, Petroleum Exploration,
Refining, Processing, and LNG.
Since 1910, PennWell has been a leader for coverage of and service to the worldwide
petroleum and power industries. With foundation magazines and web sites such as Oil
& Gas Journal, Offshore Magazine, Renewable Energy World, Power Engineering, and
Utility Automation Engineering T&D, PennWell created PennEnergy.com to serve as a
one-stop resource for energy news, research, and insight. In addition to today’s energy
news and information, the site contains ten years of archived content from PennWell’s
award-winning energy publications.
With easier, more efficient navigation and even more valuable, energy-centric content,
PennEnergy.com serves the global energy industry with the broadest and most complete
coverage of petroleum and power industry news, research, workforce management
solutions and product information.
I thank you for your support of PennEnergyJOBS, Energy Workforce Magazine and
PennEnergy.com, and look forward to serving you in the future.

Regards,
Stacey Schmidt
Web Publisher, Energy Markets

2 F o r j o b o ppo rtu n i ti es , vi s i t www.Pe nnEne rgyJOB S.c om E ne rgyWork f orce

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Building Excellence—
One Career at a Time
At Shaw, Power Group employees lead their
business with ingenuity and vision. Shaw’s collaborative
work environment allows you to reach your full potential as we
meet the needs of our global clients. If you are looking for a career
with substantial opportunity for growth and challenge, consider
building yours with Shaw. Immediate opportunities include:
           
              
              !  
          " ! #!  
            " 
           $    
         $   !"    
         "  % !!   
         ""      '  
          
         (  

www.shawgrp.com      

28M122008D

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J O B S i n s i g h t

Career Focus In Economic Uncertainty

B y the end of January, the unemployment rate rose to 7.6% bringing job losses
to a 34 year high. The energy sector has faired better than areas including
manufacturing and construction. Moreover, the peaked interest and support in renewable
energy has led to a great deal of discourse around the so-called “green collar” jobs. This
could possibly result in fewer lay offs in the energy industry, yet more transitions. The
overall reality is the precarious environment in which we currently live is serving as a
catalyst to think about our career development.
Regardless of your job’s current state of vulnerability, it is the perfect time to think
about your next career move. The evolution
of your career will either be in your current
Maintaining your financial and company or outside of it. The decision may not
career security is priority number be yours to make, but you can at least insert
yourself into the outcome.
one, bbut
ut iitt iiss also
allso important
important to keep in mind your long term
Build a road map of your career future by
goal—turning this tumultuous time into a career upgrade. asking yourself some important questions. What
is the current state of my career? How susceptible
is it to a lay off? What are my options?
The level of lay off susceptibility will help to determine whether or not your path will stay
within your current organization or outside your current organization. For those of you who
find yourself highly susceptible to a lay off, you should get your resume up to date, reach out
to your network and start researching. Find out which companies are hiring, which energy
jobs are active and how your skills and experience could translate into a new opportunity.
Not everyone will be looking for career options outside of their company. Internally, the
short term goal is to make your job less vulnerable by gravitating towards the work, taking
on challenging projects, appraising your skills and expertise and working on building
areas of weakness. Take the initiative, work hard and you could potentially increase the
sustainability of your job.
Maintaining your financial and career security is priority number one, but it is also
important to keep in mind your long term goal—turning this tumultuous time into a career
upgrade. Future tides will turn once again providing opportunity for promotion. Finish out
your road map with a target promotion in mind and strive towards it every day. Doing so
could pay rich dividends.
These challenging times should be looked upon as a catalyst for career growth, not just
by those laid off, but by everyone. There may be hardships incurred earlier, but effort spent
now is the key to a more stable career over time.

Sincerely,
Stanna Brazeel,
Manager, Staffing and Salary Administration, Human Resources
PennWell

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The things that make you unique may also make you uniquely qualified. That’s
why, at Aerotek, we take the time to find the person behind the resume. We dig deeper to discover
the very best qualities inside you. Qualities that inspire. Qualities employers look for. Qualities you
may not even know you had. Because at Aerotek, we send only one perfect candidate to fill one Career Placement
Specialists SM

perfect opportunity. And we want it to be you. People. Fit. Perfectly.®

Nationwide & International Offices. 800.977.6499 www.aerotek.com

______________

Engineers Managers Welders/Fitters Multi-craft Mechanics Specialty Technicians Craft Labor Other Related Professionals

Aerotek is an equal opportunity employer. An Allegis Group Company. © 2009

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ENERGY WORKFORCE

Energy Workforce Opportunities in the New

Economic Climate
There are essentially two key issues with hiring from outside the
It’s a mixed message out there. On the one energy industry: 1) lack of training, and, 2) retention risk.
hand the media is claiming the energy
sector is the place to be; on the other hand, Training can be an expensive investment in people, especially
energy companies are not immune to the given post-training retention risks.
current economic woes. With commodity
This doesn’t have to be the case.
prices down, industrial demand destruction
a reality and the inevitable increase in slow
According to a Skipping Stone survey which was administered
or no paying customers, energy companies to non-energy industry job seekers who were interested in
are definitely experiencing the effects of our getting into the energy industry, 35 percent of respondents
current economy. were willing to pay for some amount of industry training out
of their own pocket. The number increased to over 50 percent
if they knew a job was waiting for them upon successful
Just as consumers have become wallet vigilant, so too are completion of training. The number jumped to 85 percent
energy companies. And given that energy companies cannot if the company hiring them was willing to reimburse their
control demand destruction, commodity costs, or payment training costs over a period of time.
consistency, that leaves projects and labor costs as the target
rich environment for cost control. We are already seeing hiring Given the survey results, the current unemployment situation
freezes, projects being killed and a number of related signals and willingness of non-energy professionals to be retrained, this
that indicate many energy companies are following the rest of screams for a low cost strategy that results in a new trained and
the economy into a standstill. retained talent pool. For example, offering jobs upon successful
training completion with a three-year payback program tied to
Opportunity Knocks retention starts to look attractive. If you couple that with a third
Who hasn’t heard or read about the workforce crisis facing the party student loan program backed by your company and a
energy industry? A couple of telling figures; such as 50 percent personal guarantee from the applicant, it gets even better.
or more of utility employees are eligible for retirement within
10 years, or, that Gen-Xers fall 4 to 6 million people short of If you don’t want to wait for people to get outside training
filling the vacated positions across all industries within the to get them started, a simple and cost effective retention risk
next 3 years, are sobering indeed. mitigation strategy is a contract to permanent program.

Meanwhile, the energy industry is experiencing a popularity Contract to permanent has a myriad of benefits beyond the
boost like nothing seen before. A recent college senior survey obvious “try before you buy”. Advantages such as flexibility, no
indicated energy as one of the top 5 fields of interest. Until two benefits costs, no HR issues, and little or no insurance impact
years ago, energy didn’t even make the top 20 list. come with a “contract-to-permanent” approach.

It’s an employers market today. There may not be a better time Contract-to-permanent is a viable solution whether your
to capitalize on this opportunity and when the economy starts strategy is progressive on workforce development or if you
to recover, this window of opportunity will close. are simply in cost control mode. Using contractors for staff
augmentation and project work enables the ability to shed costs
Answering the Door quickly and easily as financial conditions warrant.
It would be easy to suggest a simple strategy, such as, go out
and hire people from outside the industry in droves, but Implementation
the odds of that working and the cost of the inevitable large Most human resource departments aren’t equipped to
number of “mistakes” is pretty high. implement these strategies single handedly. Outsourcing in

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ENERGY WORKFORCE

a partnership mode with internal HR is the quickest way to windfall of activities, any way you look at it, there is a need
capture what may be a short term opportunity. This eliminates to invest in a workforce strategy. Doing so should not impact
the ramp rate of hiring internal recruiters, contract coordinators, earnings to a significant degree and could position the company
training coordinators and other gaps to timely implementation. for a significant return on that investment in future years. If
positioned right, analysts might even reward such a strategy.
To streamline the effort and minimize the number of outsource
partners needed, one way to effectively hit the market hard The competition for talent may never be this low again. —EW

and fast is the use of a firm that can provide a combination of

recruiting services, contractors, including payroll and benefits, About the Authors:
training coordination and assist in developing strategies and Peter Weigand is Chairman of Skipping Stone, a
tracking performance and budget. professional resources company focused on providing
energy companies with strategic consulting, interim
Financial Impact and contract resources and recruiting services. Email:
Consider the investment in the aforementioned workforce [email protected], Phone: 714-965-0885
strategies in terms of a two to three year window. The cost to
implement it in 2009 will be much lower than in future years as Michael Abraham is a resourcing client manager
eventually the labor market will strengthen and in the current with Skipping Stone. Email: mabraham@
environment the competition for talent is at a low point. skippingstone.com, Phone: 714-965-0883
—
Assuming there is a need to either address a retiring work We encourage your feedback on this or any PennEnergyJOBS EnergyWork-
force, renewable mandates or potentially a government backed force article. Please send your comments to [email protected]

Join us in driving fast-moving, far-reaching

projects that span from the Gulf Coast to
the Rockies and across North America. ENGINEERING
We move careers as fast as
Whether building new pipelines we move energy.
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www.epco.com

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

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ENERGY WORKFORCE

Forum: Continued advancement for women

in energy is promising

In the Spring 2008 issue of Energy Workforce, we invited three female

Kristine J. Nichols directs engineering for
executives in the energy industry to participate in a forum on women Nicor Gas, one of the nation’s largest natural gas
seeking to enter or advance their careers in the energy industry. distribution companies, serving over 2 million
customers in the northern third of Illinois (outside
In light of this article’s notable reception, we are continuing our forum of Chicago). Her responsibilities include all aspects
of pipeline integrity and regulatory compliance
one year later in the Second Annual Women in Energy Forum.
for the utility. Prior to joining Nicor in 2003, she
held management positions at Kohler Company
Forum Participants: in Brownwood, Texas and Wisconsin Gas Company/WEC in Milwaukee,
Betty Shanahan is the executive director and CEO for the Society of Wisconsin (now WeEnergies). She is the Inaugural Chair of Energetic Women,
Women Engineers, the first engineer to hold this position. Prior to joining a nationwide organization designed to increase the pool of promotable women
SWE, Betty spent 24 years in development, engineering management, and in energy operations and engineering.
marketing for the electronics and software industries. She has earned B.S. in
electrical engineering, Master of Software Engineering, and M.B.A degrees. Gianna Manes is senior vice president of retail customer services for
Duke Energy. With 20 years of industry experience, Manes leads the retail
Wanyonyi J. Kendrick is the Chief Information Office at Jacksonville Energy customer services function, which includes call center operations, revenue
Authority. Ms. Kendrick joined JEA in February 2000 as Director of Corpo- services, marketing, energy efficiency and large business customers providing
rate Applications. She is responsible for a $500 million information technology service to Duke Energy’s approximately 4 million customers in the Midwest
portfolio. Ms. Kendrick has spent the last 17 years of her career focusing on and Carolinas. Previously, Manes served as senior vice president of regulated
integrating technology solutions with regulatory, legislative, and business portfolio optimization and fuels for Duke Energy’s U.S. Franchised Electric
process requirements, resulting in solutions with measurable results. and Gas organization.

Existing roadblocks and challenges are the result of decades of engineering colleges graduating
Q: Do you see any challenges or roadblocks that still exist for women predominately white men. The few women work in a male-
in the energy industry whose career management paths include in- dominated environment. Although I believe very few in the
tentions to reach senior levels? If so, what are the challenges you see? industry seek to exclude women from the field or advancing,
that is not the same as creating an inclusive environment. The
Kendrick: Utilities are facing a workforce crisis with the value of diversity to an organization is the better decisions and
imminent retirement of baby boomers and the changing results from bringing together a diverse set of perspectives,
demographics of the future smaller workforce talent pools. I approaches and styles of thought to business problems. But
have heard statistics expressing as many as 50 percent of some for women to succeed, we often train women to adapt to the
utility’s workforce can retire in the next 5 years. This creates predominant (male) culture. Although this makes women
many opportunities, especially for women, in the utility business. more effective in the work environment, the women no longer
Not only as positions become available but additional new skill participate “authentically.” The business loses the value of
sets will be needed which do not require the physical strength diversity and the women have to hide their authentic self.
many utility positions required in the past. The bigger roadblock, Creating an inclusive environment would increase women’s
in my opinion, are the numbers of girls being attracted to take ability to fully contribute at all points in a career path and give
science, math and technology classes starting in middle school. the employer stronger business results.
These courses will be critical to the success of the future utility
workforce. Therefore, attracting girls to these classes will be Nichols: At the 2008 Energetic Women’s inaugural conference,
crucial; inspiring them to stay in science classes is essential; and guest speaker Alice Eagly, author of Through the Labyrinth,
providing the right mentors and positive experiences in the shared her research-based concept that the glass ceiling no
utility business is fundamental to continued recruitment. longer exists – there is no barrier to the top. There are lots of
challenges (a labyrinth to navigate) for women in their quest for
Shanahan: I believe the challenges and roadblocks for the the corner office, but there are plenty for men as well. Those
advancement of technical women in the energy industry challenges may be different then for men, but the bottom line

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is always about how much value you can bring to the table for to diversity, then I suggest you look at the many energy
the organization. If women focus on how they can help their organizations that offer advancement.
organization to be successful, rather than focusing on being in
a male-dominated environment, it becomes easier to meet the Nichols: Although traditionally dominated by men, today
challenges and overcome the perceived barriers. there are opportunities galore for women in the energy
industry! Today’s senior
“…the bottom line is always about how much value leaders understand the value
you
y o can bring to the table for the organization. If wom- of diversity at every level of
en
e n focus on how they can help their organization to be an organization, and often
successful,
s u rather than focusing on being in a male- actively seek opportunities
dominated
d o environment, it becomes easier to meet to grow talent where they
tthe
h challenges and overcome the perceived barriers.”
th may not feel they are diverse
—Kristine
— K J. Nichols, Vice President, enough. My recommendation
Engineering,
En Nicor Gas for women is to focus on how
they can add the most value to
Manes: The challenges for women are no different in the ener- their organization, and ignore that there may be more men
gy industry than in other fields. The ability to progress in a ca- then women at the table. Being the only woman can be an
reer starts with a strong foundation of knowledge (education), opportunity rather than a barrier to showcase their talents.
curiosity and the willingness and ability to get the job done.
In addition to the foundation, there are other actions women Manes: There are tremendous opportunities for women in
(and all workers) can take to enhance their advancement po- the energy industry. Energy companies are competing with
tential: 1) seek mentors and role models who have your best other industries for smart, creative and adept employees. These
interest in mind to provide guidance and honest feedback, companies recognize their future viability is dependent on the
even if it is difficult to hear; 2) be honest about and know your ability to attract and retain this type of talent. As a result, any
personal strengths and weaknesses; 3) leverage your skills and bias, however subtle, that may have existed in the past limiting
experience and be intentional in career choices and identifying the success of females or other minorities no longer has a
experiences you want to gain (rather than focusing on a spe- place. As these companies also face significant retirements in
cific “job”); 4) don’t expect others to read your mind – make the coming years, I am optimistic about the opportunities that
your interests known; 5) be willing to take risks. will be presented for women as the next generation of industry
leaders. Lastly, the energy industry is undergoing dramatic
Prospects for advancement change as it expands from traditional technologies that have
Q: How would you characterize prospects for career sustained us in the past to include emerging technologies and
advancement for women in general in the energy industry? renewable energy. The need for innovators and entrepreneurial
thinking to support this change is increasing, which makes it
Shanahan: I have the opportunity to speak to executives in an exciting time for everyone – one full of growth potential.
many segments of the energy industry, from huge energy
producers like ExxonMobil to utilities like Exelon. The Kendrick: Career advancement in utilities has been perceived
uniform message I hear from executives is their desire to as difficult (if not impossible) for women in the past; however,
advance women in their organizations and benefit from having both a combination of the landscape of the industry and a
women in the most senior positions. The challenge becomes changing talent pool provides great hopes for the future. The
getting the executive commitment reflected in the day-by-day prospective talent pool for utilities will definitely be more
actions throughout the organization that advance or hinder heterogeneous than in the past and that includes women. As
women’s career paths. My advice for women in the energy a result of workforce planning pressures, the utility industry’s
industry is to understand your employer’s overall commitment workforce needs and expectations are also changing to meet
to diversity. If your employer is committed to diversity but the this new talent pool. The utility jobs of the past will not be
day-by-day environment you experience is not supportive, the utility jobs of the future, with key national initiatives such
then work with your employer to find opportunities elsewhere as green energy jobs, smart grids, and social responsibility,
in your organization. If your employer is not committed utilities are reengineering their positions to embrace and

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accommodate the new talent pool. I believe the future for ing leaders. Nicor has a comprehensive succession plan which
women’s advancement in utilities is promising. focuses on growing internal talent. In succession planning, em-
ployees have the opportunity to take on different posi-
“The utility jobs of the past will not be the utility tions and responsibilities which allows them to develop a
jobs of the future, with key national initiatives such broad vision of the organization. The fact that Nicor has
as
a green energy jobs, smart grids, and so many women in leadership roles across the company
social
so responsibility, utilities are reen- with a variety of experiences on their resume demon-
gineering
gin their positions to embrace strates their long-term commitment to empowering
and
an accommodate the new talent pool. women to assume meaningful leadership roles.
I believe
b the future for women’s ad-
vancement
va in utilities is promising.”
Kendrick: Over the past decade JEA has developed
—Wanyonyi
— Kendrick,
both implicit and explicit strategies that support and
Jacksonville
Ja Energy Authority
promote career advancement for women even into
senior management positions of JEA. Change starts
Organizational support at the top and both our present and immediate past CEO
Q: What measures and/or initiatives have you seen implemented actively supported these strategies. In fact, JEA’s Board of
within your own company that support women in their career Directors closely reflects our community in diversity and for
management paths, even into the senior levels of your organization? fiscal year 2008 our Board Chair was an African American
woman. Today we have three relevant initiatives: cultural
Manes: Duke Energy has taken steps in a number of areas to competence initiative, executive leadership development
actively support women in their career development. One of program and internships. At JEA cultural competence is
the biggest successes in recent years is the growth and value recognizing, understanding, and valuing people’s differences
created by our employee resource groups. One such group, and using this knowledge to interact effectively. JEA’s vision is
the Business Women’s Network (BWN), promotes networking to be recognized as a leader in achieving excellence by valuing
and workshops targeted to the specific needs and interests of the unique contributions and needs of our employees and
women in the company. This group is supported by an executive the communities we serve. We are establishing a multiyear
steering team comprised of women executives who are actively initiative focusing on our cultural competency goals with the
and visibly engaged with BWM members in various activities intended outcome of supporting the expected changes in our
and serve as accessible role models and mentors. The company workforce to reflect the heterogeneous community we support.
also promotes a voluntary mentoring program for all employees JEA’s Executive Leadership Development (ELD) identifies and
where they are matched with an executive leader.Additionally, I supports (through training and mentoring) our future utility
have seen an increase in the flexibility employees are provided in leaders. The ELD group endeavors to be diverse. The group
terms of work hours and location, which gives them increased meets regularly and not only has an opportunity to network
ability to manage both a career and family. We are redefining with both the JEA board and executive management but also
the definition of “workplace.” Increasingly, work is being some of the best and brightest CEOs in North East Florida.
performed where the employee is physically located rather than JEA’s Employee Development Program is similar to the ELD but
the traditional job where employees go to the work location. specifically focused on the unique needs of individuals striving
While not directed specifically at women, this greatly increases to become supervisors and entry level managers, however it
women’s ability to better integrate their career and lives over the continues to ensure strong mentorship as well as the creation
course of time, increasing their choices and enhancing
their overall career opportunities. “As
A a tactic to support women, I encour-
a g managers at all levels to create fo-
age
Nichols: Nicor Gas has an excellent and well- ru
rums for women to network with each
earned reputation for promoting the people that o t
other, learn, and feel a sense of communi-
ty Organizations like the Society of Women
ty.
add the most value – and that certainly includes
E n
Engineers can serve as such a forum.”
women. The most impressive aspect of Nicor
—Betty
— B Shanahan, executive director and
Gas’ leadership development is the support senior CEO
C E for the Society of Women Engineers
leaders within the organization provide to emerg-

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of sustainable networks to support career advancements. JEA’s Kendrick: I am a strong proponent of a best practice approach
internship program promotes hiring the best and the brightest to improving the advancement of women in business. There
college students for internships for up to four years to prepare are many industries and many companies in the utility
these students for a career in utilities. Again the initiative attempts business that have embraced successful strategies that
to represent the community in its demographics. have encouraged better promotion of women into senior
management positions. These practices start with defining
Industry improvement the business case: clearly understanding the benefits of hiring
Q: How might the energy industry in general improve prospects women and other groups in the customer base serviced.
for women to advance their careers? Continue by creating a strategy and an organization structure
that can sustain the objectives: including recruitment,
Shanahan: The first requirement is commitment from top retention, development, training, communication and most
management. CEOs, facility managers, and others in top importantly measurement strategies. Lastly monitoring
management must demonstrate, not just say, their commitment and celebrating the results. At a more fundamental level
to diversity throughout the organization. From that many of the criteria that make a great company also make a
commitment should spring efforts to have all employees shift great company for women’s advancement. There are certain
their understanding of diversity from tolerance to others to programs that can be considered that truly will attract and
creating an inclusive corporate culture where all employees can retain women: strong mentoring programs, access to senior
contribute. As a tactic to support women, I encourage managers management, career paths and succession planning. But
at all levels to create forums for women to network with each the basics are also important: great benefits, flexible hours,
other, learn, and feel a sense of community. Organizations like job sharing and various forms of childcare may also help a
the Society of Women Engineers can serve as such a forum. company to differentiate itself to women.

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Nichols: The opportunities are out there; the industry already resources – especially employees. This is the time to focus on
provides them! The real question is what women can do to the best talent, the best ideas and the best solutions. In order to
capitalize on those opportunities? First, I would advise women succeed, we need a multi-dimensional, inclusive workforce. We
to join Energetic Women and other leadership development and are being more deliberate in our sourcing and recruiting in all
networking groups as a means of broadening their horizons and areas with these needs in mind, which will continue to improve
creating a supportive network outside of the organization to grow opportunities for all, including women.
their leadership potential. Second, seek out ways to maximize
your potential. Objectively evaluate your past experiences, “While current economic conditions seem
daunting, I believe opportunities are hid-
the value you currently add to your organization, and what
den
d
de in the news about job
experiences or skill sets you need to work on in order to be the
losses
los and are providing us
best candidate for another opportunity. Finally, be brave! Time the
th chance to rethink how
and time again, women executives most often credit having we
w manage our business…
the courage to try something totally new as the primary reason In
In order to succeed, we need
behind their success. They did not always go seeking their a multi-dimensional, inclusive
next assignment. Many were just thrust in a new direction. workforce.”
wo
They had to dig deep, have faith in their own abilities to grow —Gianna
— Manes, Duke Power
and adapt, and have the courage to face their challenges head
on. Those experiences are the ones that really make a difference. Shanahan: I wouldn’t note changes for women that are any
different than the changes for men. Some sectors of the
Concerns about the economy and industry are facing hiring slowdowns or freezes that impact
employment both men and women.
Q: With the recent economic and employment slump, have you
noticed any changes in recruitment and sourcing activities aimed Final thoughts
at women in the energy industry? Q: What else do energy companies need to know about women
in the industry?
Kendrick: Yes, the transition to a 21st century heterogeneous
workforce has definitely slowed down as a result of the economic Nichols: Many women learn and grow in ways different
turndown. Any initiative that is not essential to the next 12 to 18 than their male counterparts. The opportunity to network
months has been put on hold, canceled or eliminated, oftentimes with other women in the industry is a great asset to their
diversity initiatives fall into this category. However, the problem growth and development. It has become obvious to me now,
still remains with a shrinking talent pool of the future, the pain through my involvement with Energetic Women, that it is
has just been postponed and I am confident that most of these really essential to have a safe venue for women to explore their
initiatives will begin again in the coming years in the same form leadership potential with other women and to find solutions
or a more appropriate modified format. to the challenges they experience in their careers. I strongly
encourage energy companies to look into Energetic Women as
Nichols: It is a tighter market for everyone, not just women. a resource to attract, develop, and retain women to diversify
Now is a good time to focus on leadership development their talent pool and strengthen the organization long term.
opportunities. Consider formal education, taking on new
assignments in an area you have not worked before, or testing Shanahan: The energy industry must fully utilize all the talents
your skill sets as a volunteer outside of the corporate world. of a diverse workforce if it is create a long-term strategy to
Showing your dedication to continually grow and add value deliver sustainable energy to the world while maintaining and
will only strengthen you, regardless of the economy. increasing quality of life globally.

Manes: I believe all challenges present opportunities. While Kendrick: Women and other diverse workforce groups
current economic conditions seem daunting, I believe opportu- should not be portrayed as replacing any one demographic…
nities are hidden in the news about job losses and are providing but rather complementing the workforce and providing
us the chance to rethink how we manage our business. It is an opportunities for better decision-making similar to Abraham
opportunity to be creative with regard to costs, earnings and Lincoln’s strong cabinet team of rivals. —EW

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Customized and Personalized

Improving Frontline Training Practices

These challenges are reflected in the top concerns identified

Training and training delivery systems are
by training and development professionals in recent
changing, evolving to take advantage of the
industry research:
power of the Internet, mobile communications,
and handheld technologies—the technologies • Managing training costs and funding
that are changing society itself. Technological • Getting the most out of e-learning, learning
advancement has made it possible and development systems
practical to shift from classroom training to • Linking learning to performance
individualized learning. In turn, corporations • Increasing training comprehension
are expecting trainers to become performance • Aligning learning with business needs and
consultants, with the goal of developing custom individual employee competency needs.
learning content to help individual employees
achieve their desired outcome.
It’s no longer acceptable to hope an employee learns something
at a training session. The best performing companies are
As a result, companies are spending more per employee thoughtfully developing and engaging their most important
on training and the average number of hours of formal resource: the people they employ.
learning per employee is increasing. The use of technology
to deliver learning content has increased and companies are Engaged employees are the key to excellent customer service.
also spending more on external services like content design, Engaged employees are employees that feel as though they
development and delivery or technology infrastructure. are truly valued at work; that their efforts directly contribute
towards the mission and success of the company. Engaged
More and more subject matter experts are assuming the employees are more productive and less likely to look outside
training role. More live instruction is being delivered remotely of the company for employment.
or online and more and more self-paced or computer-
based training is being offered to busy employees, making However, employee engagement is beginning to deteriorate due
it even more convenient to brush up on skills or learn a to the failing economies of the U.S. and elsewhere around the
new procedure. Training that is portable, self-directed, and world. A recent national study by Modern Survey revealed that
available on-demand is becoming popular, through pod casts, that 21% of U.S. workers actively disengaged. Poor employee
PDAs, or even mobile phones. Simulation technology is also engagement can lead to absenteeism, a lack of teamwork, poor
being widely implemented, allowing learners to realistically morale, and low productivity, among other concerns.
“try the job” before actually on the job.
It is becoming more and more difficult to find and engage the
Companies are expecting more from their training right employees. Tight labor markets are making companies
organizations—to maximize results while minimizing think twice about compensation packages, benefits, and
resources; to prove that the investment in training is paying incentives. Turnover and competition are pushing companies to
off in employee performance; to develop content more focus on ways to keep qualified employees happy and motivated.
quickly; and to deliver learning in such a manner that it is Customer service management’s top priority is attracting and
more accessible, even seamless with work duties. More so engaging top-performing customer service employees.
than ever before, an organization’s training function is being
run like any other business function with increased attention Learning plays a key role in helping employees to get and stay
on operational efficiency, accountability, and connection to engaged. Many organizations have begun to rely heavily on
organizational strategy. the learning function for engagement support. While new-

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hire training can initiate an employee’s engagement with the Lessons Learned
company, refresher training and other personal development Hire for Attitude, Train for Technical Skills. The best foundation
opportunities can help keep employees engaged. However, for service excellence is your people. It is easier to teach
training and development alone does not guarantee employee proficiency than it is to change attitudes. Best-in-Class
engagement. companies look for motivated and enthusiastic people who
demonstrate a propensity to serve—hire for attitude and
Additionally a good relationship between employees and train for skill. Consider potential, not necessarily experience.
immediate supervisors is recognized as a top driver of Best-in-Class companies have turned hiring into an art form,
employee engagement. Yet this is a problem area for many not only the process but also the identification of the right
customer service organizations—frontline supervisors and type of employee. In a service business, the employees are the
managers lack the skills to effectively engage employees. A company and hiring is critical. Work with your recruiters to
study performed by the Ascent Group found, many customer find the right candidates.
service organizations do not offer basic supervisory training
to frontline supervisors, much less tactics to improve Communicate Job Expectations Throughout New Hire
employee engagement. Training—Do as much as possible to relay expectations
to students during the new hire-training program. The
With all this in mind, the Ascent Group conducted research more a new employee understands about the job, the work
in mid- and late-2008 to better understand training and environment, performance expectations, and culture,
development programs for front-line customer service the quicker they will be able to achieve standard. Use job
employees. This research was conducted in concert with shadowing, peer mentoring, or simulation to relay culture
additional research into the recruitment and hiring of front- and expectations. Revise training content so the appropriate
line employees and performance measurement. expectations are conveyed. Survey new students to better
understand how to continually refine the process and
The main objective of the study was to identify “best practices” minimize new-hire surprise.
for front-line customer service training. In particular, focus
was given to understanding how best-in-class customer service Emphasize the Importance of Customer Service in the Training
organizations train and prepare their front-line, customer- Process—Make sure that students know up front about your
facing employees. organizational commitment to customer service. Stress the
importance of customer service and customer satisfaction
Secondary objectives included understanding: throughout the new-hire training program. Do as much as
possible to integrate the “Customer Experience” into Training
• What initial training programs are used? Program—so students understand customer expectations
Duration? and appreciate the customer perspective. Use simulation,
• What on-going training programs are used? role-playing, and mentoring to convey the correct “customer
Duration? Frequency? Pass/Fail? experience”. On average, our participants spend about 20
• What job rotation processes are in place? Are they percent of new-hire training hours on soft-skills, usually
effective in increasing productivity and customer integrated into the new-hire training program.
satisfaction?
• What technologies are improving the training Engage New Hires with “Hands-On” Training, Customized
process? to Individual Learning Styles—Research shows a growth in
more interactive, hands-on training opportunities for new
hires—role playing, simulation, peer mentoring. Hands-
Participants were also asked to share management tactics and on experiences help internalize learning, incorporate more
strategies, as well as identify any improvement in performance. “learning by doing” opportunities into your new-hire program.
The study also asked companies to include considerations, Hands-on learning can also be used to drive assessment
successes, and plans moving forward. Study participants so that trainers can measure both factual knowledge and
ranged from 2 to 6,000 frontline employees and from 1 to comprehension. Additionally, training comprehension is
1,900 new hires per year. increased through individualized training—training tailored

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to each students individual learning style. Smaller class sizes, This will encourage the link between learning and
modular training, and self-paced activities help students learn performance—making sure the training group is equipping
at their own pace. employees to successfully perform as well as making sure any
operational changes are reflected in training. At the same time,
Mentoring & Monitoring Ease the Transition to the Floor— underperforming employees can receive targeted training.
Participants use a combination of one-on-one mentoring and
frequent call monitoring to help new hires transition to the Provide Supervisors with Training on How to Coach
floor. Many companies also employ “nesting”—pod on the floor and Engage Employees. Organizations reporting more
dedicated to new hires— to facilitate more extensive coaching highly engaged workers actively promoting a culture
and one-on-one assistance until the team is up-to-standard. of engagement by ensuring that organizational leaders,
Another approach that has been successful is the creation of an including immediate supervisors, are skilled in the area
OJT manager to shepherd new-hire and ongoing OJT efforts. of engagement improvement. After all, having a good
relationship between employees and immediate supervisors
Maximize Intranet and Internet Resources and other is a top driver of employee engagement. Yet, many frontline
Technologies to Enhance Training and Job Aids—Newer supervisors are lacking in basic supervisory skills, much
technologies offer the opportunity to customize learning and less tactics for engaging employees. A study by the Ascent
make it more accessible. Investigate opportunities to deliver Group found that only 57 percent of participants have a
online or computer-based training. Self-paced training is formal supervisory (coach) training program for front-line
inherently customized to individual learning speeds and customer service employees.
styles. Training that is portable, self-directed, and available
on-demand, through pod casts, PDAs, or mobile phones, will Evolve Your Training Resources. As technology becomes
be more convenient and more appealing for many employees. more specialized and learning becomes more personalized,
Simulation technologies allow learners to “try the job” before trainers will assume more of a performance consultant role.
actually being on the job, creating a more realistic training Make sure your trainers have the appropriate training and
environment. Research also shows a growth in the use of web- resources to make the transition. Many companies have a
based meeting applications, such as WebEx, GoTo Meeting, difficult time balancing the needs of the business to meet
and LiveMeeting, to facilitate distance learning and to reduce service level goals and the need to train and develop frontline
training costs. employees. Make the time to adequately train your frontline
customer service resources.
Integrate Training with Quality Assurance and Operational
Excellence to Facilitate Continual Improvement and Pre- Make Time for Training. Many companies have a difficult time
emptive Targeted Training. To ensure successful continuous balancing the day-to-day needs of the business and the need
improvement, encourage training groups to work closely to train and develop frontline employees. Make the time to
with quality assurance and operational excellence groups. adequately train and prepare your frontline customer service
resources. Make sure they are equipped and trained to handle
Fig. 1. Top new training technologies all situations. Refresh training periodically to keep employees
in top performance and up-to-date on customer service and
eLearning & learning
management systems 29% technical skills. —EW

Computer-based & About The Ascent Group

video-based training 29%
The Ascent Group, Inc. is a management-consulting firm that
Web meeting software 24% specializes in customer service operations and improvement,
performance benchmarking, competitive benchmarking, work
Enhanced training room 18%
management, and industry research. www.ascentgroup.com
—
Intranet repository 18%

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T H E E N E R G Y I N D U S T RY ’ S M O S T P O W E R F U L J O B B O A R D

Post. Search. Work!

PennEnergyJOBS is a full-service recruitment advertising solution:
• job postings • newsletter sponsorships
• resume search • targeted email campaigns
• print classifieds • web broadcasts
• banner advertising • career fairs

Call our dedicated recruitment advertising team today!

Our customized solutions can help lower your cost per hire and time to
hire. Ask us how! (800) 331-4463 or [email protected]

Turning Information into innovation | Serving Strategic Markets Worldwide since 1910

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Work Hard.
Play Hard.

Known for its natural beauty, entrepreneurial spirit and welcoming communities,
Alberta, Canada is a good place to be. Alberta offers employment opportunities and
plenty of excitement for your days off.

Visit our booth at the Offshore Technology Conference, May 4-7, 2009 in Houston, Texas
to find out more about working and living in Alberta.

www.AlbertaCanada.com/liveworkstay

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